title: Thalidomide maintenance therapy for patients with multiple myeloma: meta-analysis.
abstract: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing thalidomide maintenance with other regimens after induction chemotherapy for multiple myeloma. Overall, 6 trials including 2786 patients were identified. Patients treated with thalidomide maintenance had marginally better overall survival (hazard ratio HR 0.83, P=0.07). The improvement was especially prominent in a subgroup of studies using corticosteroids with thalidomide (HR 0.70, P=0.02). Thalidomide improved progression-free survival (HR 0.65, P<0.01), but had more frequent venous thrombosis (risk difference 0.024, P<0.05) and peripheral neuropathy (risk difference 0.072, P<0.01). These results suggest that thalidomide maintenance with corticosteroids is effective in prolonging survival for multiple myeloma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology & Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kagoya
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nannya
authors.forename: Mineo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide