Clinical Characteristics and Treatments Outcomes in Elderly Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Aim: Multiple Myeloma is an incurable fatal disease accounts for 1% of all the cancer and 10% of the haematological malignancies. Generally, it is seen in elderly population.The aim of the present study was to present our experience in 106 Multiple Myeloma patients aged 65 years or older and treated with different regimens during the 5 years term preceding the study.

Method: In order to analyse the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of the Multiple Myeloma patients over 65 years, data were gathered retrospectively from 5 different centres in Turkey.

Results: A total of 105 elderly Multiple Myeloma patients (aged 65 years or older) composed of 51 males and 54 females were evaluated retrospectively. Vincristine, Adriamisin, Dexamethasone (VAD), Bortezomib, Cyclophosphamide, Dexamethasone (VCD), Melphalan, Prednisolone (MP) Melphalan, Prednisolone, Thalidomide (MPT) regimens were given as the first line. 29 patients yielded complete responses and 18 of these patients underwent autologous stem cell transplantation. In 46 patients out of those not yielding a full response  were treated with bortezomib, lenalidomide and thalidomide based second line treatments. 29 of those treated with a second line treatment yielded a complete response and 20 of these patients underwent autologous stem cell transplantation.  16 patients not responding to the first and second line treatments were treated with a third line treatment using a lenalidomide based (n=10) and thalidomide based (n=6) regimens. 5 patients were subjected to autologous stem cell transplantation due to remission status.

Conclusions: An optimal treatment approach should make a productive, safe and high quality life possible while the aim should be to ensure a disease-free survival and prolong the general survival along with obtaining a full response.

Key Words: Autologous stem cell transplantation, Elderly patients, Haematological malignancies, Multiple Myeloma, Optimal treatment.