Multivariate analysis correcting for ATB-independent markers of poor outcomes (such as age, sex, KPS, high-risk cytogenetics, prior lines of treatment, tumor burden, LDH, previous auto-HSCT, EMD, CRP and β2-MG) showed that ATB use was not independently associated with worse outcomes, suggesting that ATB indeed may not be an independent prognostic factor. The gene discussed is CRP; the disease is neoplasm.