title: Oral melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide in elderly patients with multiple myeloma: updated results of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The initial analysis of the oral combination melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide (MPT) in newly diagnosed patients with myeloma showed significantly higher response rate and longer progression-free survival (PFS) than did the standard melphalan and prednisone (MP) combination and suggested a survival advantage. In this updated analysis, efficacy and safety end points were updated. Patients were randomly assigned to receive oral MPT or MP alone. Updated analysis was by intention to treat and included PFS, overall survival (OS), and survival after progression. After a median follow-up of 38.1 months, the median PFS was 21.8 months for MPT and 14.5 months for MP (P = .004). The median OS was 45.0 months for MPT and 47.6 months for MP (P = .79). In different patient subgroups, MPT improved PFS irrespective of age, serum concentrations of beta(2)-microglobulin, or high International Staging System. Thalidomide or bortezomib administration as salvage regimens significantly improved survival after progression in the MP group (P = .002) but not in the MPT group (P = .34). These data confirm activity of MPT for PFS but failed to show any survival advantage. New agents in the management of relapsed disease could explain this finding. The study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00232934.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Ematologia dell'Università di Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Giovanni Battista, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bringhen
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liberati
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caravita
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Callea
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montanaro
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ria
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capaldi
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zambello
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benevolo
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Derudas
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falco
authors.forename: Giovannino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciccone
authors.forename: Pellegrino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boccadoro
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide; D002945:Cisplatin; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate