Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
This Predicts Risk of Early Relapse, Death in MM
Biol Blood Marrow Transplant; ePub 2018 Feb 23; Cowan, et al
Circulating plasma cells (CPCs) that are present at the time of autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection appear to predict risk of early relapse and death in certain patients with multiple myeloma, according to a study involving 144 individuals. Participants with multiple myeloma underwent autologous transplant at a single center between 2012 and 2015. Investigators looked for the presence of CPCs and their impact on overall and progression-free survival. Among the results:
- 2 in every 10 had CPCs.
- CPC presence was linked with poorer progression-free but not overall survival.
- Median progression-free survival in CPC-free patients was 39.4 months; it was 16.5 months in those with CPCs.
- These survival lengths were similar among patients achieving very good or partial response at the time of collection.
- Progression-free and overall survival were similar regardless of CPC status in patients achieving partial response.
- After adjusting for certain variables, patients with CPCs had a 43% higher risk of progression or death.
Cowan A, Stevenson P, Libby E, et al. Circulating plasma cells at the time of collection of autologous PBSC for transplant in multiple myeloma patients is a negative prognostic factor even in the age of post-transplant maintenance therapy. [Published online ahead of print February 23, 2018]. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2018.02.017.