Publication Date:
2015-12-03
Description:
Introduction: Controversy exists regarding the choice of triplet versus doublet salvage therapy among patients with multiple myeloma (MM) experiencing early relapse. Triplet therapies produce deeper responses (CR, ≥VGPR, ORR) and result in prolonged progression free survival (PFS) while doublet therapies demonstrate an improved toxicity profile. We performed a meta-analysis of the RCTs comparing triplet to doublet salvage regimens in early relapsed myeloma patients (1-3 prior lines of therapy). The objective is to test the hypothesis that triplet regimens are tolerable, improve CR, ≥VGPR, ORR rates and would translate to an improved PFS. Methods: We searched Pubmed, Cochrane databases and ASH, ASCO conference proceedings from 01/2000 through 07/2015 for publications and abstracts to identify the phase III RCTs comparing triplet vs. doublet salvage therapies among patients with relapsed myeloma. A meta-analysis of 4 RCTs (PANORAMA1, MMVAR/IFM 2005-04, ASPIRE, ELOQUENT2 consisting of 2475 patients) was performed using the fixed (Mantel-Haenszel) and random (DerSimonain and Laird) models to calculate the impact of triplets versus doublets (table 1) by evaluating the CR, ≥VGPR, ORR, PFS and toxicities. Mature OS data was not available for the RCTs, hence not included in meta-analysis. The consistency of results (effect sizes) among studies was investigated by means of 2 heterogeneity tests: the χ 2-based Cochran's Q test, and the I2 Statistic. We considered that heterogeneity was present when the P-value of the Cochran's Q test was 50%. Results: The pooled odds ratios of ORR, ≥VGPR and CR with triplets vs. doublets were 1.935 (P
Print ISSN:
0006-4971
Electronic ISSN:
1528-0020
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
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