title: Thalidomide and Dexamethasone Induction Therapy Until Best Response in Recently Diagnosed Patients with Multiple Myeloma: Results From a Pilot Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel therapies for multiple myeloma are not affordable for all healthcare systems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to evaluate the response rates, overall survival, event-free survival, and toxicity of thalidomide and dexamethasone administered until best response in recently diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma.
  
  
  METHODS
  All recently diagnosed multiple myeloma patients meeting the inclusion criteria received the same treatment with thalidomide and dexamethasone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 28 patients. Overall response rate was 75%. Complete response, partial response, and very good partial response were 25.0, 32.1, and 17.9%, respectively. The most frequent adverse event related to therapy was neuropathy. Median overall survival was 66 months, and median event-free survival was 39 months (range, 27.6-50.4). Variables that negatively affected overall survival on multivariate analysis included the presence of extramedullary disease, t(14;16), and chromosome 13 deletion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Induction therapy with thalidomide and dexamethasone until obtaining the best response in patients with recently diagnosed multiple myeloma was a useful and safe strategy. It represents an alternative for patients with limited access to costly drugs.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Regional Alta Especialidad Bajío, León, Gto. México.
authors.forename: Lauro Fabián
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Amador-Medina
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lacayo-Leñero
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crespo-Solís
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Aguayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Déborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martínez-Baños
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015996:Survival Rate; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide; D003907:Dexamethasone