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The Albumin and Monoclonal Protein Ratio as Prognostic Marker for Multiple Myeloma in the Era of Novel Agents

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous disease group regarding prognosis, clinical course, and response to therapeutic interventions. Numerous prognostic factors have been identified however there was no consensus about the best prognostic indicators or the proper staging systems. In a previous study the A/M ratio containing albumin (A) and monoclonal component (M) emerged as reliable predictor of survival duration in patients treated with conventional chemotherapy. In the current retrospective study authors evaluated the prognostic role of this fraction in the era of novel agents. They assessed the A/M ratio prior treatment in 56 newly diagnosed MM patients from the aspect of the survival time. According to the results the A/M being <1 at the diagnosis indicated significantly poorer prognosis both at the 2 years (p = 0,01) and at the 5 years (p = 0,07) survival endpoints. These results proved that A/M ratio remained valuable marker for predicting prognosis in patients treated with proteosome inhibitor and antiangiogenic therapy as well. Authors recommend therefore applying this A/M ratio in further studies for the better pre-treatment stratification.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Zoltán Prohászka (3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest) for the statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kútvölgyi Clinical Centre, Semmelweis University, Kútvölgyi út 4., 1125, Budapest, Hungary

    Katalin Kádár

  2. 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Kútvölgyi út 4., 1125, Budapest, Hungary

    Krisztina Wolf, Judit Tábori, István Karádi & Judit Várkonyi

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  1. Katalin Kádár
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  2. Krisztina Wolf
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  3. Judit Tábori
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  4. István Karádi
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  5. Judit Várkonyi
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Correspondence to Katalin Kádár.

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Kádár, K., Wolf, K., Tábori, J. et al. The Albumin and Monoclonal Protein Ratio as Prognostic Marker for Multiple Myeloma in the Era of Novel Agents. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 18, 557–561 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-012-9506-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-012-9506-z

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