Bone marrow transplant for multiple myeloma: impact of distance from the transplant center
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Published on: August 31, 2016
Brea C Lipe1, Frederick Lansigan, Jiang Gui
1Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Westwood, Kansas 66205, USA. blipe@kumc.edu
Insights
Geographic distance from a transplant center did not negatively impact survival for multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). These findings indicate that distance should not deter eligible patients from receiving this life-saving treatment.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a critical treatment for multiple myeloma.
- Geographic accessibility to transplant centers may influence patient outcomes.
- Understanding prognostic variables is crucial for optimizing ASCT efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between patient distance from a transplant center and outcomes after ASCT for multiple myeloma.
- To identify if geographic factors impact overall survival and disease-free survival post-transplantation.
- To evaluate the influence of distance as a prognostic variable in ASCT for multiple myeloma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 77 multiple myeloma patients who underwent ASCT.
- Examination of patient distance from the transplant center using linear regression and univariate analysis.
- Kaplan-Meier curves for overall and event-free survival assessment, with Cox regression for adjusted analysis.
Main Results:
- Increased distance from the transplant center was associated with improved overall survival (P=.004).
- No significant impact of distance on disease-free survival was observed (P=.26).
- Prognostic variables, including distance, were analyzed adjusting for patient, disease, and treatment factors.
Conclusions:
- Distance from a transplant center does not appear to be a negative prognostic factor for ASCT in multiple myeloma.
- Eligible patients with multiple myeloma should not be deterred from ASCT due to their proximity to a transplant facility.
- Further research may explore the reasons behind the observed correlation between increased distance and improved overall survival.
Purpose:
This study investigated the impact of prognostic variables, including the distance a patient lives from a transplant center, on the outcome of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma.
Methods:
This retrospective analysis included 77 myeloma patients who received an ASCT at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center between 1996 and 2009, 70 of whom were treated between 2002 and 2009. Using linear regression and univariate analysis, we examined the impact of distance from the transplant center on survival. Kaplan-Meier curves identified overall and event-free survival. An association between distance from the transplant center and survival was examined using Cox regression analysis, while adjusting for patient-, disease-, and treatment-related variables.
Results:
Increasing distance from the transplant center correlated with improved overall survival (P=.004), but had no impact on disease-free survival (P=.26).
Conclusions:
These results suggest that the distance from a transplant center should not be a barrier to ASCT for eligible patients with multiple myeloma.
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