Attainment of at least a very good partial response after induction treatment is an important surrogate of longer survival for multiple myeloma.
The importance of achieving a very good partial response or better (≥VGPR) after induction treatment of myeloma has traditionally only been discussed in the context of high-dose therapy with auto-SCT (HDT/auto-SCT). Of late, the advent of novel agents for induction treatment has resulted in improved CR and VGPR rates, which are comparable with those observed with HDT/auto-SCT. We show that in an unselected group of 179 myeloma patients with diverse baseline characteristics, and treated with different modern induction regimens within a single institution, the attainment of ≥VGPR with or without HDT/auto-ASCT represents a major surrogate marker of better clinical outcomes. On the basis of a 1-year landmark survival analysis, patients achieving ≥VGPR enjoy a significantly longer PFS, which translated to a longer OS. Superseding the adverse effects of advanced age, high International Staging System (ISS) stage, adverse cytogenetics and independent of the transplant status, the attainment of ≥VGPR emerged as the single most significant predictor of long-term survival on multivariate analysis.
Tan
D
D
Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore, Republic of Singapore. Daryl.Tan@sgh.com.sg
Lao
Z
Z
Loh
Y
Y
Ng
H J
HJ
Chuah
C
C
Wong
G C
GC
Koh
M
M
Linn
Y C
YC
Lim
L C
LC
Tien
S L
SL
Lee
L H
LH
Goh
Y T
YT
Hwang
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult