The purpose of this study is to find out if the combination of bortezomib (Velcade), dexamethasone (Decadron) and rituximab (Rituxan) is effective in treating Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.
* This is an open-label study which means both the patient and the doctor will know what drugs and doses the patient is receiving throughout the study. * Patients will receive 8 cycles of study treatment with bortezomib, dexamethasone and rituximab. Each cycle is 21 days long. Therapy is given on the first, fourth, eighth and eleventh day of each cycle, followed by a 10 day rest period. The first 4 cycles will be given one after the other. Three months after completing the fourth cycle of therapy, patients will receive one cycle of therapy every three months for a total of four more cycles. * On the first, fourth, eighth and eleventh day of each cycle, the patient will receive bortezomib and dexamethasone as an intravenous injection through a needle in your vein. On the eleventh day only, the patient will also receive rituximab as an intravenous infusion after getting bortezomib and dexamethasone. * Prior to each infusion of rituximab therapy, the patient will be asked to take some medications to prevent or reduce side effects of rituximab. These medications are benadryl, tylenol, and possibly more steroids. The doctor will determine which of these drugs are appropriate for the individual patient. * During the rituximab infusion, the patients blood pressure and pulse will be monitored frequently and the infusion rate may be decreased depending upon the side effects experienced. * After therapy is completed, the patient will be followed every three months for 2 more years for office visits and laboratory tests to determine how well they are doing and if the therapy continues to benefit them.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
23
Given intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle for 8 cycles
Given intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle for 8 cycles
Given intravenously after bortezomib and dexamethasone on day 11 of a 21-day cycle for 8 cycles
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Number of Participants With Adverse Events
This outcome measure was to assess the safety and tolerability of bortezomib, dexamethasone and rituximab in patients with untreated Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia.
Time frame: 33.2 months
Response Rate
This outcome measure was to determine the response rate along with attainment of stable disease and time to disease progression following treatment with this patient population. The response rates were defined as follows. A complete response (CR) was defined as having resolution of all symptoms, normalization of serum IgM levels with complete disappearance of IgM paraprotein by immunofixation, absence of bone marrow disease by bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, and resolution of any adenopathy or splenomegaly. A near complete response (nCR) was defined as fulfilling all CR criteria in the presence of a positive immunofixation study. Patients with very good partial response (VGPR), partial response (PR), and minor response (MR) were defined as having a ≥ 90%, ≥ 50%, and 25% to 49% reduction in serum IgM levels, respectively. Progressive disease (PD) occurred when a more than 25% increase in serum IgM level or progression of clinically significant disease parameters was observed.
Time frame: 33.2 months
Time to Best Response
Time frame: 33.2 months
Time to Progression
Progressive Disease (PD) will be defined as a greater than 25% increase in serum IgM monoclonal protein levels from the lowest attained response value as determined by serum electrophoresis, confirmed by at least one other investigation, or progression of clinically significant disease related symptom(s).
Time frame: 42 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.