Prof Gareth Morgan (Institute of Cancer Research, UK) discusses with study author Dr Philip McCarthy (Roswell Park Cancer Institute, USA), the positive results of the Intergroup Phase III Study (CALGB 100104) of lenalidomide (Revlimid) as continuous treatment for patients with multiple myeloma which was presented during the 13th International Myeloma Workshop. The experts also discuss further data presented during the session entitled “Secondary Primary Malignancies; an emerging issue?” The phase III study demonstrated statistically significant (unadjusted p=0.018) overall survival benefit for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma receiving continuous treatment with lenalidomide compared to placebo. Patients receiving continuous treatment with lenalidomide experienced a 56% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared to placebo (p<0.0001). An increase in second primary malignancies (SPMs), mainly hematological malignancies, was observed in patients receiving lenalidomide compared to patients receiving placebo. However, the event free survival analysis, where SPM was included as an event, in addition to death and progression, demonstrated that there was no significant impact of SPMs on observed TTP or OS benefit.

You can read Dr McCarthy’s abstract on the IMW website here.



This programme was made possible with an educational grant provided by CELGENE.