title: Bortezomib with thalidomide plus dexamethasone compared with thalidomide plus doxorubicin and dexamethasone as induction therapy in previously untreated multiple myeloma patients.
abstract: We conducted a retrospective study to compare thalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (VTD) with thalidomide plus doxorubicin and dexamethasone (TAD). Until now, first-line treatment with these combinations has not been reported in any comparative study. The principal objective of this study was to determine whether VTD would improve the complete response (CR) and CR plus very good partial response rates compared with TAD. Second, using additional methods, such as flow cytometric assays and polymerase chain reaction technology, we evaluated the molecular residual disease in the subgroup of patients that obtained CR. Our study shows that VTD is a superior induction regimen compared with TAD, with a higher response rate after induction, translating into greater CR plus very good partial response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies, Section of Hematology, Pisa University, Pisa, Italy. ga.buda@libero.it
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buda
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orciuolo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carulli
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghio
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cervetti
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pelosini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069286:Bortezomib; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001897:Boronic Acids; D011719:Pyrazines; D013792:Thalidomide; D000069286:Bortezomib; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin