Dr. Mateos on Elderly Patients With Newly Diagnosed MM

María-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, associate professor, hematology, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, discusses the design and results of a phase II trial that she presented at the 2013 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting.

In the GEM2010MAS65 trial, researchers conducted a comparison of sequential and alternating administration of bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone and lenalidomide plus dexamethasone in elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

The combination of melphalan, bortezomib, lenalidomide, and steroids in this patient population in a sequential or alternating scheme is feasible, Mateos says. In terms of complete remission, the alternating scheme showed superior efficacy, though a longer follow-up is needed.