High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma

Abstract

Recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews focusing on the significance of high dose therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma patients have shown its benefit in terms of progression-free survival, but no over-all survival benefit versus conventional chemotherapy. New drug-containing regimens, with agents such as iMIDs and proteasome inhibitors, have not yet been established as high-dose therapy, because no phase III RCT has been conducted to date. Although several guidelines recommend maintenance therapy for non-CR patients after transplantation, caution is still warranted because the JSH guideline advocates further careful discussion of this clinical question.