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Low‐dose thalidomide plus low‐dose dexamethasone therapy in patients with refractory multiple myeloma
Author(s) -
Murakami Hirokazu,
Handa Hiroshi,
Abe Masahiro,
Iida Sinsuke,
Ishii Akihiro,
Ishikawa Takayuki,
Ishida Tadao,
Oota Masatsugu,
Ozaki Shuji,
Kosaka Masaaki,
Sakai Akira,
Sawamura Morio,
Shimazaki Chihiro,
Shimizu Kazuyuki,
Takagi Toshiyuki,
Hata Hiroyuki,
Fukuhara Takashi,
Fujii Hiroshi,
Miyata Akira,
Wakayama Toshio,
Takatsuki Kiyoshi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2007.00908.x
Subject(s) - thalidomide , medicine , leukopenia , pancytopenia , dexamethasone , multiple myeloma , adverse effect , gastroenterology , refractory (planetary science) , incidence (geometry) , peripheral neuropathy , surgery , chemotherapy , bone marrow , endocrinology , physics , astrobiology , optics , diabetes mellitus
We report the results of a non‐randomized phase II study of low‐dose thalidomide plus low‐dose dexamethasone therapy in 66 patients with refractory multiple myeloma. The overall response rate (near complete, partial and minimal response) was 63.6%, and progression‐free and overall survival periods were 6.2 and 25.4 months. In adverse events, the incidence of peripheral neuropathy and deep vein thrombosis was lower than the data reported in USA and Europe. On the other hand, leukopenia was observed in 41% of patients, including 11% of those with Grade 3. Leukopenia was closely related to pretreatment pancytopenia, especially thrombocytopenia. The incidence of adverse events related to dexamethasone was low. In conclusion, low‐dose thalidomide plus low‐dose dexamethasone therapy was as effective as high‐dose thalidomide plus high‐dose dexamethasone therapy in patients with refractory multiple myeloma. Leukopenia is one of the most serious adverse events in Japanese patients, especially in patients with pretreatment pancytopenia.