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. 2012:2012:916479.
doi: 10.1155/2012/916479. Epub 2012 May 23.

Curability of multiple myeloma

Raymond Alexanian  1 , Kay Delasalle, Michael Wang, Sheeba Thomas, Donna Weber
Affiliations

Curability of multiple myeloma

Raymond Alexanian et al. Bone Marrow Res. 2012.

Abstract

Among 792 patients with multiple myeloma treated from 1987 to 2010 and assessed after 18 months, there were 167 patients with complete remission. For those 60 patients treated between 1987-1998 and with long followup, the latest relapse occurred after 11.8 years, so that 13 patients have remained in sustained complete remission for longer than 12 years (range 12-22 years). These results suggest that 3% of all patients treated during that period may be cured of multiple myeloma. In addition to immunofixation, more sensitive techniques for the detection of residual disease should be applied more consistently in patients with apparent complete remission in order to identify those with potential cure.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Survival after landmark of 18 months for all patients (a) and for those with NR, PR, or CR as best response at 18 months, with patients separated by early versus later treatment period. Note: longer survival among all patients treated recently but similar survival for patients with the same response status.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Durations of complete remission for 60 patients treated from 1987 to 1998 and for 107 patients treated from 1999 to 2010 (a). Durations of complete remission for the same group of patients after landmark of 3 years following primary therapy (b).
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