High Dose Chemotherapy Using BeEAM for Autologous Transplant in Multiple Myeloma

A Phase II Trial of High-dose Bendamustine, Etoposide, Cytarabine, and Melphalan (BeEAM) in the Up-front Treatment of Multiple Myeloma

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as part of the up-front treatment of patients with multiple myeloma has been associated with improved disease-free and overall survival in multiple large randomized controlled trials. Following 3-6 cycles of standard induction therapy with biologic agents, consolidation with high dose Melphalan and ASCT has become the standard-of-care approach for fit myeloma patients up to 70 years of age. Single-agent high-dose Melphalan (200mg/m2) is currently the standard-of-care preparative regimen prior to autologous transplant in Myeloma. Historical studies utilizing Busulfan- or Total Body Irradiation-based preparative regimens have yielded similar results to single-agent Melphalan with higher toxicity.

Myeloma patients, following up-front induction therapy, will receive an ASCT following a high-dose bendamustine-based preparative regimen (BeEAM). The primary endpoint of this trial will be the rate of CR at day 100 post-transplant. Experience from the literature, as well as results from our institution, suggests that following ASCT for the upfront treatment of myeloma, the rate of CR at day 100 post-transplant is approximately 45%. It is hoped that under this protocol, this rate will be at least 65%. Thus we statistically formalize this study by testing the null hypothesis that p, the CR rate is 0.65 or more versus the alternative hypothesis that p is less than 0.45. A sample size of 65 pts gives 90% power with an alpha=0.05, using the formula for a one sample binomial (two-sided) test of a proportion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 - 70 years
• Karnofsky status ≥ 70%
• Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma
• Within 9 months of the start of induction chemotherapy and no evidence of relapse or progression.
• Availability of Cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cells with a CD34 dose of at least 2x106/kg.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Poor cardiac function: left ventricular ejection fraction <40%
• Poor pulmonary function: FEV1, FVC, or DLCO <40% predicted
• Poor liver function: bilirubin >2.5 mg/dl (not due to hemolysis, Gilbert's or primary malignancy), AST/ALT > 3X ULN
• Poor renal function: Creatinine >2.0 mg/dl or creatinine clearance < 40 mL/min (calculated creatinine clearance is permitted)
• Ongoing or active systemic infection, active hepatitis B or C virus infection, or known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive.
• Women of childbearing potential who currently are pregnant or who are not practicing adequate contraception
• Patients who have any debilitating medical or psychiatric illness which would preclude their giving informed consent or their receiving optimal treatment and follow-up.