Patients who are less educated and less likely to undergo transplantation for connective cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma is a malignant disease in which intensive treatment can extend life. In a new study, scientists from Uppsala University and other Swedish universities show that people with unmarried connective cell lymphoma, and those with low educational attainment, were less often treated with gas transfusion -cell, which can lead to worse survival. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Blood clots.

Patients diagnosed with connective tissue lymphoma (MCL) where the disease has spread receive intensive treatment with cytotoxic drugs and stem cell transplantation. In a new study, researchers looked at which people were more likely to offer a referral, and compared survival between those selected for transplant compared to those not selected. The study showed that referrals prolong life, but that unmarried or lower educated people received referrals less frequently.

“We do not know for sure why unmarried or educated patients received so few referrals so often, but we can imagine that less social support, or inappropriate information, could be intimidating. – both the patient and the doctor alike – getting really wanted treatment. If you have many other diseases, you cannot tolerate a referral, “said Ingrid Glimelius, chief physician and researcher at the Department of Psychology, Genetics and Pathology, who led the study.

The study included 369 patients from across Sweden, who were diagnosed with MCL between 2000 and 2014 and aged 18-65 at the time. Among them, 40 percent did not go through transplantation during the first treatment. According to the researchers, this was an incredibly high proportion.

“In some cases, you should not make a referral – for example, if the disease is very infertile or you are too ill to undergo treatment. But this study shows that those who were not selected for transplant also had a clearly lower survival rate. This shows that transplantation is a very important part of treatment, “Glimelius says.

Mortality within 100 days after transmission was low, which also indicates that it is a safe treatment that may be considered more common in Sweden. For people who are still unable to transplant, the study suggests that, instead of just cytotoxic drugs, the choice of new, modern and targeted drugs should be considered.

“Studies like this are important because they can be more supportive of specific groups in society. They can also be an eye-opener for patients, health professionals and politicians alike, showing that there is still a need for greater equality in health. care in Sweden, “says Ingrid Glimelius.

The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Lund University, and within the framework of a scientific partnership between Karolinska Institutet and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV.