Abstract
Background We previously showed that consolidation therapy with thalidomide and prednisolone improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with multiple myeloma who had undergone autologous stem-cell transplantation. We aimed to assess whether these survival advantages were durable at 5 years.
Methods The ALLG MM6 trial was a multicentre, open-label, randomised phase 3 trial done between Jan 13, 2002, and March 15, 2005, at 29 sites in Australia and New Zealand. Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were randomly assigned (1:1), via computer-generated randomisation charts, to receive indefinite prednisolone maintenance alone (control group) or in combination with 12 months of thalidomide consolidation (thalidomide group) after autologous stem-cell transplantation. Randomisation was stratified by treating centre and pre-transplantation concentrations of beta(2) microglobulin. Patients and treating physicians were not masked to treatment allocation. Primary endpoints were progression-free survival and overall survival. Analysis was by intention to treat. Secondary endpoints were overall response to salvage therapy, incidence of second primary malignancy incidence, and cost-effectiveness. This trial is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12607000382471.
Findings We randomly assigned 269 patients to the thalidomide (n=114) or control group (n=129). After a median follow-up of 5.4 years (IQR 3.1-7.2), estimated 5-year progression-free survival was 27% (95% CI 23-32) in the thalidomide group and 15% (11-18) in the control group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.16, 95% CI 0.044-0.58; p=0.0054) and 5-year overall survival was 66% (95% CI 61-70) and 47% (42-51), respectively (HR 0.12, 95% CI 0.028-0.56; p=0.0072). There was no difference in overall response to salvage therapy, survival post-progression, or incidence of secondary malignancies between the two groups. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was AUS$26996 per mean life-year gained.
Interpretation Consolidation therapy with thalidomide and prednisolone after autologous stem-cell transplantaion is an acceptable therapeutic approach when alternative drugs are not available.