Panobinostat combination demonstrates benefit in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to results presented at the 20th Congress of the European Hematology Association, researchers have found that patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma experience the most benefit from panobinostat plus bortezomib and dexamethasone if they have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including an immunomodulatory agent and bortezomib.

The subgroup analysis, which included 147 patients, demonstrated a 12.5-month progression-free survival for patients who had received at least 2 prior regimens and received panobinostat compared with a progression-free survival of 4.7 months with placebo.

The overall study showed a 3.9-month improvement in median progression-free survival with panobinostat versus placebo.

"Together, these data identify the subgroup of patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory [multiple myeloma] who benefits most with panobinostat-bortezomib-dexamethasone," Dr. Hermann Einsele, director of the Medical Clinic at University of Wurzberg in Germany said. "The findings support the recent [Food and Drug Administration] approval of the panobinostat combination in [multiple myeloma] patients who received ≥2 prior regimens, including IMiDs and bortezomib."