Efficacy and safety of lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/ refractory multiple myeloma: a real-life experience

Abstract

Background/aim: In Turkey, lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (RD) has been used to treat relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma(RRMM) since 2010. This retrospective, single-center study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of RD in patients with RRMMbetween October 2010 and June 2016.Materials and methods: Patients’ records were reviewed, and overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed.Results: One hundred and twenty patients (71 males; 59.2%) were included in the study. The median number of prior lines of treatmentwas one (1–4); 72 patients (60.0%) received RD as second-line therapy and 51 patients (42.5%) had previously undergone autologousstem cell transplantation (ASCT). The overall response rate was 72.5%, with 19% of these patients achieving a complete response. Themedian length of follow-up and duration of response to RD was 14 months and 19 months, respectively. Median OS and PFS were 32and 21 months, respectively. Prior ASCT, an overall response, and treatment with RD for >12 cycles were identified as independentprognostic factors for OS and PFS. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 69 (57.5%) and 14 patients (11.7%) discontinued treatment dueto AEs.Conclusions: We found RD to be safe, well tolerated, and effective in RRMM in everyday clinical practice in Turkey.