Tolerability of high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in elderly patients with multiple myeloma: A single-center retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: In the past years, high dose chemotherapy (HDT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT)has more extensively been performed in elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Several studies found a similar survival benefit compared to younger patients. The objective of our retrospective study is to analyse the tolerability of HDT + ASCT in elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared 26 ASCT performed in MM patients ≥65 years to 127 ASCT in patients <65 years by evaluating treatment-tolerability, length of hospital stay and number of transfusions. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the duration of hospitalisation (16 days (range 14-47) in the elderly vs. 17 days (range 14-71) days, P =  0.0903), median time of cytopenia (neutrophils<500/μl: 5 days (range 4-24) vs. 6 days (range 3-28) days, P =  0.1091; platelets<30 000/μl: 6 days (range 3-36) vs. 7 days (range 0-53) days, P =  0.274) or incidence of, or degree of complications between the two age-groups. Immediate and day 100 treatment related mortality (TRM) was comparable in both groups (3.85% vs. 1.58%, P =  0.4304). CONCLUSION: our findings support the concept that HDT + ASCT can be safely administered as first-line option for well-selected patients≥65 years.