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Trial Lecture – time and place
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Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Dr. Charlotte Pawlyn, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
- Second opponent: Professor Sigurdur Kristinsson, University of Iceland
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor June Myklebust, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor II Sigbjørn Smeland, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Fredrik Schjesvold, University of Oslo
Summary
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells of the immune system and usually arises in the bone marrow. Current treatment guidelines are mostly based on randomized controlled trials with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. They do not reflect the entire patient population seen in routine clinical practice.
The overall aim of the studies in this thesis was to describe and evaluate first-line treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in real-world populations, with a particular focus on the outcomes of older patients. We collected data from national registries in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland, and from electronic health records of patients in Estonia, Lithuania, Iceland and Norway. We used these data to conduct three studies.
Our studies showed that real-world population-based data complemented the findings of randomized clinical trials that were not as representative of the total myeloma population. As treatment guidelines changed, so did clinical practice. However, the rate of change in clinical practice seemed to be slower in patients aged 75 years or above than younger patients. Our results suggested that patients in all age groups benefitted from the changes in treatment. As the population in the Nordic and Baltic countries continues to age, this has potential consequences for the planning of health care services.
Additional information
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