title: Lenalidomide with low- or intermediate-dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma.
abstract: To compare the outcomes of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who were treated with lenalidomide combined with high versus low dose of dexamethasone. One hundred forty consecutive relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients who received lenalidomide with dexamethasone, in two consecutive time periods, were divided into two groups: group RD (70 consecutive patients in the first period) who received lenalidomide with intermediate doses of dexamethasone and group Rd (70 consecutive patients in the more recent period) who received lenalidomide with low-dose dexamethasone. 62% and 73% of patients who received RD and Rd (p = 0.148) achieved at least a partial response, accordingly. The median OS was 20 and 41 months for the RD and the Rd group, accordingly. In the multivariate analysis, Rd was associated with improved PFS. More patients treated with RD developed grade 3&4 neutropenia and fatigue. It seems that Rd is at least as effective as RD.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zagouri
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roussou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kastritis
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gavriatopoulou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eleutherakis-Papaiakovou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanellias
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Despoina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalapanida
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christoulas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Magdalini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migkou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terpos
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Therapeutics , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Meletios A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000077269:Lenalidomide
keywords: Dexamethasone; doses; lenalidomide; multiple myeloma