Lenalidomide Plus High-Dose Dexamethasone Provides Improved Overall Survival Compared to High-Dose Dexamethasone Alone for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM): Results of 2 Phase III Studies (MM-009, MM-010) and Subgroup Analysis of Patients with Impaired Renal Function.
Authors: Weber Donna , Wang Michael , Chen Christine , Belch Andrew , Stadtmauer Edward A. , Niesvisky Ruben , Yu Zhinuan , Olesnyckyj Marta , Zeldis Jerome , Knight Robert D. , Dimopoulos Meletios 
Published: October 2019

Lenalidomide is a novel, orally administered immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) that has single-agent activity against multiple myeloma (MM) and additive effects when combined with dexamethasone. We have previously reported improved response (OR), time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) with lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Len-Dex) compared to dexamethasone-placebo (Dex) based on the results of 2 phase III trials (MM-009, North American, 353 pts; MM-010, Europe, Australia, and Israel, 351 pts). In both trials patients with relapsed or refractory MM not resistant to dexamethasone, were treated with dexamethasone 40 mg daily on days 1–4, 9–12, and 17–20 every 28 days and were randomized to receive either lenalidomide 25 mg daily orally on days 1–21 every 28 days or placebo. Beginning at cycle 5, Dex was reduced to 40 mg daily on days 1–4 only, every 28 days. Patients were also stratified with respect to B2M (≤2.5 vs. > 2.5 mg/mL), prior stem cell transplant (none vs. ≥ 1), and number of prior regimens (1 vs > 1). At a median follow-up from randomization of 17.1 mos (MM-009) and 16.5 mos (MM-010), both studies continue to show significant improvement with Len-Dex compared to Dex in OR (MM-009: 61% vs 20.5%, p<.001; MM-010: 59.1% vs. 24%, p<.001, respectively), TTP (MM-009: 11.1mos vs. 4.7mos, p<.001; MM-010: 11.3mos vs. 4.7mos, p<.001, respectively), and OS (MM-009: 29.6mos vs. 20.5mos, p<.001; MM-010: not estimable vs 20.6mos, p<.001, respectively). Pooled data from both trials demonstrates a significant improvement in duration of response for pts achieving ≥ PR with 122/216 pts (56.5%) who received Len-Dex continuing in remission (med. duration of response not reached but > 68.1 wks) compared to only 22/76 pts (28.9%) treated with dexamethasone alone (med. duration of response 22.1 wks, p<.001). An additional subgroup analysis was performed on pts with impaired creatinine clearance (cr cl). No significant difference in response rate, TTP, or OS was noted for patients with cr cl above or below 50 ml/min who were treated with Len-Dex, but for 16 pts with cr cl <30ml/min, med. TTP and OS was shorter than for those with cr cl >30ml/min, but still significantly higher than for pts treated with Dex. Grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia was significantly higher in pts with impaired renal function (<50ml/min, 13.8%; >50ml/min 4.6%, p<.01; <30ml/min, 18.8%, >30 ml/min, 5.5%, p<.05), but there was no difference for G3–4 neutropenia at either cutoff. Phase I–II evaluation to establish appropriate dosing in pts with cr cl < 30ml/min, particularly with respect to thrombocytopenia is warranted, but should not underscore improved OR, TTP, and OS for pts treated with Len-Dex regardless of creatinine clearance.