Thalidomide plus dexamethasone is an effective salvage regimen for myeloma patients relapsing after autologous transplant.

Objectives: High-dose therapy followed by autologous transplant (AT) is the effective induction treatment for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The best salvage therapy has not been defined; treatment options include thalidomide plus dexamethasone (TD), AT and conventional chemotherapy (CC). The aim of the study was to define the best treatment option for patients relapsing after AT.

Oral melphalan, prednisone, and thalidomide for newly diagnosed patients with myeloma.

Background: Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug with strong antimyeloma activity. It is an effective treatment for multiple myeloma at disease recurrence and at diagnosis, both as a single agent and in combination with steroids or chemotherapy. No data are available on the association of thalidomide with oral melphalan and prednisone, still considered the standard treatment for elderly patients.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is frequently expressed in multiple myeloma and is an independent predictor of poor outcome.

Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is an inflammation-associated enzyme involved in the pathogenesis of many solid tumors, but little is known about its presence and role in hematologic neoplasms. Multiple myeloma (MM) is known to involve a deregulated cytokine network with secretion of inflammatory mediators. We thus decided to investigate the involvement of COX-2 in this neoplasm.

Efficacy of low-dose thalidomide and dexamethasone as first salvage regimen in multiple myeloma.

Purpose: The efficacy of low-dose thalidomide (THAL) plus dexamethasone (DEX) has been evaluated in myeloma. The clinical outcome of patients treated with THAL-DEX was compared with that of a control group treated with conventional chemotherapy (CC).

Experimental Design: A total of 120 relapsed/refractory patients to one (52%), or two or more(48%) lines of chemotherapy were treated with THAL 100mg/day (continuous) and DEX 40 mg (days 1-4 of each month).

Intermediate-dose melphalan improves survival of myeloma patients aged 50 to 70: results of a randomized controlled trial.

High-dose therapy is an effective standard treatment for multiple myeloma patients. Evidence that intermediate-dose therapy improves survival is limited. At diagnosis, about 70% of patients are older than 65.

New drugs for treatment of multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a disease of plasma cells that has fatal consequences. New insights into the biology of MM have identified molecular mechanisms that hold promise as therapeutic targets. Laboratory and preclinical studies have shown that intracellular regulatory proteins and functional interactions between MM cells and the bone-marrow microenvironment have a pivotal role in the growth, survival, drug resistance, and malignant progression of MM cells.

Oral melphalan at diagnosis hampers adequate collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells in multiple myeloma.

Background And Objectives: Since optimal collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) remains crucial for high-dose therapy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in relapse phase or refractory to chemotherapy, we evaluated several variables that may influence mobilization.

Design And Methods: Eighty-nine patients who underwent a standard mobilization procedure with cyclophosphamide (3 g/m2) and growth factors entered the study. A composite collection totalling at least 2x106 CD34+/kg was defined as a sufficient yield: 59 patients achieved an adequate collection.