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Validation of the CIBMTR scoring system in predicting early relapse of multiple myeloma after autologous hematopoietic cell transplant

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 58, pages 1057–1058 (2023)Cite this article

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Outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) have improved over the last decade owing to the introduction of novel induction therapies with immunomodulatory agents and proteasome inhibitors [1, 2]. Consolidation with autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) remains the standard of care management in MM patients who achieve at least partial response to induction therapy [3]. However, relapse remains universal [4]. Patients who experience early relapse after transplant carry a worse poor prognosis regardless of their cytogenetic risk [4]. As such, risk stratification to identify patients that are at an increased risk for early relapse is important as it may guide patient selection and monitoring strategies. Several studies have attempted to identify pre-AHCT factors that predict early disease relapse post-transplant [5, 6]. However, they are not widely implemented in daily practice.

In 2020, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) scoring system was proposed as a tool to identify patients at risk of early relapse post-AHCT [7]. The scoring system relies on each patient’s albumin level at the time of MM diagnosis, bone marrow plasma cell (BMPC) percentage at the time of AHCT, and cytogenetic risk profile to classify them into three risk categories for early relapse post-AHCT. This score has not been externally validated, therefore its use in daily practice is limited. Herein, we aimed to externally validate the CIBMTR score in our internal cohort of MM patients.

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Fig. 1: Outcomes of MM patients post-AHCT as risk-stratified by the CIBMTR score.

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Data would be made available upon request by the editor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Hussein Awada

  2. Multiple Myeloma Program, Blood and Marrow Transplant program, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Ali Hajj Ali, Faiz Anwer, Craig Sauter, Louis Williams & Jack Khouri

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  1. Hussein Awada
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  2. Ali Hajj Ali
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  3. Faiz Anwer
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  4. Craig Sauter
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  5. Louis Williams
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  6. Jack Khouri
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Contributions

HA supervised the study, collected, analyzed, interpreted the data and wrote the manuscript. AHA analyzed, interpreted the data and edited the manuscript. FA, CS, LW and JK provided feedback and important insights to the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hussein Awada.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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This study was approved by the internal Institutional Review Board.

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Awada, H., Hajj Ali, A., Anwer, F. et al. Validation of the CIBMTR scoring system in predicting early relapse of multiple myeloma after autologous hematopoietic cell transplant. Bone Marrow Transplant 58, 1057–1058 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-023-02024-1

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