title: An evaluation of factors predicting long-term response to thalidomide in 234 patients with relapsed or resistant multiple myeloma.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of pretreatment clinical and laboratory parameters in refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) patients who have a long-term response to thalidomide (THAL), lasting at least 18 months. The study was carried out on 234 patients who received THAL for relapsed/refractory myeloma. Out of the 234 patients, 129 patients (55.1%) responded to THAL with a mean response duration of 11.9 months (ranging from 1 to 48) and an overall survival rate of 20.3 months (ranging 1-55 months). In 64 patients (27.4% of the whole group), the response to THAL lasted > or =18 months with a mean response lasting 24 months. Statistical analysis of the group of nonresponders and patients with long-term response to THAL showed a significantly higher serum albumin level (P=0.0003) and haemoglobin level (P=0.05), as well as a lower beta2 microglobulin (beta2M) (P=0.022), LDH (P=0.045) serum level in patients with long-term response. In this study, the LDH and serum albumin level were predictors for response to THAL therapy. The beta2M serum level was not a predictor for response to THAL. The albumin serum level was the best parameter distinguishing the group of patients with long-term response to THAL from the entire responding group (P=0.02).
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematooncology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland. iwohus@wp.pl
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hus
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dmoszynska
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hus
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jawniak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soroka-Wojtaszko
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hellmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ciepluch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skotnicki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wolska-Smolen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sulek
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Robak
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Konopka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kloczko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D013792:Thalidomide