Long-term follow-up results of a European study indicate that an autologous stem cell transplant followed by a “mini” donor stem cell transplant may be more effective than one or two autologous stem cell transplants in multiple myeloma patients.

“The results show that [“mini”] donor stem cell transplantation was superior to autologous stem cell transplantation concerning relapse rates and long-term progression-free survival and overall survival,” said Dr. Gösta Gahrton of the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden and one of the study authors.

“The results have strengthened the role of this type…

Results of a recent small Phase 2 study conducted in the Netherlands suggest that Revlimid maintenance therapy improves responses in multiple myeloma patients receiving “mini” donor stem cell transplants. However, the study authors also observed a rapid onset of graft-versus-host disease in these patients after the start of Revlimid treatment.

Based on these findings, the study authors recommended against Revlimid maintenance therapy for myeloma patients receiving “mini” donor stem cell transplants.

“Acute graft-versus-host disease is a life-threatening complication after donor stem cell transplantation, and our primary aim of the article…

The results of a small, retrospective analysis show that stem cell transplants may be safe and feasible in multiple myeloma patients over the age of 70.

Based on their findings, the authors of the analysis concluded that older patients should not be excluded from stem cell transplants based on age alone.

However, according to Dr. Ashraf Badros, from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, who was not involved in the study, further trials are needed to confirm and extend these findings so that physicians have a firm…

One of the most frequent questions that I get asked by multiple myeloma patients is: What is the current role of stem cell transplantation in myeloma therapy?

As the conversation continues, several pertinent questions arise: Should I get a transplant? Am I too old for a transplant? Is it better to do one now, or can I wait? One or two? Two back to back, or one now and one later? And so on…

Myeloma is the number one use of autologous stem cell transplantation, which involves the use of…

Results of a recent small German study indicate that the level of residual myeloma cells in the bone marrow before stem cell transplantation may predict survival in multiple myeloma patients.

Specifically, the study authors found that patients with high levels of residual disease before transplantation had shorter progression-free and overall survival times than patients with low levels of residual disease.

They also found that a high level of residual disease after transplantation was associated with decreased progression-free survival, but not overall survival, in myeloma patients.

Based on these findings, they…