Number And Type Of Stem Cell Transplants Carried Out Each Year For Multiple Myeloma Vary Markedly Across U.S. Cancer Centers
Statistics compiled by The Myeloma Beacon show there is substantial variation across U.S. cancer centers in the number of autologous (own) stem cell transplants the centers perform each year for people with multiple myeloma.
The five busiest U.S. centers in terms of autologous transplants for multiple myeloma carried out an average of 236 such transplants per center in 2017, the latest year for which data are publicly available. That is a pace equal to almost one transplant per weekday at each of the five centers.
In contrast, across the other 134 other U.S. centers that performed autologous transplants in multiple myeloma patients in 2017, the average number of such transplants per center was 47, or less than one transplant per week.
The statistics compiled by The Beacon also reveal that allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplants for people with multiple myeloma are very rare. In 2017, just 49 U.S. cancer centers performed allogeneic stem cell transplants in patients with multiple myeloma, and only three centers carried out more than 10 such procedures during the entire year.
Across the 49 centers that performed allogeneic transplants for multiple myeloma patients in 2017, the average number of such transplants for the year was less than 4 per center.
The stem cell transplant statistics compiled by The Beacon can be found in the report “Number Of Stem Cell Transplants Carried Out At U.S. Multiple Myeloma Treatment Centers,” which The Beacon published earlier today. The report features an interactive table with transplant statistics for 149 U.S. cancer centers. Results in the table are likely to be of significant interest to patients, caregivers, and medical professionals in the U.S. and internationally.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplants
Table 1 below lists in descending order the 20 U.S. cancer centers that in 2017 performed the most autologous (own) stem cell transplants for multiple myeloma patients. The data in the table are a subset of the data in the broader Beacon report mentioned above.
The column in Table 1 labeled “MM” lists the number of autologous transplants carried out at each center for patients with multiple myeloma.
The column in Table 1 labeled “MM + Others” lists the number of autologous transplants carried out at each center in patients with either multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. From 2012 to 2106, autologous transplants for patients with these three diseases accounted for 89 percent of all autologous transplants carried out in the United States.
Table 1
U.S. Cancer Centers Performing The Most
Autologous Stem Cell Transplants
For Multiple Myeloma Patients In 2017
# | State | Center | MM | MM + Other |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | AR | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | 273 | 293 |
2 | MN | Mayo Clinic Rochester | 251 | 344 |
3 | CA | City of Hope | 231 | 393 |
4 | GA | Emory University Hospital | 218 | 279 |
5 | TX | M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | 207 | 324 |
6 | IL | Northwestern Medicine | 197 | 234 |
7 | NJ | Hackensack University Medical Center | 182 | 233 |
8 | NY | Mount Sinai Medical Center | 180 | 204 |
9 | FL | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute | 144 | 231 |
10 | NC | Duke University Medical Center | 139 | 189 |
11 | MA | Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Adults) | 135 | 229 |
12 | PA | Abramson Cancer Center University of Pennsylvania Medical Center | 135 | 180 |
13 | OH | Ohio State Medical Center, James Cancer Center | 128 | 196 |
14 | KS | University of Kansas | 126 | 187 |
15 | MO | Barnes Jewish Hospital | 123 | 191 |
16 | NY | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Adults) | 111 | 214 |
17 | WI | Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital | 111 | 158 |
18 | CO | Colorado Blood Cancer Institute | 106 | 159 |
19 | WA | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center | 106 | 173 |
20 | CA | Stanford Health Care | 105 | 216 |
Source: The Myeloma Beacon, "Number Of Stem Cell Transplants Carried Out At U.S. Multiple Myeloma Treatment Centers", August 13, 2019. |
Many of the entries in Table 1 are centers one would expect to be among the most active U.S. cancer centers when it comes to performing autologous stem cell transplants for people with multiple myeloma. There are some entries, however, that may come as a surprise to many Beacon readers, such as Northwestern University (Illinois), the University of Kansas, Barnes Jewish Hospital (Missouri), Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital (Wisconsin), and the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute.
In general, the number of transplants performed at a center will depend on
- The number of myeloma patients regularly under the care of physicians at the center
- How often physicians at the center recommend that their patients undergo autologous stem cell transplantation
- How many transplants a patient at the center typically receives when they undergo autologous stem cell transplantation (that is, does the center typically perform single or tandem stem cell transplants?)
Of these three factors, the third is particularly important. A center that prefers tandem stem cell transplantation, which is two stem cell transplants carried out within a short period of time, can have double the number of transplants each year compared to other centers with comparable numbers of myeloma patients and specialists.
It should not come as a surprise, therefore, that several hospitals find themselves in Table 1 precisely because they are more likely than other centers to carry out tandem, rather than single, stem cell transplants. This is certainly the case with the very first entry in the table, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), which has a long history of encouraging tandem stem cell transplantation in myeloma patients under its care.
Tandem transplantation also is likely to play a role in the results for Northwestern Medicine, Hackensack University Medical Center, and Mount Sinai Medical Center, which are centers with myeloma specialists also more inclined to tandem transplantation than specialists at other centers.
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants
Table 2 below lists in descending order the 10 U.S. cancer centers that in 2017 performed the most allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplants for multiple myeloma patients. Once again, this table is a subset of the data in the broader Beacon report mentioned earlier.
The column in Table 2 labeled “MM” lists the number of allogeneic transplants carried out at each center for patients with multiple myeloma.
The column in Table 2 labeled “MM + Others” lists the number of allogeneic transplants carried out at each center in patients with either multiple myeloma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Hodgkin lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or severe aplastic anemia. From 2012 to 2016, allogeneic transplants for patients with these seven diseases accounted for 80 percent of all allogeneic transplants carried out in the United States.
Table 2
U.S. Cancer Centers Performing
The Most Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants
For Multiple Myeloma Patients In 2017
# | State | Center | MM | MM + Other |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | NJ | Hackensack University Medical Center | 24 | 128 |
2 | WI | Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital | 22 | 102 |
3 | MD | The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins | 13 | 210 |
4 | NY | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Adults) | 9 | 161 |
5 | TX | M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | 8 | 261 |
6 | WA | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center | 7 | 212 |
7 | IL | Northwestern Medicine | 7 | 108 |
8 | NY | Roswell Park Cancer Institute | 6 | 68 |
9 | CA | City of Hope | 5 | 283 |
10 | FL | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute | 4 | 168 |
Source: The Myeloma Beacon, "Number Of Stem Cell Transplants Carried Out At U.S. Multiple Myeloma Treatment Centers", August 13, 2019. |
It’s clear from Table 2 that allogeneic transplants for multiple myeloma are rare, and just two or three U.S. cancer centers are performing such transplants regularly. Indeed, most of the centers in Table 2 are carrying out just single digit numbers of allogeneic transplants each year for multiple myeloma patients.
This does not mean that allogeneic transplants are generally rare at U.S. cancer centers. Indeed, several of the centers listed in Table 2 are performing more than 200 allogeneic transplants each year for diseases other than multiple myeloma. The experience that comes from carrying out so many allogeneic transplants in general may be a consideration when someone with multiple myeloma is considering where to have an allogeneic transplant carried out.
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For autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant statistics for all U.S. cancer centers that performed transplants for multiple myeloma patients in 2017, please be sure to consult the Beacon's detailed online report, "Number Of Stem Cell Transplants Carried Out At U.S. Multiple Myeloma Treatment Centers."
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- U.S. FDA Okays First Clinical Trial Of An Allogeneic CAR T-Cell Therapy For Multiple Myeloma
- Stem Cell Transplantation May Be Underutilized In Multiple Myeloma Patients In Their 80s
- ECT-001 Granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) Designation By U.S. FDA
- Revlimid, Velcade, and Dexamethasone, Followed By Stem Cell Transplantation, Yields Deep Responses And Considerable Overall Survival In Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Very interesting! I had tandem autologous stem cell transplants as part of a UAMS clinical trial in 2009. I remain curious about the future course of transplants in multiple myeloma treatment plans and will stay tuned to the Myeloma Beacon for future news. As always, thank you!