Validating the Korean Geriatric Assessment Tool in Elderly Multiple Myeloma Patients: A Multicenter Study
- Author:
Ji Yun LEE
1
;
Sang-A KIM
;
Youngil KOH
;
Ho-Young YHIM
;
Gyeong-Won LEE
;
Chang-Ki MIN
;
Young Rok DO
;
Hyo Jung KIM
;
Sung Hwa BAE
;
Hyeon-Seok EOM
;
Sung-Hoon JUNG
;
Hyunkyung PARK
;
Seung-Hyun NAM
;
Ji Hyun LEE
;
Sung-Hyun KIM
;
Hyun Jung LEE
;
Young Seob PARK
;
Soo-Mee BANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Cancer Research and Treatment 2026;58(1):311-319
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:This study evaluates the Korean Cancer Study Group Geriatric Score-7 (KG-7) frailty screening tool’s effectiveness in elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients to prevent under and overtreatment.
Materials and Methods:This prospective pilot cohort study included 100 elderly patients aged 70 and older with newly diagnosed MM who had not undergone transplantation from August 2020 to January 2022.
Results:The median age was 77 years, and 73.0% of patients were classified at International Staging System stages 2 or 3. Using a 5-point cutoff on the KG-7 index (non-frail, score ≥ 5; frail, score < 5), 31% were categorized as frail. After a median follow-up of 26.8 months, the 3-year overall survival rate was 73.0%. There was no statistically significant association between any frailty index and the risk of death. However, frail patients defined by the simplified frailty index (hazard ratio [HR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 5.95; p=0.030) and by KG-7 (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.03 to 5.86; p=0.043) had a significantly higher risk of grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicity, whereas the International Myeloma Working Group definition did not. Over a 24-month tracking period, vulnerability as measured by KG-7 either improved or deteriorated.
Conclusion:The pilot study, which had a limited number of participants, did not demonstrate KG-7’s effectiveness in predicting survival; however, it successfully predicted severe non-hematologic toxicities. We plan to conduct larger studies in elderly MM patients to determine whether KG-7 can help tailor their treatment regimens.
