Multiple myeloma clinical trial closes early due to significantly superior results of comparative treatment

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Cancer Center announced today that a multiple myeloma clinical trial has shown a significant improvement in survival with lenalidomide plus low dose dexamethasone therapy, compared to lenalidomide plus high dose dexamethasone.

The study, led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and supported by the National Cancer Institute, compared combination treatment of oral medications lenalidomide and either high- or low-dose dexamethasone in 445 patients with newly diagnosed  myeloma.  Lenalidomide plus high dose dexamethasone had a one-year survival rate of 86 percent. The comparative therapy using low-dose dexamethasone showed a significantly higher 96.5 percent overall survival rate at one year, with much less toxicity.

"In a nutshell, we have a highly effective and safe regimen now, which is orally administered for the treatment of myeloma. Patients can take this and not know they are on chemotherapy. That's how effective this is," said Rafael Fonseca, M.D., Hematology, Mayo Clinic in Arizona - one of the key investigators of the study. "This is a major advance in the treatment of this cancer."

All patients on the high-dose dexamethasone arm of the clinical trial will be moved to the low-dose arm. A successor study using lenalidomide plus high dose dexamethasone was closed early as a result of these findings.

More on this study can be found on the NCI Web site.

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is one of only 39 U.S. medical centers that have been named as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center. To receive this designation, an institution must meet rigorous standards demonstrating clinical excellence in treating cancer patients and scientific excellence in its research programs. Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is ranked by the NCI as one of the top 10 cancer centers in the nation, and is the only national, multi-site center with the NCI's Comprehensive Cancer Center designation. In Arizona, Mayo's clinical and research experts work together to address the complex needs of cancer patients, with a dedication to understanding the biology of cancer; discovering new ways to predict, prevent, diagnose and treat cancer; and transforming the quality of life for cancer patients today and in the future.

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