A population-based analysis of the effect of autologous hematopoietic cell transplant in the treatment of multiple myeloma

Abstract

This population registry-based study followed all cases of myeloma diagnosed in New South Wales, Australia, during 2002–2005 and compared survival outcomes of those who proceeded to autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) with those who did not. Data available consisted of demographic details and survival, and did not include disease details or treatment type or response. Of 708 patients, 270 (38%) had a HCT. The 5-year overall survival (OS) of HCT recipients was significantly better than for those who did not proceed to HCT (62% vs. 54%, p = 0.003). HCT was a significant favorable risk factor for OS, while age over 60 was an adverse risk factor. However, for patients alive at 1 year from diagnosis, there was no significant difference in survival between HCT and non-HCT patients, suggesting that worse disease biology and/or coexisting morbidities were likely to be major reasons for the poorer outcome for non-HCT patients.

Keywords::

• Population-based
• autologous transplant
• multiple myeloma

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank staff at the Cancer Institute NSW, particularly Deborah Baker, Narelle Grayson, Serina Faraji, Faith Papuni, Wendy Thomson and Elizabeth Tracey for providing Clinical Cancer Registry data and performing data linkage services for this study. We would also like to thank Leonie Wilcox and Donna Aarons at the ABMTRR for their dedication and expertise. We also thank clinical and data management staff at all centers that submit data to the ABMTRR for their continuing and unstinting efforts. The ABMTRR is grateful to the Australian Government, the BMT Network of NSW, The Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation, St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst and the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry for their continuing support.

Potential conflict of interest:

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