Single-Center Real-World Experience of Multiple Myeloma in the 21st Century

Background/Aims: The incidence of multiple myeloma (MM) in Korea is rapidly increasing. The diagnostic criteria of MM have been updated and novel therapeutic agents are available. This study explored the features of MM patients registered at Asan Medical Center (AMC) and the outcomes over the past 15 years.Methods: Data were obtained from the AMC MM registry, which has been collecting the data of MM patients prospectively. The 774 MM patients included in our analysis were diagnosed from 2003, when thalidomide became available as a novel therapeutic agent, until April 2019. The 2-year survival rate of these patients was assessed. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were older or younger than 65 years, which is the cutoff age for the indication of autologous stem cell transplantation. Patients were also grouped according to the year of diagnosis: up to 2006, when bortezomib became available, and up to 2010, when the cost of lenalidomide was reimbursed.Results: Patients < 65 years of age had better prognostic features, including a better performance, less advanced disease stage, and fewer abnormalities in their fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis results. A comparison of our Korean patients with patients registered in the Myeloma Related Disorder Registry data of Australia and New Zealand, showed ethnic discrepancies. The median overall survival of all patients was 3.7 years, with a 5-year survival rate of 41.8% and a 10-year survival rate of 23.4%. Survival progressively improved in patients diagnosed later. Age, performance status, renal function, C-reactive protein level, lactate dehydrogenase level, and cytogenetic findings were identified as significant prognostic factors.Conclusions: This real-world survey revealed the clinical features and survival rates of patients at a tertiary Korean Hospital who were diagnosed with MM at the beginning of 21st century.