Continuous administration of low-dose cyclophosphamide and prednisone as a salvage treatment for multiple myeloma.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide and prednisone (CP) as a salvage therapy for multiple myeloma (MM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 27 consecutive patients with MM received a treatment regimen that consisted of oral cyclophosphamide 50 mg and prednisone 15 mg daily. Nineteen patients had severe comorbid conditions; 8 were unwilling to continue conventional chemotherapy as a result of severe infection associated with the conventional chemotherapy. Patients had received 1 to 4 chemotherapeutic regimens before the enrollment.

RESULTS

The overall response rate (complete remission, very good partial response, and partial response) was 66.7%. The median time to response was 2 months. In the patients who responded to the treatment, the median progression-free survival (PFS) has not been reached. In the nonresponding patients, the median PFS was 4 months.

CONCLUSION

Continuous low-dose CP is an effective and well-tolerated salvage therapy for MM.