A real-life cohort study of immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation due to severe cardiac involvement or advanced disease

Objective: To study the outcome of patients with AL amyloidosis who were ineligible for high dose melphalan (HDM) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Methods: A real-life retrospective observational cohort study of Dutch patients with AL amyloidosis ineligible for HDM and ASCT was performed at the University Medical Center Groningen from January 2001 until April 2017. Primary outcome measure was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcome measures were hematological response (HR), organ responses, and treatment toxicity. Results: Eighty-four patients were included. Ineligibility was due to NYHA class III/IV (n = 58), otherwise advanced disease (n = 11), advanced age (n = 14), or treatment refusal (n = 1). Early death (<3 months) rate was high (44%). Median OS improved from 4 months in period 2001-2009 (n = 36) to 8 months in period 2009-2017 (n = 48, p = .02). HR was seen in 29%, and 42% of the patients, respectively. Median OS was 36 months after induction treatment with bortezomib (n = 32) and 18 months with immunomodulatory imide drug (IMID) (n = 16), both higher than median OS (7 months) with other regimens (n = 27). Incidence of toxicity was high (51%). Conclusion: OS improved in this high-risk group over the years, especially after introduction of new treatment modalities. However, early death rate remains high, illustrating the need for more effective treatment.