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Improved outcomes with novel agents and auto-SCT for multiple myeloma in African-American patients

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 48, pages 319–320 (2013)Cite this article

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Multiple myeloma (MM) has double the incidence rate and younger age of presentation in African-Americans (AA) compared with Caucasians.1 Significant improvements in the treatment of MM have been made with the advent of the immunomodulatory drugs (IMIDs), such as thalidomide and lenalidomide, and the proteosome inhibitor bortezomib when used both as front line and salvage therapies.2, 3 Although comparable outcomes of AA and non-AA patients with standard chemotherapy were previously demonstrated, it is not known whether IMIDs or bortezomib can improve the outcome in MM patients of different ethnicity.4

To address this question, we consecutively analyzed 56 newly diagnosed MM patients (26 AA, 30 non-AA) who received induction therapy at our institution from January 2003 to June 2011. All of the patients received induction therapy with one or more of the new agents (IMIDs or bortezomib) in addition to either dexamethasone or prednisone (Table 1). Of 56 patients, 48 then received high-dose melphalan followed by auto-SCT.5 Patients were staged according to the Durie–Salmon criteria6 and prognostic criteria according to β2-microglobulin, and serum albumin levels were also analyzed.7 Response criteria were assessed according to the International Uniform Response criteria.8

Table 1 Characteristics of AA and non-AA patients (differences in the two groups were calculated by means of the Student’s t-test and χ2-test)
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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago and University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    S L Saraf, P Patel, H Ozer, D J Peace, J G Quigley, N Mahmud & D Rondelli

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  1. S L Saraf
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  2. P Patel
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  3. H Ozer
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  4. D J Peace
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  5. J G Quigley
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  6. N Mahmud
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  7. D Rondelli
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Correspondence to D Rondelli.

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Saraf, S., Patel, P., Ozer, H. et al. Improved outcomes with novel agents and auto-SCT for multiple myeloma in African-American patients. Bone Marrow Transplant 48, 319–320 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2012.148

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