Treatment of multiple myeloma in Celje general hospital in the five-year period from 2007–2011

Abstract

We found 55 newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma in the five-year observation period. There were 8 to 13 new patients per year; patient’s average age was 67.8.years. 20/55 (36.4 %) of patients were under 65 years old and 19/55 (34.6 %) were 75 years or older. We assessed the international prognostic score (ISS) in most patients (50/55; 90.9 %) and cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow before initial treatment. These findings influenced our choice of regimens for initial therapy based on bortezomib and thalidomide. Treatment regimens based on melphalan and farmorubicin were used less frequently. In 19/55 (34.6 %) of patients the treatment regimen included avtologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). Patients treated with ASCT have longer time to progression (median 12.4 months versus 8.7 months) and better survival (44.3 months versus 33.3 months). New active agents have changed responses to treatment (partial response in 46/55 and very good partial response in 19/55 patients). In five-year period 18 patients died, most of them due to progression of the disease. Despite the era of new active agents, multiple myeloma is still incurable disease.