title: [Retrospective analysis of thalidomide therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma].
abstract: Thalidomide is now recognized as an important agent for multiple myeloma. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the effect of thalidomide therapy in 52 patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Median age was 70 years. Eight patients were treated with thalidomide alone, 36 with dexamethasone, and 8 with chemotherapy. The maintenance dose of thalidomide was 100 mg/day in 42 cases. The probability of overall survival and progression-free survival one year after the start of thalidomide were 76.2% and 70.9%, respectively. Complete or partial response was obtained in 16 patients (31%). The probability of survival was better in patients who obtained a partial or complete response than in non-responders (P=0.04). Adverse effects (CTCAE criteria Grade 3-4) were somnolence (n=3), constipation (n=5), peripheral neuropathy (n=1), deep vein thrombosis (n=1), anemia (n=10), leukocytopenia (n=10), and thrombocytopenia (n=3). The high incidence of cytopenia in this study suggests that the Japanese population tends to display bone marrow suppression after thalidomide therapy. Some patients developed peripheral neuropathy at the early stage of administration and attention was necessary. In conclusion, thalidomide therapy is safe and effective in patients with refractory multiple myeloma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine 2, Oita University Faculty of Medicine.
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikebe
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saburi
authors.forename: Kanako
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ikewaki
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Noritaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uno
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Teruhisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akagi
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadota
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide; D003907:Dexamethasone