Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma after VAD and EDAP courses: a high incidence of oligoclonal serum Igs post transplantation

Thirty-seven patients with multiple myeloma (stage II and III, 65% increased beta2-microglobulin level) were prospectively treated with a median of 3.7 VAD courses (range 2-8) followed by cyclophosphamide (6 g/m2) in conjunction with G-CSF (5 microg/kg filgrastrim (n = 14), or 3.5 microg/kg lenograstrim (n = 22)), and peripheral stem cell (PSC) isolation. After regeneration this was followed by one EDAP course and high-dose melphalan (HDM, 200 mg/m2) in combination with re-infusion of PSC. Adequate stem cell mobilization was obtained with both G-CSF regimens. A median of 41x10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (range 4.5-161) was collected in a median of 1.6 leukapheresis procedures following filgrastrim (n = 14) and 24x10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (range 2. 3-80) in a median of 1.7 leukapheresis procedures following lenograstrim (n = 22) which indicated no significant difference (P = 0.24) between both G-CSF regimens. A rapid hematological recovery was obtained after HDM with reinfusion of a median of 9.3x10(6) CD34+ cells/kg. After the total courses the overall response was 84% with a complete remission rate of 30%. Currently the median overall survival is 44.0 months (95% CI 38.9-49.1) with a median follow-up of 33 months (range 3-51) and a median event-free survival of 29.0 months (95% CI 25.3-32.7) (n = 33). Post transplantation a high incidence of oligloclonal serum immunoglobulins (Igs) was observed. In 73% of the patients new oligoclonal or monoclonal serum bands were noticed 3 months post transplantation. IgG-lambda and IgG-kappa bands predominated. In 48% of the cases the oligoclonal Igs disappeared after a median follow-up of 22 months (range 8-36), whereas in 52% of the cases the oligoclonal Igs persisted with a median follow-up of 31 months (range 21-45), which did not correlate with a significant difference in overall, and event-free survival between both subgroups