MULTIPLE MYELOMA: FEATURES OF THE COURSE AND RESPONSE TO THERAPY IN PATIENTS OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable disease with the development of relapses, sometimes with an uncontrolled course leading to death regardless of the age of the patient. The use of new schemes and methods of treatment has not only significantly improved outcomes in younger MM patients but also improved the quality of life and survival in people over 65 years of age. Objective: to determine the clinical features of the course of the disease and response to therapy in patients of different age groups with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Material and Methods: An analysis of the data of 139 patients with newly diagnosed MM was carried out. The median follow-up was 25 months, with a maximum of 58 months. Patients were divided into study groups depending on age at the time of diagnosis: the first group - age up to 65 years (n=65); the second group - age from 65 years and older (n=74). The material of the study was clinical and anamnestic data, the results of laboratory blood tests: biochemical analysis and immunochemical analysis. All the patients underwent the whole body CT scan, diffusely weighted whole body MRI and bone marrow aspiration biopsy with immunophenotypic study. As an induction therapy, according to international recommendations, courses of chemotherapy were used using various regimens containing bortezomib, depending on age and comorbidity. Results. The MM variant with IgA secretion occurred 1.76 times more often in the first group (p=0.128). In the first group hypercalcemia was somewhat more common (2.4 times, p=0.099) and an excess of LDH levels (2.9 times, p=0.072). In contrast, the presence of infectious complications (by 1.2 times, p=0.392), excess of the level of β2-microglobulin > 3 mg/l (by 1.6 times, p=0.086) and kidney damage (by 1.45 times, p=0.037) were more common in the second group, and in the latter case the differences were statistically significant. Disease stage (p=0.0001), excess of β2 microglobulin level (p=0.004), excess of LDH level (p=0.03), presence of anemic syndrome (p=0.003), hypercalcemia (p=0.02), presence of infectious complications (p=0.01) at the time of diagnosis were predictors of worse survival in the general group of MM patients. Conclusion. The active use of new therapeutic strategies and regimens improves treatment outcomes not only in patients under 65 years of age, but also in older patients. New studies are needed to identify prognostic factors in individuals of different age groups in order to start personalized therapy and improve treatment outcomes.