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Myeloma

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)

Abstract

Summary:

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.

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Acknowledgements

Mohamad Mohty would like to thank the ‘Association Sang pour Cent la Vie’ (Paris, France), the ‘Ligue Départementale contre le Cancer du Gard’ (Nimes, France), the ‘Association Méditerranéenne pour le Développement de la Transplantation’ (AMDT, Marseille, France), the ‘Association Laurette Fuguain’ (Paris, France), the ‘Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC)’, the ‘Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer’, the ‘Etablissement Français des Greffes (EFG)’ and the GEFLUC for their generous and continuous support for our ongoing basic and clinical research work.

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Correspondence to I Yakoub-Agha.

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Mohty, M., Attal, M., Marit, G. et al. 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 35, 165–169 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1704756

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