Real-world prognostic factors in autotransplanted multiple myeloma patients with severe renal impairment: study of the Polish Myeloma Study Group.

INTRODUCTION

The prognostic factors in autotransplanted multiple myeloma (MM) patients with concomitant advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) are poorly understood, limited, and controversial.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 44 patients with MM and CKD (eGFR < 40 ml/min), present both at diagnosis and at autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), with no improvement of renal function in-between.

RESULTS

Patients exhibiting deeper paraprotein responses to pre-transplant treatment predicted better response post ASCT (odds ratio (OR) = 11.6, = 0.028) and longer progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.23, = 0.017). Higher albumin concentration (per increase of 1 g/dl) (HR = 0.41, = 0.03) and melphalan 140 mg/m versus higher melphalan doses (HR = 0.86, = 0.008) were associated with longer PFS. Performance status (ECOG 0-1 versus ≥ 2) (HR = 0.28, = 0.0036), higher albumin concentration (HR = 0.43, < 0.037), and melphalan 140 mg/m versus higher melphalan doses (HR = 0.48, = 0.081) decreased the risk of death. Three of 32 dialysis-dependent patients became dialysis independent (DID), and 5 of 12 in the DID group had eGFR improvement post ASCT. The median PFS was 2.3 years, which was shorter for DID compared to DD patients (0.7 vs. 3.3 years, respectively). The median overall survival (OS) was 3.6 years, there was no difference in median OS between the groups (4.0 vs. 3.5 years, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Optimal patient selection including good performance status and higher albumin concentration (with every increase of 1 g/dl), chemotherapy-responsive disease pre-ASCT, melphalan dose adjusted to CKD, and intensive post-transplant supportive care are crucial to achieve acceptable results of treatment of MM patients with CKD.