A study, led by Dr. Joan Blad, researcher of the Haematooncology Group of Hospital Cl'nic-IDIBAPS (Barcelona), in collaboration with Dr. Laura Rosi'ol, researcher of the same group, assessed the efficiency in terms of response and survival of autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients suffering from refractory myeloma previously having undergone high-dose chemotherapy (HDT).
Results were conclusive; in patients suffering from resistant myeloma, neither did transplantation show any benefits nor increased survival.
This research work, conducted within the frame of the PETHEMA network, was carried out from October 1999 to December 2000. It was coordinated from Hospital Cl'nic, Barcelona and had the participation of the six following Spanish hospitals: Hospital Cl'nico de Salamanca, Hospital de Sant Pau, Hospital Son Dureta Palma de Mallorca, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Hospital Ram'n y Cajal de Madrid, Hospital La Fe de Valencia. A total of 829 patients under 65 years and suffering from newly diagnosed multiple myeloma underwent 6 chemotherapy treatment cycles.