Thalidomide improves survival rate in MM

Adding thalidomide to standard treatment improves the survival for patients suffering from multiple myeloma by 18 months, according to research published in The Lancet on October 5.

In the study, supported by the drug's developer, USA-based Pharmion, overall survival rates were 33.2 months for melphalan and prednisone, which is standard therapy for multiple myeloma in the European Union and 38.3 months for the third group, compared to 51.6 months for standard therapy plus thalidomide (MP-T). The study involved 447 newly-diagnosed patients with MM who were ineligible for intensive bone marrow transplantation regimens and were randomly assigned to either of the two treatment arms.

Commenting on the trial, Gareth Morgan, professor of Hematology at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, said: "the results of this study will have an enormous impact on how multiple myeloma is treated in the future. It redefines the standard treatment for patients with multiple myeloma, and makes the combination of melphalan-predisone-thalidomide the gold standard. Improvement in cancer survival is usually measured in weeks, not months, so this is very significant data. An extra 18 months of life can make a lot of difference to my patients and their families."