Autologous bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplant

Source: Plasma Cell Neoplasms (Including Multiple Myeloma) Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: April 25, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

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Context: Treatment of Multiple Myeloma / Consolidation Therapy

Evidence (autologous bone marrow or peripheral SCT):

The failure of conventional therapy to cure myeloma has led investigators to test the effectiveness of much higher doses of drugs such as melphalan. The development of techniques for harvesting hematopoietic stem cells, from marrow aspirates or the peripheral blood of the patient, and infusing these cells to promote hematopoietic recovery made it possible for investigators to test very large doses of chemotherapy.

Based on the experience of treating thousands of patients in this way, it is possible to draw a few conclusions:

The risk of early death caused by treatment-related toxic effects has been reduced to less than 3% in highly selected populations.[79]

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Extensive prior chemotherapy, especially with alkylating agents, compromises marrow hemopoiesis and may make the harvesting of adequate numbers of hematopoietic stem cells impossible.[61]

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Younger patients in good health tolerate high-dose therapy better than older patients with a poor performance status.[80-82] However, fit patients older than 70 to 75 years can receive autologous SCT consolidation.[83,84]

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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice