High-dose therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation appeared safe and effective among patients with refractory multiple myeloma, according to a retrospective analysis published in Cancer.

Patients with multiple myeloma who fail to respond to induction therapy or who become refractory after initial response demonstrate poor outcomes. This especially includes patients who are double refractory, or refractory to both proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents.