Retrospective Analysis of Treatment Outcome and Prognostic Factors in Multiple Myeloma.
- Author:
Yong Whan SONG
1
;
Baek Yeol RYOO
;
Bong Seog KIM
;
Yeon Hee PARK
;
Young Kyuck IM
;
Tae You KIM
;
Sung Moon JUNG
;
Jin Ok LEE
;
Yeon Kyeong KIM
;
Jong Gwang KIM
;
Sung Jae YOO
;
Yoon Koo KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea. ryooby@kcchsun.kcch.re.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Multiple myeloma;
Treatment outcome;
Prognostic factors
- MeSH:
Diagnosis;
Drug Therapy;
Drug Therapy, Combination;
Female;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin G;
Korea;
Male;
Multiple Myeloma*;
Retrospective Studies*;
Stem Cell Transplantation;
Treatment Outcome*
- From:Korean Journal of Hematology
2001;36(1):9-17
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The prognostic outlook for multiple myeloma has markedly improved in recent decades, which is probably related to the introduction of chemotherapy and the development of supportive care for various complications. In the present work we analysed retrospectively the therapeutic outcomes of newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma treated at Korea Cancer Center Hospital (KCCH). And we studied to identify prognostic factors influencing the therapeutic outcome of the disease. METHODS: Between January 1987 and December 1998, eighty three patients were diagnosed as multiple myeloma by the criteria of Southwestern Oncology Group at KCCH. Of these patients, clinical analysis was performed retrospectively for sixty-one patients who were treated with combination chemotherapy. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 55 years of age, which was lower than that of western countries and 48% of patients were in their 4th decade. Male to female ratio was 1: 1.1. The main chief complaint at diagnosis was bone pain. Ninety-one percent of the patients were clinical stage III. Serum immuno-electrophoresis revealed M-protein as IgG in 41%. The ratio of micro to lambda light chain was 1.5:1. The response rate to initial chemotherapy was 75% (95% C. I.=63.4~86.6%) and median progression free interval was 20.9 months. The median overall survival of total 61 patients was 28.5 months. The patients' age at diagnosis and the response to initial chemotherapy were statistically significant prognostic factors influencing the overall survival of patients. CONCLUSION: This study showed that we could get relatively high response rate with conventional chemotherapy for the patients with multiple myeloma, but, that most patients eventually progressed and the cure was nearly impossible. To obtain cure or to have much longer survival time, we need more delicate strategies including more intensive chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients.
