Complete response^b

• Lack of detectable M-protein in serum or urine by immunoelectrophoresis & immunofixation, maintained for a minimum of 6 weeks.
• Bone marrow biopsy with <5% plasma cells.
• No increase in size or number of bone lesions.
• Disappearance of plasmacytomas.

(Median survival=8 yrs)

Partial response^b

• Reduction in serum M-protein by at least 50%, maintained for at least 6 weeks.
• Reduction in urine Bence Jones protein by at least 90% or <200mg, maintained for at least 6 weeks.
• If non-secretory, reduction in bone marrow plasma cells by at least 50%, maintained for at least 6 weeks.
• No increase in size or number of bone lesions.

(Median survival=4 yrs)

Minimal response^b

• Reduction in serum M-protein by at least 25-49%, maintained for at least 6 weeks.
• Reduction in urine Bence Jones protein by at least 50-89%, maintained for at least 6 weeks.
• If non-secretory, reduction in bone marrow plasma cells by at least 25-49%, maintained for at least 6 weeks.
• No increase in size or number of bone lesions.

Disease progression^b

• >25% increase in M-protein, Bence Jones protein, or bone marrow plasma cells.
• An increase in size of bony lesions or plasmacytomas or appearance of new lesions.
• Hypercalcemia.

Stable disease^b

No significant changes in measurements of disease meeting criteria for at least minimal response or disease progression.

Bone marrow biopsy shows no change in plasma cell infiltration consistent with M protein decrease.

Overall survival^c

The percentage of subjects in a study who have survived for a defined period of time.  Usually reported as time since diagnosis or treatment. Also called the survival rate.

Time to progression^c

A measure of time after a disease is diagnosed (or treated) until the disease starts to get worse.

Progression-free survival^c

One type of measurement that can be used in a clinical study or trial to help determine whether a new treatment is effective. It refers to the probability that a patient will remain alive, without the disease getting worse.

Disease-free survival¹²

Length of time after treatment during which no cancer is found. Can be reported for an individual patient or for a study population.

Event-free survival^d

Length of time after treatment that a participant in a clinical study remains free of pre-defined events.  Events are defined by the study and can include adverse treatment effects, tumor recurrence/progression, or survival.

Survival rate^c

The percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are alive for a given period of time after diagnosis. This is commonly expressed as 5-year survival.