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

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.