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Impact of age, race and decade of treatment on overall survival in a critical population analysis of 40,000 multiple myeloma patients

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Abstract

With the availability of novel agents, the overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) has improved over the last decade. Data on 40,294 MM patients in the years from 1973 to 2003 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) of the US National Cancer Institute. Statistical analyses evaluating gender, race, age, and year of diagnosis were performed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models for the OS endpoint. The mean patient age at diagnosis was 68.3 years. Mean survival was 30 months (median = 19 months). Asian/Pacific Islander race was associated with an improved OS, HR 0.90 (CI 0.86–0.95, P < 0.001). American Indian/Alaska Native race was associated with a decreased OS, HR 1.18 (CI 1.01–1.38, P = 0.040). Multivariate analysis did not reveal statistically significant differences in OS between patients in the white and black race (P = 0.709). Younger age (age <65, and 65–75) was associated with improved OS when compared with patients >75 years of age (all P < 0.001). Recent treatment decades (1983–1992 and 1993–2003) were associated with improved OS on multivariate analysis with HR 0.88 (CI 0.88–0.89, P < 0.001) and HR 0.83 (CI 0.81–0.85, P < 0.001), respectively. As the largest population analysis to date, this study reveals a statistically significant improvement in OS for patients who were treated in more recent decades, even before the availability of novel agents. Patients who were <65 years of age and Asian/Pacific Islander race groups exhibited superior levels of OS, whereas American Indian/Alaska Native groups had decreased OS.

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Notes

  1. Personal written communication with the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) M, WI. The data presented here are preliminary and were obtained from the Statistical Center of CIBMTR. The analysis has not been reviewed or approved by the Advisory or Scientific Committees of the CIBMTR.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Rachel Garman and the entire Cancer Care Northwest research staff for their contributions to this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inland Northwest Myeloma/Lymphoma & Transplant Program of Cancer Care Northwest, Cancer Care Northwest, 601 S. Sherman Street, Spokane, WA, 99202, USA

    Hakan Kaya, Irfan Jawed, Danko Martincic, Ameer L. Elaimy, Wayne T. Lamoreaux, Robert K. Fairbanks, Kevin A. Weeks & Christopher M. Lee

  2. DataWorks Northwest, LLC, Coeur D’Alene, ID, USA

    Benjamin Peressini

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  1. Hakan Kaya
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Correspondence to Hakan Kaya.

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Kaya, H., Peressini, B., Jawed, I. et al. Impact of age, race and decade of treatment on overall survival in a critical population analysis of 40,000 multiple myeloma patients. Int J Hematol 95, 64–70 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-011-0971-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-011-0971-z

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