Drug treatment may delay the onset of myeloma symptoms, study finds

According to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, the largest randomized trial on smoldering multiple myeloma suggests that lenalidomide, an anticancer drug, could delay the onset of myeloma symptoms. The study was conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and funded by the National Cancer Institute.

The findings, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, correspond to a smaller trial conducted in 2015 by researchers in Spain. "Together with the Spanish data, this test could support a change in clinical practice," says the study.

Currently, standard treatment of smoldering multiple myeloma is observation without treatment. We have found that treatment of smoldering myeloma delays progression to symptomatic myeloma and can prevent organ damage that occurs in multiple myeloma. "

S. Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., hematologist at the Mayo Clinic and lead author of the trial

The study involved 182 patients, 92 of whom received the drug, known as Revlimid brand. The other 90 patients did not receive the drug but were observed, as in current practice. Nearly half of the patients receiving the drug responded to treatment, but no changes were reported in patients under observation.

Serious adverse events occurred in 28% of patients treated with lenalidomide, but Dr. Rajkumar stated that they were considered manageable.

The findings, combined with the results of the 2015 Spanish study, support a change in standard of care for patients with intermediate or high-risk brooding myeloma, says Dr. Rajkumar.

"We show that it is possible to delay the progression of multiple myeloma, a serious cancer with significant morbidity, by early treatment administered while the disease is still asymptomatic," he said.

The Spanish study focused on two drugs -; lenalidomide and dexamethasone, a steroid -; and it was not clear if the beneficial effect was due to the drugs independently or in combination. The present study, which is under review for publication and which involves researchers from all over the United States, shows that lenalidomide alone has a similar effect on delaying the progression of the disease. Sagar Lonial, MD, of the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, is the lead author.

The 55^th The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which runs from May 31 to June 4, is the largest meeting of international clinicians in oncology, allied personnel and researchers.