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Conditioning Regimens

First-line thalidomide–dexamethasone therapy in preparation for autologous stem cell transplantation in young patients (<61 years) with symptomatic multiple myeloma

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 36, pages 193–198 (2005)Cite this article

A Retraction to this article was published on 10 June 2009

Summary:

Thalidomide–dexamethasone therapy was given in patients (<61 years) with previously untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of this combination as first-line therapy, and to determine its effect on stem cell collection and engraftment. During first-line therapy, thalidomide and dexamethasone were administered for 75 days (200 mg/day) and 3 months, respectively. The monthly dose of dexamethasone was 20 mg/m2/day for 4 days, with cycles repeated on days 9 to 12 and 17 to 20 on the first and the third month of therapy. After first-line therapy, a collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) was performed. Between May 2003 and September 2004, 60 patients were included. On an intent-to-treat basis, the overall response (⩾partial response) rate was 74%, including 24% of patients who obtained a complete remission. Grade 3–4 toxicities consisted of infections (12%), deep-vein thrombosis (3%), constipation (5%), and neuropathy (5%). A total of 58 patients (96%) proceeded to PBSC mobilisation and yielded a median number of 8 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg. First-line thalidomide–dexamethasone therapy is effective and relatively well tolerated in young patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma. This combination does not affect PBSC mobilisation.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the patients who participated in the trial, to the attending physicians who referred their patients to our centres, and to Mr Naceur Gharbi for his support.This work was supported by the Ministry of Research (03/UR/08-03) and the Association Tunisienne des Greffés de la Moelle Osseuse (ATGMO).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre National de Greffe de Moelle Osseuse, Tunis, Tunisia

    A Abdelkefi, L Torjman, S Ladeb, T Ben Othman, A Lakhal & A Ben Abdeladhim (on behalf of the Tunisian Multiple Myeloma Study Group)

  2. Hôpital La Rabta, Tunis, Tunisia

    N Ben Romdhane

  3. Hôpital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia

    H El Omri

  4. Hôpital Hédi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia

    M Elloumi & H Bellaj

  5. Hôpital Aziza Othmana, Tunis, Tunisia

    R Jeddi & L Aissaouï

  6. Laboratoire de cytogénétique, Hôpital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia

    A Saad

  7. Institut National de la Santé Publique, Tunis, Tunisia

    M Hsaïri

  8. Centre National de Transfusion Sanguine, Tunis, Tunisia

    K Boukef

  9. Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

    K Dellagi

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  1. A Abdelkefi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A Abdelkefi.

Appendix

Appendix

The following is a list of additional investigators who participated in the study:

Hafsia A, Belhadj Z, Ben Abid H, Ben Lakhal R, Meddeb B, Guermazi S, Mnif S, Amouri A, Louzir H, Maamar M, Slama H, Moojat N, Jenhani F, Ben Hamed L, Turki I, Ben Ayed F, Ben Hadj Yahia C, Zouari R, Belhassine L, Msadek F, Louzir B, Karoui M, Houmane H, Sellami S, El Euch M, Goucha R, Zouaghi K (Tunis); Souissi T, Hdiji S, Frikha M, Toumi N, Bahloul Z, Hachicha J, Baklouti S (Sfax); Khlif A, Laatiri A (Sousse), Zakraoui L, Laatar M, Ksontini I, Bouslama, Ben Dridi (La Marsa); Younes M, Bargaoui N (Monastir).

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Abdelkefi, A., Torjman, L., Ben Romdhane, N. et al. First-line thalidomide–dexamethasone therapy in preparation for autologous stem cell transplantation in young patients (<61 years) with symptomatic multiple myeloma. Bone Marrow Transplant 36, 193–198 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1705050

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