OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) and its impact on the prognosis of MM.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed in 28 patients with MM (group A) treated with ASCT in our hospital from October 1998 to February 2007, compared with those not received ASCT in the same time period including 23 patients with near complete response (nCR) or better (group B) and 25 patients with partial response (PR) (group C). The duration of response (DOR), time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were compared by Kaplan-Meier method in the 3 groups.

RESULTSEight patients without nCR or better (7 in PR and 1 in MR) after ASCT achieved CR (2 cases) and nCR (5 cases). Complete response (CR) rate was 10.7% (3 cases) and 42.9% (12 cases) before and after ASCT respectively in group A. DOR was 33 months for group A, 17 months for group B and 18 months for group C, and TTP was 45, 43 and 28 months respectively. After a median follow-up of 30 months, patients in group A and in group B had a trenel of longer OS than in group C although there was no statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSIONSASCT can further enhance the response, prolong the DOR and TTP and probably OS, and therefore improve the quality of life in MM. MM patients not achieved good response by non-ASCT therapy may benefit from ASCT.