Measures of immune recovery following autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma and outcome.

Abstract

8581 Background: Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) improves survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Recent studies have elucidated the relationship in ASCT between absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) recovery and improved survival, highlighting the importance of immune recovery. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with multiple myeloma to observe the impact of different measures of immune recovery at day 100 post-ASCT on outcome. Methods: Retrospective analysis of data from the existing clinical databases identified 1184 patients with multiple myeloma that underwent ASCT at Mayo Clinic between 1987-2011. Markers of immune recovery analyzed on day 100 status-post ASCT included ALC, monocyte count, and immunoglobulin levels. Kaplan Meier analysis was performed to determine progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Among the 1184 patients, median age at diagnosis of multiple myeloma was 57 (range, 23-75 yr), and median age at time of transplantation was 59 (range, 24-75 yr); 59% were male. The median OS and PFS post-transplant were 80 months and 34 months respectively. 62% of patients were alive 5-years post-transplant. The median OS was not improved with normal vs. abnormal IgG levels at day 100 (p=.298). In contrast, monocyte recovery was a significant predictor of OS. Patients with normal monocyte counts of greater than 0.3 x 10⁹ cells/L at day 100 showed superior survival (65 vs. 37 months, p= .001). Similarly, patients with normal monocyte recovery at day 15 post-transplant showed a significant survival benefit (68 vs. 50 months, p=.007). Early ALC recovery, which has been shown to be a positive prognostic indicator at day 15 post-transplant, was not prognostic at day 100 (p= .960). Conclusions: The present study further elucidates prognostic indicators after ASCT for MM highlighting the importance of various markers of immune recovery. Immunoglobulin recovery was not associated with superior survival, while monocyte recovery at day 15 and day 100 post-transplant translated to an improved survival and requires further study. It may be hypothesized that early immune system reconstitution may have a positive effect against disease post-transplant.