Clinical study of melphalan and prednisone plus thalidomide in elderly patients with multiple myeloma

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of thalidomide combinated MP(melphalan,prednisone) protocol on multiple myeloma(MM).Methods Twenty-four patients with MM in treated group were given thalidomide,the chemical therapy of MP protocol were given at the same time.The course of treatment lasted for one month.Twenty-two patients in control group were given the chemical therapy of MP protocol only.The doses of melphalan and prednisone were as same with treatment group.The effect and safety of treatment had been evalutated after 4 course of treatments.Results The total effective rate was 79.16%(19/24) in the treated group.The total effective rate was 50%(11/ 22) in the control group.Compared with the control group,therapeutic effect had significantly improved in treated group(P0.05).Adverse drug reaction(ADR) such as rash,constipation,sleepiness and edema,were more common in treatment group,whereas the frequency of other ADR was not significantly diferent in two groups.Conclusion Effect of thalidomide combinated MP protocol on MM was significantly improved than that MP protocol.