Improvements in the outcomes of elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients have lagged behind those of transplant-eligible patients, likely due in part to the use of less efficacious melphalan-containing regimens. To date, there are very limited data for the outcomes of elderly MM patients in the United States (US), particularly for novel agent-containing triplet regimens. In this retrospective study at a single U.S. institution, the outcomes of 117 consecutive newly diagnosed, symptomatic MM patients over the age of 70 were evaluated. The median age was 75 years (range 70-95) with significant baseline comorbidities including 36% cardiac and 20% renal (CrCl < 30 mL/min). The median follow-up was 43 months and the median number of lines of therapy during the study period was 2 (1-7). Eighty-six patients (83%) received non-melphalan doublet, triplet, or quadruplet initial therapy, most with significant planned dose attenuations. For those treated with dose-attenuated RVD (n = 34), the outcomes were particularly impressive with overall response rate (ORR), complete remission and very good partial remission (CR + VGPR), and progression-free survival (PFS) of 94%, 65%, and 36 months, respectively, and overall survival (OS) not reached. The PFS with RVD was significantly greater than that of all other regimens (P = 0.030), including RD.
Keywords: Chemotherapy; United States; elderly; myeloma; neoplasms; plasma cell.
© 2016 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.