Myeloma thalidomide and/or stem cell autotransplant treatment improves survival

06-21-2006

Newer approaches such as thalidomide treatment and stem cell autotransplantation improve survival in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.

Although survival of MM patients "showed no improvement between the 1960s and 1990s," during the last decade, "new therapeutic approaches seemed likely to offer hope of prolonging survival," according to rheumatologists in France, who sought to determine "if this survival increased with the usage of new treatments."

"The method involves a retrospective study of 123 patients with MM, diagnosed between 1975 and 1999, all receiving treatment," explained S. El Mahou and coauthors at CHU Rangueil in Toulouse. Patients "were divided into two groups: group 1 included 55 patients given the so-called 'old treatments' [melphalan-prednisone, cyclophosphamide-prednisone, polychemotherapy (vincristine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, prednisone (VMCP), VMCP-VBAP)], and group 2 included 68 patients receiving at least one of the so-called 'new treatments' (dexamethasone, thalidomide, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autotransplants, bisphosphonates, interferon)."

"The two groups were similar in terms of age, sex ratio and renal impairment, and the percentage of light-chain MM was identical in both groups," the scientists wrote in the journal Clinical Rheumatology. They found that "patients who had been given a 'new' treatment (group 2) had longer median survival than the patients in group 1 (54 vs. 42 months)."

"Independent analysis of each treatment modality showed increased median survival in MM patients treated using autotransplantation compared with untreated patients (125 vs. 45 months)," and "survival was also longer in MM patients treated with thalidomide than in untreated patients (72 vs. 42 months)," according to the report. "On the other hand, neither bisphosphonates, interferon-alpha nor dexamethasone result in improved survival."

"Our findings emphasize the increased survival of the MM patients treated with new therapeutic approaches," the researchers concluded.

El Mahou and colleagues published the results of their study in Clinical Rheumatology (Do new therapeutic approaches (autotransplants, thalidomide, dexamethasone) improve the survival of patients with multiple myeloma followed in a rheumatology department? Clin Rheumatol, 2006;25(2):175-182).

For additional information, contact S. El Mahou, CHU Rangueil, Rangueil University Hospital, Dept. of Rheumatology, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhes, F-31059 Toulouse, France.

The publisher of the journal Clinical Rheumatology can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.

Keywords: Toulouse, France, Autotransplants, Hematology, Multiple Myeloma, Oncology, Rheumatology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Thalidomide.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.