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Clinical Trial
. 2006 Apr;132(4):205-12.
doi: 10.1007/s00432-005-0074-4. Epub 2006 Jan 10.

Treatment of bendamustine and prednisone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma results in superior complete response rate, prolonged time to treatment failure and improved quality of life compared to treatment with melphalan and prednisone--a randomized phase III study of the East German Study Group of Hematology and Oncology (OSHO)

W Pönisch  1 , P S Mitrou, K Merkle, M Herold, M Assmann, G Wilhelm, K Dachselt, P Richter, V Schirmer, A Schulze, R Subert, B Harksel, N Grobe, E Stelzer, M Schulze, A Bittrich, M Freund, R Pasold, Th Friedrich, W Helbig, D Niederwieser; East German Study Group of Hematology and Oncology (OSHO)
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Treatment of bendamustine and prednisone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma results in superior complete response rate, prolonged time to treatment failure and improved quality of life compared to treatment with melphalan and prednisone--a randomized phase III study of the East German Study Group of Hematology and Oncology (OSHO)

W Pönisch et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2006 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: This randomized phase III study compared bendamustine and prednisone (BP) to standard melphalan and prednisone (MP) treatment in previously untreated patients with multiple Myeloma (MM).

Patients and methods: To be included, patients had to have histologically and cytologically proven stage II with progressive diseases or stage III MM. They were randomly assigned to receive BP (n=68) or MP (n=63). The primary endpoint was the time to treatment failure (TTF). Secondary endpoints included survival, remission rate, toxicity and quality of life.

Results: The overall response rate was 75% in the BP and 70% in the MP group. A significantly higher number of patients treated with BP achieved a complete remission than did patients receiving MP (32 vs. 13%; P=0.007), and the maximum response was achieved more rapidly in patients treated with BP compared to those receiving MP (6.8 vs. 8.7 cycles; P<0.02). TTF and remission duration were significantly longer in the BP group. Patients receiving BP had higher QoL scores and reported pain less frequently than patients receiving MP.

Conclusion: BP is superior to MP with respect to complete remission rate, TTF, cycles needed to achieve maximum remission and quality of life and should be considered the new standard in first-line treatment of MM patients not eligible for transplantation.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of time to treatment failure following BP or MP in 131 patients with multiple myeloma (Log-Rank test)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of overall survival following BP or MP in 131 patients with multiple myeloma (Log-Rank test)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of QoL parameters during therapy with BP or MP in patients with multiple myeloma: a Global status of health; b Emotional functioning; c Pain
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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