Ten-year survivors in AL amyloidosis: characteristics and treatment pattern

Br J Haematol. 2019 Dec;187(5):588-594. doi: 10.1111/bjh.16096. Epub 2019 Jul 12.

Abstract

Improvement in survival in Light chain (AL) amyloidosis has been seen over recent decades, enabling more patients to achieve long-term survival. Patients with AL amyloidosis who survived ≥10 years from time of diagnosis (n = 186) were the subject of this study. Ten-year survivors represented 22% of the total population. These patients were characterized by favourable patient, organ and plasma cell features. Of note, trisomies were less common among 10-year survivors compared to those who did not survive to 10 years. All-time best haematological response was complete response in 67%, very good partial response in 30%, partial response in 2% and no response in 1%, with 11% having received a consolidative strategy for inadequate response to first line therapy. The overall organ response rate to first-line therapy was 76%, which increased to 86% when considering subsequent line(s) of therapy. Forty-seven percent of the 10-year survivors did not require a second-line therapy. The median treatment-free survival (TFS) among the 10-year survivors was 10·5 years (interquartile range 7·4-12·2). On multivariate analysis independent predictors for TFS were the achievement of complete haematological response and lack of cardiac involvement. Long-term survivors are increasingly seen in AL amyloidosis and present distinct patient, organ and clonal disease features.

Keywords: mortality; outcome; prognosis; response; treatment; trend.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Heart Diseases / genetics
  • Heart Diseases / mortality
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / mortality*
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / pathology
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / therapy*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trisomy

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunosuppressive Agents