Autologous stem cell transplantation for plasma cell disorders

Plasma cell disorders are diseases that result from an abnormal proliferation of a monoclonal population of plasma cells that may or may not secrete detectable levels of a monoclonal immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin fragment (paraprotein or M protein). The plasma cell disorders for which autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is a common treatment modality include multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis. ASCT is a safe and effective treatment for both of these diseases and the types of patients who are eligible to undergo ASCT have expanded. ASCT remains a mainstay of therapy for multiple myeloma despite the advent of new treatments, and has shown improvement in overall survival especially when performed as a consolidative therapy after initial induction. Careful screening of patients with AL amyloidosis has increased the numbers of patients eligible for transplantation and improved outcomes for those patients.