Bendamustine-ixazomib-dexamethasone combo safe, effective for RRMM

The combination of bendamustine, ixazomib and dexamethasone (BID) is well-tolerated and effective for patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), reports a recent study.

Researchers conducted an open-label, single-centre phase I/II study, testing the safety, tolerability and efficacy of BID on 28 RRMM patients (median age, 67 years; 57 percent male). At the time of data cutoff, 39 percent (n=11) of the participants had died.

The 18 survivors available for the evaluation of treatment response completed a median of four cycles. The overall response rate was 61 percent, with two patients (11 percent) showing very good partial response. Nine patients (50 percent) showed partial response and five (27 percent) achieved stable disease. Two participants (11 percent) had progressive disease.

After a median follow-up of 17 months, the overall and progression-free survival were 23.2 and 5.2 months, respectively.

In terms of safety, all patients experienced at least one adverse event of any grade that was potentially related to the study treatment. The most common haematological side effect was lymphopoenia, which was reported in 92 percent of the participants. This was followed by thrombocytopoenia (78.6 percent), leukopoenia (61 percent) and anaemia (57 percent).

Fatigue (64 percent), nausea (57 percent), diarrhoea (39 percent) and anorexia (35 percent) were the most frequently reported nonhaematological toxicities.

The most common causes of death were disease progression (55 percent) and pneumonia (27 percent). None were related to treatment.