Efficacy of bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone for newly diagnosed POEMS syndrome patients.

Background: Due to the rarity of polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome, the best first-line treatment has not been established, although there are several options in guidelines. The preferred treatments vary according to the preference of the physician and anecdote.

Objectives: First, to analyze the efficacy of a new treatment mode in POEMS syndrome that uses the four-cycle treatment as the induction regimen, followed by sequential transplantation as the consolidation regimen for transplantation-eligible patients, or received another two-cycle treatment for transplantation-ineligible patients. Second, to compare the efficacy and safety of regimens with a proteasome inhibitor (bortezomib-cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone, BCD) or without a proteasome inhibitor (cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone ± thalidomide, CD ± T).

Design: We conducted a retrospective study using real-world data from Capital Medical University, Xuanwu Hospital.

Methods: A total of 34 newly diagnosed POEMS syndrome patients met Dispenzieri's diagnostic criteria, and those who completed at least four cycles of treatment from July 2013 to March 2021 were included.

Results: The overall vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) response rate of this new treatment mode was 100%. The cumulative VEGF complete remission (CR) rate was 67.9%, and the cumulative complete hematological response (CR) rate was 55.6%. During the median 49-month follow-up, the 5-year-overall survival (OS) rate was 90.7%, the 3-year-progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 78.4%, and the 5-year-PFS rate was 73.8%. The BCD regimen achieved a 75% CR rate (median time from diagnosis to CR = 130 days) and 66.7% CR rate (median time from diagnosis to CR = 218 days). In addition, the VEGF response was less than the partial remission (PR) after four-cycle induction treatment, which, together with a decrease on the Overall Neurological Limitation Scale of less than three points 1 year after consolidation treatment, was an independent poor prognostic factor.

Conclusion: Bortezomib was well-tolerated by patients with POEMS syndrome. Compared with CD ± T regimen, BCD as the induction regimen achieved better VEGF response and earlier hematological remission. Autologous stem cell transplantation used as consolidation therapy further improved the neurological and hematological remission rates, resulting in better OS and PFS.