title: High dose melphalan and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in AL amyloidosis.
abstract: AL amyloidosis is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis and is associated with an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. It is often difficult to recognize because of its many manifestations. Recent diagnostic and prognostic advances include the serum-free light chain assay, cardiac MRI, and serologic cardiac biomarkers. Treatment strategies that have evolved during the past decade are prolonging survival and preserving organ function. This article outlines the role of high-dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation. This year marks the 20th anniversary for the first patient who underwent successful stem cell transplantation for this disease at Boston Medical Center.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Transplantation Program, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Amyloidosis Center, Boston Medical Center, 820 Harrison Avenue, FGH-1007, Boston, MA 02118, USA. Electronic address: vaishali.sanchorawala@bmc.org.
authors.forename: Vaishali
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sanchorawala
mesh_terms: D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D000075363:Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D008558:Melphalan
keywords: AL amyloidosis; Melphalan; Patient selection; Stem cell transplantation; Supportive care; Treatment-related mortality