[vicstir]

Age and having high-risk multiple myeloma - any link?

by vicstir on Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:23 am

Hello all,

I was wondering if there is a connection between being diagnosed at a young age (under 50) and being in the high risk category?

Thanks Vic

[Multibilly]

Re: Age and having high-risk multiple myeloma - any link?

by Multibilly on Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:16 am

It seems to be quite the opposite Vic.

See this article:

Heinz Ludwig et al, "Myeloma in patients younger than age 50 years presents with more favorable features and shows better survival: an analysis of 10,549 patients from the International Myeloma Working Group", Blood, Apr 2008,111(8)4039-4047

Abstract:

We analyzed the presenting features and survival in 1689 patients with multiple myeloma aged younger than 50 years compared with 8860 patients 50 years of age and older. Of the total 10,549 patients, 7,765 received conventional therapy and 2,784 received high-dose therapy. Young patients were more frequently male, had more favorable features such as low Inter­national Staging System (ISS) and Durie-Salmon stage as well as less frequently ad­verse prognostic factors including high C-reactive protein (CRP), low hemoglobin, in­creased serum creatinine, and poor performance status. Survival was significantly longer in young patients (median, 5.2 years vs 3.7 years; P < .001) both after conventional (median, 4.5 years vs 3.3 years; P < .001) or high-dose therapy (median, 7.5 years vs 5.7 years; P = .04). The 10-year survival rate was 19% after conventional therapy and 43% after high-dose therapy in young patients, and 8% and 29%, respectively, in older patients. Multivariate analysis revealed age as an independent risk factor during conventional therapy, but not after autologous trans­plan­ta­tion. A total of 5 of the 10 independent risk factors identified for conventional therapy were also relevant for autologous transplantation. After adjusting for normal mortality, lower ISS stage and other favorable prognostic features seem to account for the significantly longer survival of young patients with multiple myeloma with age remaining a risk factor during conventional therapy.

http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/111/8/4039 (full text available)

[vicstir]

Re: Age and having high-risk multiple myeloma - any link?

by vicstir on Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:52 pm

Thanks Multibilly,

It just seems that a lot of the younger people that post on this site are "high risk". I was just curious.

yours Vic