Long-term outcome of patients with AL amyloidosis treated with high-dose melphalan and stem-cell transplantation

Blood. 2007 Nov 15;110(10):3561-3. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-07-099481. Epub 2007 Aug 2.

Abstract

Long-term survival and outcome were determined for 80 patients with immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis treated with high-dose melphalan and stem cell transplantation (HDM/SCT) more than 10 years ago. Seventeen (21%) patients died within the first year of treatment, of treatment-related complications (14%) or progressive disease (8%). Of the 63 surviving evaluable patients at one year, 32 (51%) achieved a complete hematologic response (CR). For all 80 patients, the median survival was 57 months (4.75 yrs). The median survival exceeds 10 years for patients achieving a CR after HDM/SCT, compared with 50 months for those not achieving a CR (P < .001). In conclusion, HDM/SCT leads to durable remissions and prolonged survival, particularly for those patients who achieve a hematologic CR.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Amyloidosis / mortality
  • Amyloidosis / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy / mortality
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hypergammaglobulinemia / mortality
  • Hypergammaglobulinemia / therapy*
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains*
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Melphalan / administration & dosage*
  • Middle Aged
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Survivors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains
  • Melphalan