To Transplant or Not to Transplant for Multiple Myeloma

There is no clear-cut rule on whether it is better to transplant or not to transplant for multiple myeloma, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is usually available if the patient is a candidate for transplantation. Multiple myeloma is a malignant proliferative disease of plasma cells, which often manifests itself in symptoms such as anemia, chest pain, and low back pain. No treatment is usually needed for asymptomatic people, and systematic treatment is needed for those who develop symptoms. 1. Studies have shown that early autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation results in better progression-free survival and significantly prolongs the duration of asymptomatic as well as treatment-free toxicity. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is recommended for multiple myeloma patients <65 years of age who are in good general condition, and maintenance therapy is available after transplantation, which can maximize survival time and reduce the risk of disease recurrence. 2. When patients experience disease progression after autologous transplantation, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be performed as appropriate to prolong survival. Therefore, if multiple myeloma is suitable for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the treatment effect is generally better.