Effects of arsenic trioxide combined with thalidomide for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma / 白血病·淋巴瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of arsenic trioxide (ATO) combined with thalidomide in the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Methods 35 patients with relapsed/refractory MM were treated with ATO (10 mg/d) and Vit C (2 g/d) for 14 days,28 days per cycle.Meanwhile they were orally administered thalidomide 50 mg/d,and then one week later orally thalidomide was added to 100-150 mg/d. After 3 cycles of treatment, response and the side effects were evaluated. Patients responsed to the regimen were continued the treatment of thalidomide and were followed up to estimate the PFS. Responses were assessed according to the criteria of the EBMT.Adverse events were graded according to the criteria of the WHO.Results The overall response Was 71.43 ％ (25/35),CR 5.71％ (2/35),PR 34.29 ％ (12/35),MR 31.43 ％ (11/35).After a median follow-up of 11 months,the median PFS was 9 months.The major adverse reactions were digestive tract reaction,leukocytopenia,liver function damage,peripheral neuropathy.They were mild,and could be tolerated.Conclusions The combination of ATO and thalidomide is a feasible and active regimen in treatment of relapsed/refractory MM with better compliance in general.