Stem cell transplant versus continued chemotherapy after reaching remission

This trial is testing whether patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer) who have achieved deep remission after initial chemotherapy should go on to receive an autologous stem cell transplant, or continue with chemotherapy alone. The trial will compare how well each approach works at keeping the cancer from coming back and how safe each treatment is.

Stem cell transplants have traditionally been used to create longer remissions in myeloma patients, but they require hospitalization and can cause serious side effects. Recent research suggests that patients who achieve very deep remission with initial chemotherapy might do just as well with continued chemotherapy alone, avoiding the risks of transplantation.