Second auto-SCT is safe and effective salvage therapy for relapsed multiple myeloma

Therapeutic options for patients with multiple myeloma whose disease has relapsed after a prior auto-SCT include novel biologic therapies, traditional chemotherapy or a second transplant, with no clear standard of care. Few published studies address the safety and efficacy of a second auto-SCT for relapsed disease. We reviewed the Abramson Cancer Center experience with salvage auto-SCT for relapsed multiple myeloma. Forty-one patients had received a salvage auto-SCT at our institution; the median time between transplants was 37 months (range 3-91). The overall response rate in assessable patients was 55%, and treatment-related mortality was 7%. With a median follow-up time of 15 months, the median PFS was 8.5 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 20.7 months. In a multivariate analysis of OS, independent prognostic factors were ≤ 5 prior lines of therapy and time to progression after initial auto-SCT of ≤ 12 months. We conclude that in well-selected patients, salvage auto-SCT is safe and effective for relapsed myeloma.