Bortezomib-based induction therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: A single-center experience and review of Indian literature.

INTRODUCTION: High-dose chemotherapy with melphalan, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHCT) remains the standard of care for consolidation therapy of fit patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), for more than 20 years now.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of NDMM patients who underwent AHCT at our center from 2011 to 2018. Data was undertaken using the hospital electronic medical records (EMR).

RESULTS: Among transplant eligible patients (which were 764), 78 patients (10.2%) underwent AHCT. The predominant stage in the study cohort was International Scoring System (ISS)-III (55%), and IgG-kappa (44%) was the commonest subtype of multiple myeloma (MM). Light chain myeloma was found in 23.5% of patients. Pretransplant, 42%, 48%, and 10% patients were in more than very good partial response (>VGPR), very good partial response (VGPR), and partial response (PR), respectively. The median duration of follow-up was 57.2 months (range: 12.1-120.2 months). The entire cohort's 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 89.1% and 41.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Bortezomib based triplet induction regimens were effective and well tolerated in this retrospective analysis of Indian patients. We observed that AHCT effectively achieves deep and durable remission in MM.