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Multiple Myeloma Gammopathies

Improved survival in multiple myeloma during the 2005–2009 and 2010–2014 periods

Leukemia volume 35, pages 3600–3603 (2021)Cite this article

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Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy involving plasma cells. The disease is mainly localized within the bone marrow, leading to bone destruction, anemia, hypercalcemia, and/or renal failure due to monoclonal immunoglobulin precipitation [1]. For a long time, MM has been described as an incurable cancer, even though recent trials with novel drugs have demonstrated projected long survival, suggesting that some patients could currently be considered as cured [2,3,4,5]. One of the main characteristics of the disease is the huge heterogeneity in evolution. Overall survival (OS) extends from a few weeks in ultra-high-risk patients, to more than 15 years in so-called low-risk patients, even though their definition is currently largely unknown. These OS differences are supposed to reflect the extreme molecular heterogeneity observed within the malignant plasma cells. In contrast to non-Hodgkin lymphomas, no subclassification of MM has been described based on the recurrent chromosomal abnormalities, and all the patients receive the same treatments. The only factor dictating treatment is age, defining transplant-eligible (TE) patients, and non-transplant-eligible (NTE) ones. Among the recurrent chromosomal abnormalities, several have been associated with shorter survival, the so-called high-risk features. The International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) identified three high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities: del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16), with an incidence of 7–10%, 12–15%, and 3%, respectively [6].

Very few large studies have analyzed the long-term survival of patients with MM [7]. The main reason is that prospective trials are mainly focused on progression-free survival (PFS), with very little attempt to analyze the long-term OS. In order to analyze the survival of patients in “real life,” we decided to analyze a large series of patients treated in France. In order to evaluate potential progress in PFS and OS over time, we focused on two groups of patients, a first one defined by diagnosis between January 1st, 2005 and December 31st, 2009, and a second one defined by diagnosis between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2014.

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Fig. 1: Comparison of survivals for the two periods (2005-2009 and 2010–2014).

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome for providing patient samples and clinical data. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute Grants PO1-155258 and P50-100707 (HA-L) and the Cancer Pharmacology of Toulouse and Region (CAPTOR) program. The Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse Team 13 is supported by the Fondation ARC (Association pour la Recherche sur la Cancer, grant PGA1*20160203788).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Aurore Perrot, Jill Corre

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IUC Oncopole, Toulouse, and CRCT, Toulouse, France

    Jill Corre, Aurore Perrot & Hervé Avet-loiseau

  2. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Bordeaux, France

    Cyrille Hulin

  3. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Dijon, France

    Denis Caillot

  4. Hematology Department, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France

    Anne-Marie Stoppa

  5. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Lille, France

    Thierry Facon

  6. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Poitiers, France

    Xavier Leleu

  7. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Angers, France

    Mamoun Dib

  8. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Lyon, France

    Lionel Karlin

  9. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Nantes, France

    Philippe Moreau

  10. Hematology Department, Saint-Antoine University Hospital, Paris, France

    Mohamad Mohty

  11. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Grenoble, France

    Clara Mariette

  12. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Besancon, France

    Jean Fontan

  13. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Amiens, France

    Jean-Pierre Marolleau

  14. Hematology Department, Hospital, Dunkerque, France

    Hélène Demarquette

  15. Hematology Department, Hospital, Avignon, France

    Borane Slama

  16. Hematology Department, Hospital, Chalon, France

    Laurent Voillat

  17. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Caen, France

    Margaret Macro

  18. Hematology Department, Hospital, Annecy, France

    Frédérique Orsini-Piocelle

  19. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Bobigny, France

    Sabine Brechignac

  20. Hematology Department, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France

    Philippe Rey

  21. Hematology Department, Institut Cancerologie Loire, Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France

    Philippe Collet

  22. Hematology Department, Hospital, La Roche sur Yon, France

    Mourad Tiab

  23. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Creteil, France

    Karim Belhadj

  24. Hematology Department, Hospital, Dax, France

    François Lifermann

  25. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Nancy, France

    Lauriane Clement-Filliatre

  26. Hematology Department, Hospital, Toulon, France

    Claudine Sohn

  27. Hematology Department, University Hospital, Nice, France

    Valentine Richez

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  1. Jill Corre
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on behalf of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome (IFM)

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Correspondence to Hervé Avet-loiseau.

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Corre, J., Perrot, A., Hulin, C. et al. Improved survival in multiple myeloma during the 2005–2009 and 2010–2014 periods. Leukemia 35, 3600–3603 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-021-01250-0

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