Search

Summary: Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a genetic multisystem disorder with frequent involvement of the bone marrow. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only definitive cure to restore haematopoiesis, even though it cannot correct other organ dysfunctions. We collected data on the outcome of HSCT in the largest cohort of DC (n = 94) patients ever studied. Overall survival (OS) and event‐free survival (EFS) at 3 years after HSCT were 66% and 62%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed better outcomes in patients aged less than 20 years and in patients transplanted from a matched, rather than a mismatched, donor. OS and EFS curves tended to decline over time. Early lethal events were infections, whereas organ damage and secondary malignancies appeared afterwards, even a decade after HSCT. A non‐myeloablative conditioning regimen appeared to be most advisable. Organ impairment present before HSCT seemed to favour the development of chronic graft‐versus‐host disease and T‐B immune deficiency appeared to enhance pulmonary fibrosis. According to the present data, HSCT in DC is indicated in cases of progressive marrow failure, whereas in patients with pre‐existing organ damage, this should be carefully evaluated. Further efforts to investigate treatment alternatives to HSCT should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document explains some of the relevant methodological issues involved in planning a clinical study using survival and time-to-event outcome data, particularly in the field of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and indicates the appropriate statistical methods to use for the analysis. As the majority of these methods are commonly used in survival and event-history analysis, this document discusses their potential and limitations with reference to common SCT research situations. Some reference is given to methods, recently appearing in the literature that may be capable of handling complex investigations. These guidelines also address various practical issues, such as recoding or transforming variables in regression models or reporting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Stem cell transplantation has a place in the management of many patients with hematological disorders, but is no longer the final and definitive treatment for most of these individuals. The relapsing patient may be offered further therapy, and evaluating the contribution of the treatments available has become statistically challenging. This study was designed to evaluate further the benefit and timing of double autologous transplantation in the management of patients with myeloma. Materials and Methods: We investigated the potential benefit of a second autologous transplantation for myeloma before relapse or progression (“elective” transplantation) and the importance of the timing of the procedure using a multistate approach. We used data from 7452 patients with myeloma who received autologous transplantation and who were reported to the registry of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Results: With use of statistical and visual models, the multistate approach shows the benefit of being able to undergo a second transplantation within 12 months of the first transplantation. Conclusion: Our study focuses on the importance of appropriate statistical analysis and illustrates how use of the Cox model within a multistate framework may be applied to the assessment of the role of an intermediate event in the disease process. The study illustrates both mathematically and visually the improved survival resulting from undertaking an elective second transplantation in patients with myeloma as soon as medically prudent—usually within 3 to 6 months of the first transplantation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]