Allogeneic Hematopoetic Cell Transplantation in Multiple Myeloma

The improvement in the survival of multiple myeloma patients has been attributed to autol‐ ogous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after induction with novel agents [1,2]. Nevertheless, ASCT has not been considered to have a curative potential, maintenance treatment seems to be one of the solutions to decrease the high relapse rates after ASCT [3]. Therefore, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) is a potentially curative approach; the role of allo-SCT is still an ongoing debate due to high transplant-related mortality and lack of large prospective randomized studies in the newly diagnosed patients. A retrospective case-matched analysis was performed comparing myeloma patients treated with Allo-SCT with an equal number of patients who received ASCT by European Group for Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant (EBMT) [4]. Overall survival (OS) for the whole patient group was significantly better for the ASCT group compared with those for allo-SCT (Median survival: 34 months vs 18 months, p=. 001). Therefore, we should answer the question of which patients with multiple myeloma have to be directed to allo-SCT modality.