Neoplasms

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Multiple Myeloma

Neoplasms, Plasma Cell

Neoplasms by Histologic Type

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Anti-Inflammatory Agents

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Anti-Infective Agents

Dexamethasone

Bendamustine Hydrochloride

Bortezomib

Dexamethasone acetate

BB 1101

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Alkylating Agents

Bendamustine : 70 mg/m2 iv on D1 and 8, for each cycle Velcade : 1.3 mg/m2 iv on D1, 8, 15 and 22, for each cycle Dexamethasone : 20 mg/day po on D1, 8, 15 and 22, given prior to Bendamustine and Velcade

Bendamustine, Velcade and Dexamethasone

Philippe RODON, Doctor

Cyrille HULIN, Doctor

Jean-Luc HAROUSSEAU, Professor

Claire MATHIOT, Doctor

Marie-Odile PETILLON, Doctor

The present trial is designed as a phase II study that aims at estimating the efficacy of the combination of bendamustine, bortezomib and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). The response rate, i.e. the rate of the patients achieving a Complete Response or Partial Response at cycle 4, divided by the total intent to treat patient number is chosen as primary efficacy endpoint.

The estimation of the efficacy rate is to be based on an explorative pilot study, since immediate embarking on a large-scale comparative efficacy trial would not be acceptable from the point of view of resources. Moreover, this would induce ethical objections, as it does not seem to be justifiable to expose a large number of patients to an experimental approach without sufficient exploratory indications of an improved risk-benefit ratio.

After relapse or after early progression on first-line treatment, the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) patients is unfavourable, and the search for new treatment regimens, including drugs with novel mechanisms of action is essential.

Bendamustine and bortezomib have shown high activity boch in first-line regimens and pre-treated patients. The novel mechanism of action of the proteasome inhibitor and the non-cross resistance of bendamustine to other alkylating agents established in the first-line treatment of multiple myeloma seem to recommend a combination of the two drugs for salvage therapy (second-line regimen). Finally, the promising response data in a series of relapsing MM patients treated with bendamustine, bortezomib and prednisone support this assumption, as well as the feasibility and tolerability of the combination.

In summary, there is some evidence for a favorable risk/benefit ratio for the combination of bendamustine, bortezomib and a corticoid drug, warranting the exploration in a larger, prospectively designed multicenter phase II study.

Study of Bendamustine, Velcade and Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Elderly Patients With Multiple Myeloma

A Phase II Study of Bendamustine, Velcade and Dexamethasone (BVD) in the Treatment of Elderly Patients (>= 65 Years) With Multiple Myeloma in 1st Relapse or Refractory to 1st Line Therapy

Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome

Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for refractory to first line therapy