Superiority of Triple Combination Bortezomib + Cyclophosphamide and Dexamethasone (VCD) Versus Thalidomide + Cyclophosphamide and Dexamethasone (CTD) in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Transplant-Eligible Patients

Background- The treatment of multiple myeloma has evolved significantly in the last decade and combinations of the new drugs have allowed better responses and significant gain in survival. Studies comparing different chemotherapy combinations before transplant suggest that the triple combo is superior to double. The use of bortezomib as backbone in these combos has been identified as superior to other drugs. Unfortunately bortezomib is not part of the drugs available for use in the Brazilian public health system to myeloma treatment and the only available drug is thalidomide. Comparisons between different triple combinations are rare in the literature. In the present study we compared two different triple combinations composed of bortezomib + cyclophosphamide + dexamethasone (VCD) versus thalidomide + cyclophosphamide + dexamethasone (CTD) in order to identify which of the two combinations lead to the best response after 4 cycles before bone marrow transplantation for eligible new diagnose patients with multiple myeloma.