[tpt]

Response to stem cell transplant - some questions

by tpt on Wed Feb 12, 2014 9:33 am

Hello,

Dad has p53del (high-risk). He had ASCT in Sept 1st. His numbers are as follows:

Sept: Kappa 150; ratio N/A (just before transplant)
Dec: Kappa 40; ratio 3 (100 days post-transplant)
Feb: Kappa 30; ratio 2 (150 days post-transplant)

Doctors suggested to see him in April (~200 days post-transplant) to start Velcade maintenance once every two weeks. He has been treatment-free since transplant.

Two questions:
1. Can his number go down even further?
2. What do you call his response--CR, VGPR, etc.?

Thanks.

[Multibilly]

Re: Response to stem cell transplant - some questions

by Multibilly on Wed Feb 12, 2014 10:06 am

Hi TPT,

Congrats on the improvements thus far.

You can't evaluate a response just based on freelite numbers. Other factors come into play.

This is how you measure response:

https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2009/03/13/current-information-on-response-criteria-for-multiple-myeloma/

Sure, his numbers could improve further, but only time will tell.