Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma patients over 70 years: A GIMEMA Lazio Working Group experience in a retrospective case–control study

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) is the standard treatment for young patient ≤65 years with multiple myeloma (MM). The role of auto-SCT in elderly patients older than 70 years remains controversial in the era of novel agents and especially since the recent introduction of monoclonal antibodies (AbMo). In this study, we evaluated 12 patients with MM over 70 years old undergoing auto-SCT (elderly graft cohort) in seven centers of GIMEMA Working Group Lazio. We compared the baseline characteristics, treatment and outcome with 97 MM elderly patients who did not receive auto-SCT (nontransplant patients) from the same registry who were ≥ 70 years old, but did not undergo auto-SCT. The median progression free survival (PFS) for graft versus no-graft cohort was 56.4 versus 26.1 months, respectively. There was a trend for better PFS among graft compared to nontransplant patient (p =.1). On the other hand, the median overall survival for transplant versus nontransplant cohort was 107.6 versus 49.5 months (p =.02). Despite the small number of patients aged ≥70 years and ≤74 years, it seems that auto-SCT is well tolerated, safe and effective. Therefore, we propose that it should be considered an important treatment option in the era of new drugs in elderly fit patients with MM.