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Prediction of survival using absolute lymphocyte count for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma.

7605 Background: In the setting of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in multiple myeloma (MM), it has been shown that peripheral blood absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) on day 15 is an independent prognostic factor for clinical outcomes. Recently the International Staging System (ISS) for MM has been developed as a simple staging system to assess survival in newly diagnosed MM patients. The role of ALC on survival in newly diagnosed MM patients is unknown.


METHODS
Between 1994 and 2002, 1,835 consecutive MM patients were evaluated at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Of these patients, we retrospectively analyzed 584 MM patients that were originally diagnosed and followed at the Mayo Clinic. The primary end point was to assess the role of ALC at the time of MM diagnosis on overall survival (OS). OS was measured from the date of diagnosis to time of death or last follow-up. ALC was analyzed as a continuous variable and dichotomized based on finding the optimal cut point based on the log-rank statistic. ALC was then compared to the ISS.


RESULTS
The median age of the cohort was 67 years (range: 29-94 years), including 234 females and 350 males. The median follow-up was 32 months (range: 1-136 months). The median ALC at diagnosis was 1.2 x 109/L (range: 0.12-5.44 x 109/L). ALC, as a continuos variables was identified as a prognostic factor for OS (HR= 0.466, 95%CI= 0.396-0.547, p < 0.0001). MM patients with an ALC ≥ 1.3 x 109/L experienced a superior OS compared with MM patients with an ALC < 1.3 x 109/L (55.5 months versus 22.6 months, p< 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, ALC was independent prognostic factor when compared to the ISS (HR = 0.580, 95%CI=0.518-0.647, p< 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that ALC at diagnosis for MM is an independent prognostic factor for OS, suggesting how the host immune status plays a critical role in the survival of patients with MM. No significant financial relationships to disclose.