A TAD better for myeloma therapy?

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Lokhorst and colleagues report on the results of HOVON-50, a phase 3 randomized trial designed to evaluate the effects of thalidomide during induction treatment and as maintenance in patients with multiple myeloma. There were 556 patients randomly assigned either to 3 cycles ofVADor to TAD. All patients were to receive high-dose melphalan with autologous stem cell support followed by maintenance with interferon for theVADarm or thalidomide for the TADarm.1 This study together with other randomized and nonrandomized trials establish a definitive role for thalidomide as induction therapy in conjunction with dexamethasone, anthracyclines, and alkylating agents.