Comparing the efficacy of different dexamethasone regimens for maintenance treatment of multiple myeloma in standard-risk patients non-eligible for transplantation

Table 1 Baseline characteristics

Parameters	DXM 40 mg treatment (n = 48)	DXM 20 mg treatment (n = 48)	P value
Age, yr	69.0 ± 7.2	70.0 ± 8.4	0.646
Gender (male/female)	26/22	30/18	0.408
DS stage			0.544
I	1 (2%)	1 (2%)
II	6 (12.5%)	10 (20.8)
III	41 (85.5%)	37 (77.2%)
ISS stage			0.791
I	8 (16.7%)	10 (20.8)
II	22 (45.8%)	19 (39.6%)
III	18 (38.5)	19 (39.6%)
CRP	13 (27.1%)	16 (33.3%)	0.461
HGB	68.0 ± 13.4	67.0 ± 14.7	0.525
Platelet	13 (27.1%)	11 (22.9%)	0.637
t(6;14)	0	2 (4.2%)	0.093
t(11;14)	7 (14.6%)	8 (16.7%)	0.779
ALT	4 (8.3%)	2 (4.2%)	0.399
AST	7 (14.6%)	6 (12.5%)	0.765
LDH	9 (18.6%)	10 (20.8)	0.798
Cr	20 (41.7%)	16 (33.3%)	0.399
UA	17 (35.4)	12 (25%)	0.266
Treatment			0.147
VRD	38 (79.2%)	40 (83.3%)
PCD	10 (20.8)	6 (12.5%)
PD	0	2 (4.2%)

VRD: Bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone; VCD: Regimens, 16 patients received bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone; CRP: Catabolite activator protein; HGB: Hemoglobin; UA: Urea nitrogen; Cr: Creatinine; LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase.

Table 2 Univariate Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis of factors affecting progression-free survival

Parameters	P value	HR	95%CI
			Lower	Higher
DXM 40 mg vs 20 mg	0.171	0.649	0.350	1.205
Age, yr	0	1.214	1.150	1.283
Gender	0.821	0.930	0.497	1.740
Classification	0.303	0.336	0.042	2.678
DS stage	0.185	1.701	0.776	3.726
ISS stage	0	2.850	1.734	4.682
Platelet	0.363	1.011	0.998	1.034
t(6;14)	0.586	0.048	0	2739.308
t(11;14)	0.185	0.598	0.280	1.278
CRP	0.175	1.010	0.995	1.025
HGB	0.285	0.992	0.979	1.006
ALT	0.004	1.014	1.005	1.024
AST	0.001	1.014	1.006	1.023
ALB	0.573	1.010	0.976	1.044
GLO	0.702	0.998	0.985	1.010
A/G	0.458	0.872	0.608	1.251
LDH	0.021	1.002	1.000	1.003
Ca	0.652	0.982	0.909	1.062
P	0.907	0.980	0.701	1.37
M-protein	0.982	1.000	0.996	1.004
Cr	0.325	1.000	1.000	1.001
UA	0.169	1.001	1.000	1.002
Treatment	0.009	1.913	1.173	3.119
GTA	0.565	0.707	0.217	2.300
IFG	0.134	0.44	0.151	1.288
DM	0.034	2.343	1.068	5.141
Β-CTX	0.874	1.065	0.487	2.328
Osteoporosis	0.533	1.301	0.568	2.980
Hypertension	0.668	1.254	0.445	3.536
TG	0.716	1.156	0.529	2.525
TC	0.812	1.095	0.518	2.315
Acne	0.965	0.977	0.348	2.746
PU	0.983	0.988	0.349	2.799
Insomnia	0.949	1.029	0.427	2.479

CRP: Catabolite activator protein; HGB: Hemoglobin; UA: Urea nitrogen; Cr: Creatinine; LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase; GTA: Glucose tolerance; IFG: Impaired fasting glucose; DM: Diabetes mellitus; β-CTX: β-crosslaps; TC: Total cholesterol; TG: Triglyceride; PU: Peptic ulce.

Table 3 Multivariate Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis of factors affecting progression-free survival

Parameters	P value	HR	95% CI
			Lower	Higher
Age, yr	0	1.218	1.140	1.302
ISS stage	0.007	2.256	1.249	4.076
ALT	0.057	1.015	1.000	1.030
AST	0.240	1.009	0.994	1.023
LDH	0.199	1.001	0.999	1.004
Treatment	0.192	1.482	0.821	2.672
DM	0.005	3.458	1.456	8.213

LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase; DM: Diabetes mellitus.

Table 4 Univariate Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis of factors affecting overall survival

Parameters	P value	HR	95% CI
			Lower	Higher
DXM 40 mg vs 20 mg	0.171	0.652	0.353	1.202
Age, yr	0.000	1.178	1.121	1.238
Gender	0.602	0.846	0.451	1.587
Classification	0.14	0.211	0.027	1.665
DS stage	0.067	2.271	0.944	5.462
ISS stage	0.000	5.245	3.041	9.048
Platelet	0.417	1.010	0.987	1.033
t(6;14)	0.489	0.046	0.000	278.970
t(11;14)	0.003	0.288	0.128	0.649
CRP	0.086	1.013	0.998	1.027
HGB	0.050	0.983	0.967	1.000
ALT	0.194	1.007	0.997	1.017
AST	0.070	1.008	0.999	1.016
ALB	0.940	1.001	0.971	1.032
GLO	0.945	1.000	0.986	1.013
A/G	0.911	0.957	0.668	1.371
LDH	0.209	1.001	0.999	1.003
Ca	0.906	0.968	0.564	1.662
P	0.627	0.919	0.652	1.293
M-protein	0.652	0.998	0.992	1.005
Cr	0.623	1.000	0.999	1.001
UA	0.375	1.001	0.999	1.002
Treatment	0.173	1.375	0.869	2.174
GTA	0.546	0.694	0.212	2.271
IFG	0.030	0.263	0.078	0.881
DM	0.203	1.661	0.760	3.631
β-CTX	0.840	1.088	0.479	2.474
Osteoporosis	0.703	1.187	0.492	2.862
Hypertension	0.730	1.201	0.424	3.404
TG	0.642	0.823	0.363	1.869
TC	0.715	0.866	0.398	1.881
Acne	0.995	1.003	0.354	2.842
PU	0.686	0.808	0.286	2.277
Insomnia	0.725	1.159	0.509	2.637

CRP: Catabolite activator protein; HGB: Hemoglobin; UA: Urea nitrogen; Cr: Creatinine; LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase; GTA: Glucose tolerance; IFG: Impaired fasting glucose; DM: Diabetes mellitus; β-CTX: β-crosslaps; TC: Total cholesterol; TG: Triglyceride; PU: Peptic ulce.

Table 5 Multivariate Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis of factors affecting overall survival

Parameters	P value	HR	95%CI
			Lower	Higher
Age, yr	0	1.107	1.048	1.170
ISS stage	0	3.707	1.798	7.643
t(11;14)	0.055	0.399	0.156	1.019
IFG	0.246	0.482	0.140	1.655

IFG: Impaired fasting glucose.

Table 6 Comparison two groups with toxicity

Toxicity	DXM 40 mg group	DXM 20 mg group	P value
Adverse gastrointestinal reactions	14	6	0.044
GTA	3	5	0.426
IFG	4	7	0.303
DM	3	7	0.162
GTA + TFG + DM	10	19	0.033
β-CTX	5	12	0.049
Osteoporosis	5	7	0.487
Hypertension	4	5	0.677
TG	7	7	0.933
TC	8	9	0.717
Acne	3	6	0.267
PU	3	4	0.654
Insomnia	3	11	0.017

GTA: Glucose tolerance abnormal; IFG: Impaired fasting glucose; DM: Diabetes mellitus; β-CTX: β-crosslaps; TG: Triacylglycerol; TC: Total cholesterol; PU: Peptiu ulcer.