Multiples Myelom: Hochdosistherapie und Stammzelltransplantation

High-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice in patients aged ≤70 years with advanced multiple myeloma. Based on documented survival benefit after high-dose therapy in several randomized and case-control studies in comparison to conventional chemotherapy, multiple myeloma has become one of the main indications for performing high-dose therapy with stem cell transplantation. New forms of allogeneic stem cell transplantation has rendered this treatment method also safer for patients with multiple myeloma and has resulted in high response rates and rates of complete remission never before obtained. Particularly in patients fulfilling high-risk criteria, i.e., with chromosomal aberrations (e.g., 13q deletion), studies currently underway are employing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.