title: Low-dose thalidomide with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and high-dose dexamethasone for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a prospective, multicenter, phase II study.
abstract: The aim of this prospective, multicenter, phase II study was to investigate the combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx) 40 mg/m2 on day 1 every 28 days, dexamethasone 40 mg p.o. on days 1-4 and 9-12 and thalidomide 100 mg daily in 50 patients with advanced multiple myeloma. Twenty-six percent of patients achieved a complete response, 6% a near complete response, 6% a very good partial response, 38% a partial response, 16% a minor response and 8% progressed, for an overall response rate of 92%. The median event-free survival was 17 months and the median overall survival was not reached. Grade 3 non-hematologic toxicity occurred in 12% of patients, thromboembolic disease in 12% and severe infection in 16%. The combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, dexamethasone an thalidomide is safe and very effective in advanced multiple myeloma.
authors.affiliation: Clinica di Ematologia Polo Ospedaliero-Universitario, Ospedali Riuniti Ancona Università Politecnica delle Marche. m.offidani@ao-umbertoprimo.marche.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Offidani
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corvatta
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marconi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Visani
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alesiani
authors.forename: Marino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunori
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galieni
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catarini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burattini
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Centurioni
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rupoli
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Scortechini
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giuliodori
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candela
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montanari
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: Maria-Novella
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Piersantelli
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D015996:Survival Rate; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D013792:Thalidomide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin