Thalidomide maintenance treatment increases progression-free but not overall survival in elderly patients with myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Thalidomide maintenance therapy after stem cell transplantation resulted in increased progression-free survival and overall survival in a few trials, but its role in non-transplant eligible patients with multiple myeloma remains unclear. This study assessed the impact of thalidomide-interferon in comparison to interferon maintenance therapy in elderly patients with multiple myeloma. DESIGN AND METHODS: Of 289 elderly patients with multiple myeloma who were randomized to thalidomide-dexamethasone or melphalan-prednisolone induction therapy, 137 finally completed 9 cycles of induction therapy with stable disease or better and thereby qualified for maintenance treatment. Of these, 128 have been randomized to either thalidomide-interferon or interferon alone. Primary study endpoints were progression-free survival and response rates; secondary endpoints were overall survival, toxicity and quality of life. RESULTS: Thalidomide-interferon maintenance therapy led to a significantly longer progression-free survival compared to interferon (27.7 vs. 13.2 months, P=0.0068), but overall survival was similar in both groups (52.6 vs. 51.4 months, P=0.81) and did not differ between patients aged 75 years or older, or younger patients (P=0.39). Survival after disease progression tended to be shorter in patients on thalidomide-interferon maintenance therapy (P=0.056). Progression-free survival and overall survival tended to be shorter in patients with adverse cytogenetic (FISH) findings compared to the standard risk group but differences were not significant (P=0.084 and P=0.082, respectively). Patients on thalidomide-interferon presented with more neuropathy (P=0.0015), constipation (P=0.0004), skin toxicity (P=0.0041) and elevated creatinine (P=0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Thalidomide plus interferon maintenance therapy increased progression-free survival but not overall survival and was associated with slightly more toxicity than maintenance with interferon alone. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00205751).

Thalidomide-dexamethasone compared with melphalan-prednisolone in elderly patients with multiple myeloma.

We compared thalidomide-dexamethasone (TD) with melphalan-prednisolone (MP) in 289 elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Patients received either thalidomide 200 mg plus dexamethasone 40 mg, days 1 to 4 and 15 to 18 on even cycles and days 1 to 4 on odd cycles, during a 28-day cycle or to melphalan 0.25 mg/kg and prednisolone 2 mg/kg orally on days 1 to 4 during a 28- to 42-day cycle. Patients achieving stable disease or better were randomly assigned to maintenance therapy with either thalidomide 100 mg daily and 3 MU interferon alpha-2b thrice weekly or to 3 MU interferon alpha-2b thrice weekly only. TD resulted in a higher proportion of complete and very good remissions (26% vs 13%; P= .006) and overall responses (68% vs 50%; P= .002) compared with MP. Time to progression (21.2 vs 29.1 months; P= .2), and progression-free survival was similar (16.7 vs 20.7 months; P= .1), but overall survival was significantly shorter in the TD group (41.5 vs 49.4 months; P= .024). Toxicity was higher with TD, particularly in patients older than 75 years with poor performance status. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT00205751.

Continuous prednisolone versus conventional prednisolone with VMCP-interferon-alpha2b as first-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with multiple myeloma.

We report on a randomised trial that aimed to compare the efficacy of continued daily prednisolone treatment during the entire induction phase, with prednisolone given for 2 weeks of each cycle in combination with VMCP (vincristine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone)-interferon-alpha 2b (IFN-alpha 2b) treatment in 299 previously untreated elderly patients (median age: 67 years) with multiple myeloma. After completion of induction treatment patients were randomised to IFN-alpha 2b with or without prednisolone, thrice weekly. Response rate was 62% in the continuous and 60% in the control arm (intent to treat analysis, P=0.81). Progression-free survival [median: 20 months vs. 19 months; hazard ratio (HR): 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-1.33, P=0.97] and overall survival (median: 34 months vs. 37 months; HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.85-1.59, P=0.35) were similar in both groups. Reduced performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, grades 2-4) was the predominant risk factor for poor survival followed by age >65 years, high beta2-microglobulin, and impaired renal function. There was more grades 3-4 dyspnoea and cardiac impairment and grades 1-2 hyperglycaemia, but less nausea, emesis and anaemia in patients on continuous prednisolone therapy. In conclusion, continuing prednisolone treatment during the entire duration of the induction phase with VMCP-IFN-alpha 2b did not improve outcome.