The therapeutic options of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) remain a challenge. The MM-003 trial demonstrated that RRMM patients treated with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (Pom/Dex) have better progression-free survival (PFS) than those treated with high-dose dexamethasone alone. However, the real-world effectiveness of Pom/Dex in these patients in Taiwan remains unclear.
This multicenter, registry-based study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 49 consecutive patients undergoing Pom/Dex treatment for RRMM. We investigated the overall response rate (ORR) and PFS in these patients. The patients were stratified into two groups: those who received two (n=33) and those who received more than two (n=16) prior lines of treatment according to the numbers of regimens before Pom/Dex therapy. The differences in ORR and PFS between these two groups were further analyzed. We also analyzed factors attributed to disease progression.
The ORR was 47.7%, and the median PFS was 4.0 months (range, 0.1−21.1). Patients who received two prior lines of treatment had a higher ORR than those who received more than two prior lines of treatment (55.2%
The median PFS following Pom/Dex treatment in Taiwanese RRMM patients in a real-world setting was similar to that reported by the MM-003 trial. Primary lenalidomide refractoriness should not be an obstacle for Pom/Dex treatment in RRMM.