Superiority of thalidomide and dexamethasone over vincristine-doxorubicin-dexamethasone (VAD) as primary therapy in preparation for autologous transplantation for multiple myeloma

The aim of the present study was to compare thalidomide-dexamethasone (Thai-Dex) and vincristine-doxorubicin-dexamethasone (VAD) as primary therapy in preparation for autologous peripheral blood stem-cell (PBSC) transplantation for multiple myeloma (MM). For this purpose, we performed a retrospective matched case-control analysis of 200 patients who entered 2 consecutive studies from 1996 to 2004 and received Thai-Dex (n = 100) or VAD (n = 100) administered for 4 months before collection of PBSCS and autologous transplantation. Matching criteria included age, clinical stage, and serum beta(2)-microglobulin levels. In comparison with VAD, Thai-Dex resulted in a significantly higher response rate (52% versus 76%, respectively; P <.001) and effected more profound reduction in myeloma cell mass of both immunoglobulin G (IgG; P =.02) and IgA (P =.03) type. More frequent toxicities included nonfatal deep vein thrombosis with Thal-Dex (15%) and granulocytopenia with VAID (12%). In each of the 2 treatment groups, 91% of patients proceeded to PBSC mobilization. The median number of collected CD34(+) cells was 7.85 x 10(6)/kg in the Thal-Dex group and 10.5 x 10(6)/kg in the control group. Thal-Dex may be considered an effective and relatively well-tolerated oral alternative to the more complex VAD regimen as front-line therapy for MM patients who are candidates for subsequent autologous transplantation.