title: Changes in multiple myeloma epidemiology in the last thirty years: a single centre experience.
abstract: In this study we have evaluated 772 multiple myeloma (MM) patients for clinical presentation, response to treatment, relapse modality, and survival in the last 30 years. Patients were divided, according to the date of diagnosis in group I or group II (before and after 1994, respectively) and therapy (high or conventional dose). Bone pain and early deaths were statistically reduced in group II, whereas MM that evolved from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) had increased. The efficacy of high dose therapy (HDT) over conventional dose therapy (CDT) was confirmed through analysis of response rate, progression free, and overall survival. Relapse modality was similar after HDT or CDT. Among older patients, those diagnosed after 1994 lived longer than those diagnosed before 1994. In the last 30 years, the clinical presentation of multiple myeloma remained substantially unchanged. The new therapeutic approaches, chemotherapy and supportive therapy, allowed better control of the disease with an improvement of survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Viale Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy. p.zappasodi@smatteo.pv.it
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zappasodi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corso
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klersy
authors.forename: Gianmatteo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pica
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mangiacavalli
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varettoni
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rusconi
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pascutto
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzarino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents