[LadyLib]

Tandem Transplants - Benefits? How Far Apart?

by LadyLib on Wed Oct 09, 2013 12:05 am

We briefly discussed doing tandem transplants for my husband. I am trying to see what the benefit is. Why would this be recommended as an option? Is their rule or best practice that states how far the tandem transplants should be apart? Could you wait to see how your body handles first transplant?

[Dr. Peter Voorhees]

Re: Tandem Transplants - Benefits? How Far Apart?

by Dr. Peter Voorhees on Sun Oct 13, 2013 4:04 pm

Dear LadyLib,

The benefit of a tandem transplant is an open question in this day and age of myeloma treatment. An on-going study (CTN-0702) is actively addressing this issue. A previous study out of France demonstrated a survival benefit to the use of a tandem transplant but only for those whose disease was not in a "very good partial remission" or better after the first transplant. Many patients these days are already in a very good partial remission or better even before the first transplant. As such, it is not done as much these days.

I would only consider it if your husband has high-risk disease, tolerates transplant #1 well, has a clear knock-down in disease burden with transplant #1, and is in need of further reduction of disease burden after transplant #1.

Hope this helps.

Take care!

Pete V.