Current status of stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

Stem cell transplantation for myeloma has become a standard of care for newly diagnosed patients. Current evidence favors tandem transplants for those patients not achieving a complete or very good partial response (<90%) after the first transplant. Transplantation is safe and has been shown to prolong survival even in patients 65 to 70 years of age. Whether the new agents thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib will have an impact on the survival advantage of stem cell transplantation is unknown.