An Experience on Pomalidomide in Patients within Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma - A Multicenter Study in Turkey
Mehmet Ali Erkurt
Department of Hematology, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Fehmi Hindilerden
Department of Hematology, University of Health Sciences, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Omer Ekinci
Department of Hematology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey.
Jale Yildiz
Department of Hematology & Apheresis Unit, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Mehmet Sinan Dal
Department of Hematology & Apheresis Unit, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Metin Bagci
Department of Hematology, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
Tuba Hacibekiroglu
Department of Hematology, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey.
Mehmet Hilmi Dogu
Department of Hematology, Liv Hospital Ulus, Istanbul, Turkey.
Sinem Namdaroglu
Department of Hematology, Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Abdulkadir Basturk
Department of Hematology, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
Emine Gulturk
Department of Hematology, University of Health Sciences, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Mustafa Merter
Department of Hematology, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey.
Bugra Saglam
Department of Hematology, University of Health Sciences, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Sinan Demircioglu
Department of Hematology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
Duzgun Ozatli
Department of Hematology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
Ahmet Sarici *
Department of Hematology, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Turgay Ulas
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, School of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Serdal Korkmaz
Department of Hematology & Apheresis Unit, University of Health Sciences, Kayseri City Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
Bulent Eser
Department of Hematology, Medical Park Antalya Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
Fevzi Altuntas
Department of Hematology & Apheresis Unit, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. and Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, School of Medicine, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: Pomalidomide is a new generation thalidomide analogue. Effectiveness as a single agent or combination with low dose dexamethasone has been in the treatment of relapse/refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM). The aim of the present study was to share the experience of different oncology centres with pomalidomide treatment in patients with relapsed/refractory MM.
Materials and Methods: Seventy-three patients from 16 centres were enrolled into the study. The patients were followed for a median of 6 months. Relapsed/refractory MM patients who received at least one line of treatment before pomalidomide were included into the study. ISS, R-ISS and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores of the patients and treatment-related side effects were evaluated.
Results: As a result of the median follow-up for 6 months, 36% (26/72) of the patients presented progression. The estimated median PFS was found 29 months. The Cox regression analysis revealed that ECOG affected PFS only, myeloma subtype; ISS and R-ISS scores did not affect PFS. The most common side effects with pomalidomide treatment in our population include neutropenia, infections, anaemia and thrombocytopenia.
Conclusion: In our study, it was statistically shown that the ECOG score was effective in survival in relapsed / refractory MM patients treated by pomalidomide. Therefore, we recommend evaluation of the ECOG score for each patient before treatment in eligible cases.
Keywords: Multiple myeloma, pomalidomide, ECOG, neutropenia, immunomodulatory drugs.