Outcomes in multiple myeloma after autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) do not differ because of age, according to an article accepted for publication in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia.1
AHCT is clinically beneficial for patients with multiple myeloma, though trials often include only patients who are younger than 66. The median age of diagnosis, however, is 66; whether elderly patients are at a survival disadvantage after AHCT is therefore critically important information.
For this retrospective, single-center study, researchers evaluated whether survival outcomes differed for patients older than 70 or between 18-50 years of age. Of 191 included patients, 86 were 50 or younger and 105 were older than 70. All patients underwent AHCT between 2000 and 2015.
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No statistically significant differences were observed between the 2 groups for progression-free or overall survival, or for transplant-related mortality. Cytogenic risk factors, however, predicted survival outcomes regardless of age.
A patient’s age, according to the study’s authors, should not preclude treatment with AHCT. Younger patients may benefit from novel treatments in clinical trials.
Reference
- Dhakal B, Nelson A, Murthy GS, et al. Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma: impact of age. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. In press.
