Paper Details

  1. Home
  2. Paper Details

A randomized trial of maintenance versus no maintenance melphalan and prednisone in responding multiple myeloma patients.

Author: BelchA, BergsagelD, KlimoP, ShelleyW, WhiteD, WillanA, WilsonK

Clinical TrialA clinical trial is a planned study conducted on humans to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and treatment methods. It aims to explore the possibilities of new treatments and improve the health of patients.
Journal ArticleAn article published in an academic or professional journal that reports original research or scholarly analysis.
Randomized Controlled TrialA clinical trial that randomly assigns participants to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effects of an intervention.
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch funding provided by government agencies outside the United States.

Overview

This study investigated the effectiveness of continuing melphalan and prednisone (MP) treatment after remission in 185 patients with multiple myeloma. Patients were randomly assigned to either stop treatment and resume it when they relapsed or to continue treatment until relapse. The study found that patients who stopped treatment experienced relapse earlier. However, these patients were often able to achieve a second remission when MP was restarted. The study also found that patients who had a rapid initial response or a smaller reduction in M-protein levels had shorter remission durations and shorter overall survival. While the study did not show a significant difference in survival between the two groups, the findings suggest that continuing MP therapy may be beneficial in delaying relapse and potentially extending overall survival.
Paper Details　
Original Abstract of the Article :
In order to assess the role of maintenance melphalan and prednisone (MP) in responding multiple myeloma patients, 185 eligible patients who responded to initial MP with stabilization for at least 4 months were randomized to either stop treatment and resume therapy at relapse or to continue MP until ...See full text at original site
Dr.Camel IconDr.Camel's Paper Summary Blogラクダ博士について

ラクダ博士は、Health Journal が論文の内容を分かりやすく解説するために作成した架空のキャラクターです。
難解な医学論文を、専門知識のない方にも理解しやすいように、噛み砕いて説明することを目指しています。

* ラクダ博士による解説は、あくまで論文の要点をまとめたものであり、原論文の完全な代替となるものではありません。詳細な内容については、必ず原論文をご参照ください。
* ラクダ博士は架空のキャラクターであり、実際の医学研究者や医療従事者とは一切関係がありません。
* 解説の内容は Health Journal が独自に解釈・作成したものであり、原論文の著者または出版社の見解を反映するものではありません。


引用元：
https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1988.17

データ提供：米国国立医学図書館（NLM）

Maintenance Therapy for Multiple Myeloma: Evaluating its Benefits

The treatment of [multiple myeloma], a type of blood cancer, involves various strategies, including [melphalan and prednisone (MP)] therapy. This study sought to determine the efficacy of [maintenance MP therapy] in patients who had responded well to initial MP treatment.

Maintenance Therapy: Prolonging Remission Duration

The study randomized patients who had responded to initial MP therapy into two groups: one group continued maintenance MP therapy until relapse, while the other group stopped treatment and resumed therapy at relapse. The results showed that the maintenance group had a longer median time to final progression on MP, reflecting a longer duration of disease control. However, the difference in overall survival between the two groups was not statistically significant.

Considerations for Multiple Myeloma Treatment

This study provides insights into the role of maintenance MP therapy in multiple myeloma. While it suggests that maintenance therapy may prolong remission duration, further research is needed to fully understand its impact on overall survival and to identify patients who would benefit most from this approach. The study also highlights the importance of factors like initial response rate and M-protein reduction in determining treatment outcomes.

Dr.Camel's Conclusion

Think of multiple myeloma like a wandering sandstorm, sometimes it seems like it's under control, but you never know when it might return. This research explored the benefits of using a treatment strategy like maintenance therapy, akin to building a sturdy sandcastle to help weather the storm. Although it may not completely eradicate the storm, it might give patients a bit more time to enjoy the oasis, and that's what matters.

Date :
  1. Date Completed 1988-04-29
  2. Date Revised 2019-05-15
Further Info :

Pubmed ID

3279997

DOI: Digital Object Identifier

10.1038/bjc.1988.17

Related Literature

Article Analysis
・Effective treatment of multiple myeloma
SNS
PICO Info
in preparation
Languages

English

Positive IndicatorAn AI analysis index that serves as a benchmark for how positive the results of the study are. Note that it is a benchmark and requires careful interpretation and consideration of different perspectives.

This site uses cookies. Visit our privacy policy page or click the link in any footer for more information and to change your preferences.