Multicenter Phase II Trial of Patients with Refractory or Recurrent Multiple Myeloma with Oral Treatment of Thalidomide Combined with Oral Cyclophosphamide, Idarubicin and Dexamethasone.

Introduction and rationale: The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of thalidomide in combination with oral CID therapy in order to replace the central venous line necessary for continuous infusion of chemotherapy and to avoid hospitalization.

Patients and methods: Patients with refractory or recurrent myeloma were included into this trial. Concerning inclusion criteria, 9 patients had progressive disease after standard chemotherapy, 12 no change after standard chemotherapy, 6 recurrent disease after standard therapy and 21 recurrence after high dose chemotherapy. At start of the treatment patients were in stages IIA (15 patients), IIB (1) and IIIA (34). Idarubicin was given in capsules at 8–10 mg/m2/day for days 1–4, 40 mg dexamethasone were given on days 1–4 and 15–18, cyclophosphamide at 200 mg/m2/d d1–4 and thalidomide 100mg daily with scheduled increase to 400mg. Treatment cycles were repeated every 28 days. 3–8 cycles were applied. Supportive therapy consisted of PEG-filgrastim, cotrimoxazol, dalteparin and ibandronate. In addition, patients were randomized between thalidomide and thalidomide / idarubicin maintenance treatment.

Results: At this interim analysis, 64 patients have been entered into the ongoing trial; 8 patients had to be excluded. Of the 56 included patients, 50 patients have been documented so far and are evaluable for toxicity. In total, 182 cycles have been applied. Median cycle number was 3 (1–8). There was one death during treatment due to progressive myeloma at cycle 1. The median age was 62 years (interquartile range 57–67). The following toxicities were observed: FUO (2 patients), pneumonia (4), pulmonary embolism (1), exsiccosis after diarrhea (1), constipation (1), sepsis (1), severe nausea (2), syncope (1), collaps after bleeding (1) and mucositis grade 4 (1). Hematologic toxicity was reported in 34% of the patients, mainly in cycles 1 and 2. Concerning response to treatment 39 patients are evaluable so far. Of these 30 (77%) achieved a PR or MR according to EBMT criteria, 4 patients a stable disease and 2 patients a PD. Three patients were not evaluable and scorded as failures.

Conclusions: T-CID is feasible and seems to be highly effective in relapsed or refractory myeloma patients. Toxicity seems to be acceptable and mainly hematologic and infectiologic. The remission rate of 77% is encouraging. The trial is still ongoing. At the meeting a follow-up of the trial will be presented. Further information can be obtained at www.myelom.net.