Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is considered to be the best method to achieve deep haematological/organ responses and improve survival in selected patients with AL amyloidosis. This field has been led by US centres and is less utilised in Europe. The introduction of effective chemotherapy agents for AL prompted us to re-evaluate UK outcomes of ASCT in affected patients. A total of 264 AL amyloidosis patients treated with an ASCT between 1994 and 2018 were identified. Patient baseline characteristics, transplant-related mortality (TRM) and overall survival (OS) were analysed. The median OS post-ASCT was 87 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 77-106 months]. The median time from ASCT to next treatment was 48 months (95% CI: 29-55 months). A haematological response was achieved in 94·8% of patients and was a strong predictor of time to next treatment [P < 0·0001, hazard ratio (HR) = 1·75, 95% CI = 1·35-2·28] and OS (P = 0·007, HR = 1·91, 95% CI = 1·19-3·07). Organ response was: cardiac (n = 28, 60·9%), renal (n = 101, 76%) and liver (n = 7, 13·5%). Overall TRM was 8·7%, with a significant reduction over time (1994-2000: 18·8%; 2001-2006: 13·6%; 2007-2012: 6·2%; 2013-2018: 1·1%). In conclusion, ASCT is significantly safer and remains a highly effective treatment with excellent long-term survival; it should be more widely considered as a treatment option for systemic AL amyloidosis.
Keywords: AL amyloidosis; autologous stem cell transplant; organ response; survival outcomes; transplant-related mortality.
© 2019 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.