Low Dosages of Steroids with Lenalidomide Prolong Survival for Multiple Myeloma Patients

Low doses of dexamethasone, a steroid, with lenalidomide can help in prolonging survival for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, according to a trial conducted by a network of researchers led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

It was found during the trial that a combination of low doses of dexamethasone and lenalidomide is far better than lenalidomide and higher doses of dexamethasone.

These results are expected to have major implications for multiple myeloma therapy as per noted study chair Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

From Bio-Medicine.Org:

Preliminary results from a large, randomized clinical trial for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, a cancer typically found in bone marrow, has shown that the use of a low dose of the steroid dexamethasone (Decadron ®), in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid ®) is associated with improved survival when compared to a treatment regimen with lenalidomide and a higher, standard dose of dexamethasone. The clinical trial was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and conducted by a network of researchers led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG).

The data monitoring committee overseeing the trial (known as E4A03) recommended that the survival results from a recent interim analysis be made public because of early differences being seen in overall survival rates. Researchers found that patients in the study who received low-dose dexamethasone and lenalidomide had a one-year survival of 96 percent compared to 86 percent for patients treated with the standard-dose of dexamethasone and lenalidomide. In addition, there were fewer side effects associated with the low-dose dexamethasone and lenalidomide.

Rajkumar remarked that the trial results seem to be very positive in nature and can be seen as a real step forward in treating patients fighting against multiple myeloma.