A second autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) in multiple myeloma (MM) patients relapsing after a prior autologous HCT leads to better overall survival than non-transplant therapy, according to research presented at the ASH Annual Meeting. Researchers analyzed 174 MM patients (median age 61 years) relapsing after a prior autologous HCT who underwent a bortezomib-based re-induction therapy before being randomized to undergo a salvage HCT (n=89) or low-dose consolidation with weekly cyclophosphamide for 12 weeks (n=85). Time to progression was significantly longer in the autologous transplant cohort compared to the non-transplant cohort: 19 months vs. 11 months, respectively (p<0.0001). Median survival was significantly higher in the autologous HCT cohort compared to the non-transplant cohort: 67 months vs. 52 months, respectively (p=0.022). The researchers concluded that "there is a clear advantage in terms of overall survival when salvage autologous HCT consolidates bortezomib-based re-induction therapy in patients with MM at first relapse."
Salvage Autologous Transplant Better than Non-Transplant Therapy in Relapsed Multiple Myeloma
Dec 2015