Darbepoetin alfa administration in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chemotherapy-induced anemia receiving (±R)CHOP

IMPACT NHL was a multicenter, observational study in adults with non-Hodgkin lymphoma receiving CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) chemotherapy with or without rituximab. Erythropoietin-stimulating agent treatment was given according to routine clinical practice and physician preference. In a subanalysis, outcomes were evaluated in 207 patients who received darbepoetin alfa (DA). The most common reason (81%) for initiating DA was low/declining hemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Mean (±standard deviation) duration of DA exposure was 8.8 ± 6.9 weeks (mean number of doses, 5.1 ± 4.6). Overall, 23% of patients had chemotherapy and DA treatment synchronized more than 75% of the time. At the time of DA initiation, 67% of patients had Hb concentrations in the guideline-recommended range (9-11 g/dl). Of 89 patients with Hb concentrations <10 g/dl at DA initiation and still receiving DA 5 weeks later, 92% (Kaplan-Meier) achieved Hb concentrations 10-12 g/dl between week 5 and at the end of treatment

Bortezomib induction and maintenance treatment in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: results of the randomized phase III HOVON-65/ GMMG-HD4 trial

Item does not contain fulltextPURPOSE: We investigated whether bortezomib during induction and maintenance improves survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 827 eligible patients with newly diagnosed symptomatic MM were randomly assigned to receive induction therapy with vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (VAD) or bortezomib, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (PAD) followed by high-dose melphalan and autologous stem-cell transplantation. Maintenance consisted of thalidomide 50 mg (VAD) once per day or bortezomib 1.3 mg/m(2) (PAD) once every 2 weeks for 2 years. The primary analysis was progression-free survival (PFS) adjusted for International Staging System (ISS) stage. RESULTS: Complete response (CR), including near CR, was superior after PAD induction (15% v 31%; P < .001) and bortezomib maintenance (34% v 49%; P < .001). After a median follow-up of 41 months, PFS was superior in the PAD arm (median of 28 months v 35 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.90; P = .002). In multivariate analysis, overall survival (OS) was better in the PAD arm (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.00; P = .049). In high-risk patients presenting with increased creatinine more than 2 mg/dL, bortezomib significantly improved PFS from a median of 13 months to 30 months (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.78; P = .004) and OS from a median of 21 months to 54 months (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.65; P < .001). A benefit was also observed in patients with deletion 17p13 (median PFS, 12 v 22 months; HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.86; P = .01; median OS, 24 months v not reached at 54 months; HR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.74; P = .003). CONCLUSION: Bortezomib during induction and maintenance improves CR and achieves superior PFS and OS