Dr J.H. Lee talks to ecancertv at IMW 2013 on the incidence of MM showing ethnic difference evidenced by US SEER and IARC data. Asians show lower incidence compared to Caucasian. However, there are growing evidences that MM is increasing in Asia.

The researchers collected 3,405 patient data from 22 centers of 7countries to build an Asian myeloma data base. Retrospective analyses were carried out to elucidate the presence of clinical and cytogenetic characteristics of MM in Asia. Median age was 62 years, 56% were male, bone lesion, severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, extramedullary plasmacytoma, hypercalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, renal dysfunction, increased LDH was observed in 80/39/8/16/19/52/23/28% respectively. IgG/A/LC was 55/22/17%. ISS was 20/36/44%.

Abnormal cytogenetics were observed in 33%, hypodiploid 15%, 13q deletion 12%, FISH analysis shows t (4; 14), t (11; 14), t (14; 16), del 17p, 11/17/4/13% respectively. OS was 47 months. Age, Hemoglobin, platelet, plasmacytoma, BMPC, calcium, albumin, creatinine, beta-2 MG, LDH, ISS, abnormal cytogenetics, 13q- by conventional cytogenetics, t(4;14) by FISH, ASCT, response to treatment, achievement of VGPR were prognostic variables for OS. Among them, azotemia, ISS, heavy chain, plasmacytoma, abnormal cytogenetics, ASCT, response to treatment remain as prognostic variables by multivariate analysis.

There were no unique clinical or cytogenetic characteristics identifies in Asian population. However, Dr Lee states that some unique findings, such as high incidence of del 17p in China, need to be explored in future study.