Stem Cell Transplantation Procedure Results In Long-term Survival For
Amyloidosis Patients
Aug. 8, 2007
Science Daily — Researchers from the Stem Cell Transplant Program and
the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University
Medical Center (BUMC) have found that high-dose chemotherapy and
blood stem cell transplantation can result in long-term survival for
patients diagnosed with primary systemic light chain (AL)
Amyloidosis.
The findings appear pre-published in the first edition of Blood.
BUMC was the first to begin using this treatment in 1994 and is the
only center to publish these long-term outcome results.
AL amyloidosis occurs when plasma cells in bone marrow produce
proteins that misfold and deposit in tissues, leading to organ
failure and death. Between 1,200 and 3,200 new cases are reported
each year in the United States, although researchers believe the
disease is highly underdiagnosed.
The researchers reviewed the records of 80 patients who received high-
dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation from July 1994
through July 1997. The median survival for all 80 patients was 57
months. Eighteen of these patients, (23 percent) are still alive
today, 10 or more years after undergoing the treatment. By
comparison, only two percent of patients treated with oral melphalan
and prednisone have survived more than 10 years.
According to lead researcher, Vaishali Sanchorawala, MD, an associate
professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, and
clinical director of the Stem Cell Transplant Program, section of
hematology/oncology at BUMC, high-dose intravenous melphalan and
autologous stem cell transplantation has become a first-line
treatment for patients with AL amyloidosis. "However, efforts need to
continue to be directed upon achieving a complete hematologic
response in patients," she says. "We are finding that the proportion
of patients who ultimately achieve a complete response have the
highest rate of long-term survival," she adds.
The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of
Health and the Amyloid Research Fund at Boston University School of
Medicine.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by
Boston University.
http://www.scienced
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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