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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Survival of elderly patients with multiple myeloma-Effect of upfront autologous stem cell transplantation

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Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine the value of upfront autologous transplantation (ASCT) in elderly patients (60–79 years) with myeloma. Methods We analysed relative survival (RS) of patients diagnosed in 1998–2011 and treated with ASCT within 12 months after diagnosis in Germany (n = 3591; German Registry of Stem Cell Transplantation) and compare RS with survival of myeloma patients diagnosed in the same years in Germany (n = 13,903; population-based German Cancer Registries). Results Utilisation of ASCT has increased rapidly between 2000–2002 and 2009–2011 (60–64years: 7.0–43.0%; 65–69 years: 6.6–23.7%; 70–79 years: 0.4–4.0%). Comparison of 5-year RS of patients from the general German myeloma population who have survived the first year after diagnosis with 5-year RS of patients treated with ASCT revealed higher survival for transplanted patients among all age groups (60–64: 59.2% versus 66.1%; 65–69: 57.4% versus 61.7%; 70–79: 51.0% versus 56.6%). RS increased strongly between 2003–2005 and 2009–2011 for the general German myeloma population (+8.5%) and for patients treated with ASCT (+11.8%). Differences in RS between these groups increased over time from +1.9% higher age-standardised survival in transplanted patients in 2003–2005 to 5.2% higher survival in 2009–2011. Conclusion We conclude that upfront ASCT might be a major contributor to improved survival for elderly myeloma patients in Germany.