Thalidomide salvage therapy following allogeneic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: a retrospective study from the Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome (IFM) and the Société Française de Greffe de Moelle et Thérapie Cellulaire (SFGM-TC)

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2005 Jan;35(2):165-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1704756.

Abstract

Thalidomide is effective in multiple myeloma (MM), even in patients who have relapsed after high-dose therapy. A potent graft-versus-myeloma (GVM) effect can be induced against MM after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). In all, 31 MM patients received thalidomide as a salvage therapy after progression following allo-SCT. The median maximum daily dose of thalidomide was 200 mg (range, 50-600). Thalidomide had to be discontinued in six patients (19%) because of toxicity. In all, nine patients (29%; 95% CI, 13-45) achieved an objective response with thalidomide therapy (six partial and three very good partial responses, VGPR). Five patients developed graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after thalidomide therapy, including the three patients achieving a VGPR. These data demonstrate that thalidomide is potentially effective in MM patients failing allo-SCT.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / mortality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / mortality
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy*
  • Remission Induction
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Thalidomide / administration & dosage
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use*
  • Thalidomide / toxicity
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Thalidomide