Background

Decitabine is standard therapy in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Current recommendations suggest a dose of 20 mg/m(2) intravenously (IV) daily for 5 days every 4 weeks. However, this therapy is associated with frequent grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity, requiring dose delays and/or dose reductions (DD/DR).

Results

We investigated the outcomes of 122 patients with MDS who had DD/DR of frontline decitabine therapy. Sixty-five patients (53%) had DR by at least 25% or DD (defined as a delay beyond 5 weeks between cycles). Thirty-five patients (29%) underwent DD/DR after achieving best objective response, 30 patients (25%) underwent DD/DR before best objective response, and 57 (54%) patients had no DD/DR. There was a trend for more durable responses in favor of patients requiring DD/DR after the achievement of best objective response (median not reached) (P = .161). Overall survival rates were significantly higher for patients who had DD/DR after best objective response compared with those who had DD/DR before best objective response or those with no DD/DR (30 vs. 22 vs. 11 months, respectively; P < .001). Progression-free survival (PFS) rates also trended higher for those with DD/DR after best objective response (median not reached) compared with those who required DD/DR before best objective response (median of 15 months) (P = .285).

Conclusion

DD/DR may be safely accomplished once the patient has achieved best objective response (preferably complete remission [CR]) without impacting outcome. Prospective evaluation of an approach conceived of a loading dose for induction of a best objective response followed by a maintenance schedule is to be considered.

Background

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT) are commonly performed for multiple myeloma (MM) patients and may be as safe in the outpatient setting as in the inpatient setting.

Methods

We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of all MM patients undergoing auto-HCT between January 2008 and December 2012. We categorized patients as outpatient vs inpatient auto-HCT and compared clinical characteristics and outcomes between the groups.

Results

One thousand and forty-six patients were included (669 inpatients, 377 outpatients). Patients transplanted as outpatients were significantly younger (58 [34-78] vs 62 [31-82], P < .001) and more likely to have an hematopoietic stem cell comorbidity index (HCT-CI) score <2 (P = .003) and creatinine <2 (P < .001). There were no differences in treatment-related mortality (TRM) but the inpatient group experienced significantly more grade 2-5 (P = .003) and grade 3-5 (P = .003) adverse events (AEs). 2 year progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in the outpatient group (60% vs 50%, HR =HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9, P = .005). 2 year OS was also longer in the outpatient group (83% vs 77%, HR 0.6, 95% CI 04-0.9, P = .01).

Conclusion

Outpatient auto-HCT can be safely performed for selected patients with MM. Differences in outcomes are likely related to baseline clinical characteristics rather than choice of treatment setting.