Stem cell transplantation compared with melphalan plus dexamethasone in the treatment of immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a common management strategy for select patients with immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis, but no trials have documented improved overall survival.

Methods

Eighty-nine patients with biopsy-proven immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis were allowed to select treatment with melphalan plus dexamethasone (n = 34) or SCT (n = 55); all patients were transplant eligible. Treatment preference resulted in imbalanced study arms. Patients who selected SCT were younger, more frequently had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score less than 2, had lower-stage amyloidosis, and had a lower incidence of cardiac amyloidosis.

Results

Patients receiving melphalan plus dexamethasone had a 3-year progression

SUBMITTER: Gertz MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4930380 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature