title: Survival and outcome of blastoid variant myeloma following treatment with the novel thalidomide containing regime DT-PACE.
abstract: Blastoid morphology is a rare presenting feature of myeloma which is frequently seen in patients with extramedullary myeloma and is associated with poor clinical outcome. Cell cycle active agents can be effective as treatment for aggressive myeloma and their activity enhanced by using them in combination with the anti-angiogenic agent thalidomide. DT-PACE is an example of such a regimen which we have used to treat 26 relapsed and or refractory patients with extramedullary/blastoid myeloma. The overall response rate (complete response/PR) was 59%, but despite these initial good responses, patients had a short progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). A subgroup of patients who proceeded to autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) have a trend towards a better PFS and OS when compared with the group receiving chemotherapy alone (PFS = 10 vs. 3 months P = 0.273 and OS 10 vs. 7 months P = 0.235). Interestingly of the group who received ASCT consolidation three patients remain alive beyond 18 months. In conclusion, the clinical outcome of this group of cases is poor even when treated with the intensive regimen DT-PACE; however, a subgroup can do well if DT-PACE is consolidated by ASCT.
authors.affiliation: Haemato-oncology Unit, The Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Muralikrishnan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srikanth
authors.forename: Faith E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Jenner
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ethell
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Bronwen E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Radovan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Saso
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dines
authors.forename: Gareth J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D015996:Survival Rate; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide; D005047:Etoposide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin