title: Prognostic factors in autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: an EBMT Registry Study. European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation.
abstract: Autologous bone marrow- and blood progenitor cell transplantation was performed in 130 patients with multiple myeloma in 16 European centers between 1986 and 1993. At the time of follow-up, 77 patients were alive and 53 were dead. Complete remission after transplantation was obtained in 47% of all patients. The actuarial survival at 65 months was 28%. The median duration of relapse-free survival among patients who were in complete remission after transplantation was 29 months. The following factors were predictive for longer survival and freedom of progression in a univariate analysis: Male sex, age less than 45 years, a low serum-beta-2-microglobulin value at diagnosis, prior administration of only one treatment regimen, response on conventional chemotherapy immediately pretransplant and the use of a preparative regimen including melphalan. The last factor, in addition to stage I disease at diagnosis, male sex and responsive disease immediately pretransplant, were also demonstrated as independent predictive variables for longer survival in a multivariate analysis. Progression-free survival was significantly better for patients who were in complete remission after transplantation, as compared to those with persisting signs of disease. We conclude that high-dose chemo-radiotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation can induce long-term responses, primarily in younger, male patients with chemotherapy-responsive early disease. High-dose melphalan, as single drug or in combination, appeared to be superior to other regimens. The chance of being persistently disease-free seemed to be greatest for patients being in complete remission already before the transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Björkstrand
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Goldstone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ljungman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Laurenzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome