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Purpose: Fosaprepitant improved prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in a randomized, double-blind phase III trial (PN031). This post hoc analysis explored factors that may have influenced response.Methods: Adult subjects (N = 1000) scheduled to receive non-anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) on day 1 were randomly assigned 1:1 to a single-dose, 150-mg intravenous fosaprepitant regimen or a control regimen. Both regimens included dexamethasone and ondansetron on day 1, with ondansetron continuing through day 3 in the control arm only. Complete response (CR; no vomiting and no rescue medication) rates in the acute, delayed, and overall phases (0-25, 25-120, and 0-120 h, respectively) were analyzed by chemotherapy type (carboplatin-based vs non-carboplatin-based), chemotherapy duration (single-day vs multiple-day), and baseline characteristics.Results: Most subjects received single-day chemotherapeutic regimens (70.6%), which were mainly carboplatin-based (67.6%). CR with fosaprepitant was consistent (76-80%) during the delayed and overall phases in carboplatin-based and non-carboplatin-based subgroups and in subgroups receiving single-day or multiple-day MEC regimens. Treatment effects favored fosaprepitant for the carboplatin-based versus the non-carboplatin-based group during the delayed phase (14.1 vs 6.5%; p = 0.06), and for the single-day versus the multiple-day subgroup during the delayed (13.2 vs 3.2%; p = 0.02) and overall phases (12.8 vs 4.0%; p = 0.06).Conclusions: This exploratory analysis confirms that single-dose fosaprepitant is effective for the prevention of CINV in subjects receiving carboplatin or non-carboplatin in both single- and multiple-day non-AC MEC chemotherapy regimens. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT01594749. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel sequential combination therapy for induction may improve the quality of response and therefore prolong survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients. We report results from a phase 2 study of two sequential three-drug combinations. Forty-four previously untreated, symptomatic MM patients received: bortezomib 1·3 mg/m2 (days 1, 4, 8, 11), cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 (days 1, 8), plus dexamethasone 40 mg (day of and day after bortezomib) for three 21-day cycles, followed by bortezomib 1·0 mg/m2, dexamethasone 40 mg and thalidomide 100 mg daily for three cycles. Overall response rate for 42 evaluable patients was 95%, including 19% stringent complete response (sCR), 26% CR, and 57%≥ very good partial response. Twenty-two patients have undergone stem-cell transplantation. After a median follow-up of 20·9 months, five patients have died; none was induction therapy-related. Median event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) have not been reached; estimated 1-year EFS and OS rates were 81% and 91% respectively. Both three-drug combinations were well tolerated; 82% of patients completed all six cycles. Toxicities were predictable and manageable; the most-commonly reported grade 3/4 toxicity was neuropathy (11%). This novel sequential three-drug combination therapy is effective and well-tolerated in previously untreated MM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality response to multiple myeloma (MM) therapy can be predictive for improved outcomes. Novel agents may improve the depth of responses and therefore prolong survival. We report on the extended follow-up of a phase II study in frontline MM of bortezomib alone and in combination with dexamethasone. Forty-nine previously untreated, symptomatic MM patients received bortezomib 1·3 mg/m2, days 1, 4, 8, 11, for up to six 3-week cycles. High-dose dexamethasone was added for patients not reaching either a partial response after cycle 2 or a complete response (CR) after cycle 4. The overall response rate in 48 evaluable patients was 90%, with 42% achieving at least a very good partial response, of which 19% were CR/near CR. Thirty-six patients received high-dose dexamethasone with 28 (77%) showing improved response. Twenty-seven patients have undergone successful stem-cell transplantation (SCT). After median follow-up of 49 months, 15 patients have died; median overall survival has still not been reached, with an estimated survival at 4 years of 67%. Overall survival with and without SCT was not different ( P = 0·54). Grade 3/4 adverse events included neutropenia (10%), sensory neuropathy (6% grade 3), neuropathic pain (4% grade 3), and diarrhoea (4% grade 3). Bortezomib ± dexamethasone is an effective and well-tolerated induction regimen for the frontline treatment of MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bortezomib, as a single agent and in combination with dexamethasone, was examined as first-line treatment in 32 consecutive patients with untreated symptomatic multiple myeloma. Patients received bortezomib 1·3 mg/m2 for a maximum of six 3-week cycles; oral dexamethasone 40 mg was added if a less than partial response (PR) was achieved after two cycles or a less than complete response (CR) was achieved after four cycles. The response rate (CR + PR) was 88%, with undetectable paraprotein (CR) in 6%, and detectable by immunofixation only in 19% [near (n)CR]. All 32 patients completed the first two cycles of bortezomib alone, of whom 3% achieved CR, 9% nCR, and 28% PR. Ten patients received single-agent bortezomib on study, and dexamethasone was added in 22, leading to 15 improved responses. The most common adverse events≥grade 2 included sensory neuropathy (31%), constipation (28%), myalgia (28%) and fatigue (25%). Sensory neuropathy grade 2 or 3 was reversible within a median of 3 months in five of 10 patients. Bortezomib treatment did not affect stem cell mobilization in eight or transplantation in six patients. Bortezomib alone or in combination with dexamethasone is an effective induction therapy with a high CR and nCR rate and manageable toxicities in previously untreated patients with myeloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]