Revlimid maintenance after stem cell transplant in myeloma – pro
The results of the three major clinical trials investigating Revlimid maintenance therapy were published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The articles were accompanied by an editorial summarizing the study findings and discussing their significance for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients. All three clinical trials involved newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients. In two of the three trials, the initial treatment also included a stem cell transplant. After the initial treatment, patients were randomly assigned to take either Revlimid or a placebo on a regular basis until they relapsed. This kind of extended treatment, given after a more intensive initial course of therapy, is known as maintenance therapy.
All three trials found that Revlimid maintenance therapy significantly delays the progression of multiple myeloma. In younger newly diagnosed myeloma patients who had undergone a stem cell transplant, for example, Revlimid maintenance therapywith 10mg per day nearly doubled the time to relapse.
Only one of the three trials, however, found that Revlimid maintenance therapy improved the overall survival of patients. In general, it was started after 100 days.
In a study presented at ACO in 2015, similar findings were peesented. Revlimid was started after 100 days from transplant.
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