Salvage autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma performed with stem cells procured after previous high dose therapy – a multicenter report by the Polish Myeloma Study Group

Abstract

Salvage autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) constitutes a therapeutic option for a group of well-selected patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM). However, if an insufficient number of stem cells were harvested and stored before the first auto-HSCT, stem cells need to be remobilized. Patients diagnosed with MM who following relapse after auto-HSCT, had remobilization and afterward, auto-HSCT with remobilized cells were included in this retrospective analysis. Thirty-three patients, 61% males, the median age 61 years, were included. With a median follow-up of 1.8 years, 2-year progression-free survival was 56.2%, non-relapse mortality 4.8%. The 2-year cumulative incidence of t-MDS was 4.9%. Factors important for the outcome were: the quality of response, previous radiotherapy, the time between the first and salvage auto-HSCT. To conclude, salvage auto-HSCT performed with cells procured after the previous auto-HSCT can be efficacious in relapsed MM, especially if a sufficiently long response had been obtained to the first auto-HSCT(s).

Keywords:

• Relapse
• multiple myeloma
• autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
• mobilization

Acknowledgments

We thank all the patients, their families, and the members of staff involved in their care.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

Data were available on request from the authors.

Additional information

Funding

KK was financially supported by the Polish Center for Research and Development (Grant POIR.01.01.01-00-0328/17). The research did not receive other grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.