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Post-Transplant Events

Oral mucositis in myeloma patients undergoing melphalan-based autologous stem cell transplantation: incidence, risk factors and a severity predictive model

Abstract

Melphalan-based autologous stem cell transplant (Mel-ASCT) is a standard therapy for multiple myeloma, but is associated with severe oral mucositis (OM). To identify predictors for severe OM, we studied 381 consecutive newly diagnosed myeloma patients who received Mel-ASCT. Melphalan was given at 200 mg/m2 body surface area (BSA), reduced to 140 mg/m2 for serum creatinine >3 mg/dl. Potential covariates included demographics, pre-transplant serum albumin and renal and liver function tests, and mg/kg melphalan dose received. The BSA dosing resulted in a wide range of melphalan doses given (2.4–6.2 mg/kg). OM developed in 75% of patients and was severe in 21%. Predictors of severe OM in multiple logistic regression analyses were high serum creatinine (odds ratio (OR)=1.581; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.080–2.313; P=0.018) and high mg/kg melphalan (OR=1.595; 95% CI: 1.065–2.389; P=0.023). An OM prediction model was developed based on these variables. We concluded that BSA dosing of melphalan results in wide variations in the mg/kg dose, and that patients with renal dysfunction who are scheduled to receive a high mg/kg melphalan dose have the greatest risk for severe OM following Mel-ASCT. Pharmacogenomic and pharmacokinetic studies are needed to better understand interpatient variability of melphalan exposure and toxicity.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by an educational grant from Human Genome Sciences and by CA55819 from the National Cancer Institute.

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Correspondence to E J Anaissie.

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Grazziutti, M., Dong, L., Miceli, M. et al. Oral mucositis in myeloma patients undergoing melphalan-based autologous stem cell transplantation: incidence, risk factors and a severity predictive model. Bone Marrow Transplant 38, 501–506 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1705471

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