title: Thalidomide as salvage therapy for VAD-refractory multiple myeloma prior to autologous PBSCT.
abstract: Several trials have shown the activity of thalidomide (THAL) in relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) patients failing PBSCT or conventional chemotherapy. PBSCT is considered standard treatment for most patients requiring therapy for MM; however, patients with VAD-resistant disease may not be able to receive PBSCT due to rapidly advancing disease. We report four cases of VAD-refractory MM salvaged with THAL + VAD followed by PBSCT. All patients underwent stem cell mobilization with cyclophosphamide (Cy) (4.5 g/m(2)) and GMCSF. Melphalan (140-200 mg/m(2)) was given as conditioning. All patients engrafted within 12-16 days after PBSCT. Day +100 evaluation showed the following: very good partial response (n = 1) and complete response (n = 3). After a median follow-up to 153 days, two patients continue to take THAL with no signs of disease progression. One patient developed CHF and was taken off THAL while another patient has died of progressive disease while on THAL (MTD 50 mg). In conclusion, VAD-refractory patients were salvaged with the addition of THAL to VAD. They were subsequently able to undergo autologous PBSCT for MM, which will likely improve their overall survival. This suggests that THAL and other related immunomodulatory drugs may prove useful for initial MM therapy in combination with standard chemotherapy followed by PBSCT.
authors.affiliation: Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Sts, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chanan-Khan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wentling
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone