IPD regimen effect on the levels of VEGF and IL-6 in elderly patients with recurrent multiple myeloma.

Background: To investigate IPD regimen effect on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in elderly patients with recurrent multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: Eighty-two elderly patients with relapsed multiple myeloma in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected and randomly divided into TD group and IPD group, 41 cases in each group. The TD group was treated with thalidomide + dexamethasone, while the IPD group was treated with ixazomib + pomalidomide + dexamethasone. The treatment effect and the changes of VEGF and IL-6, TNF-α, levels before treatment, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment were compared by the log-rank test. The Kaplan-Meier method determined the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients.

Results: The clinical efficacy distribution of IPD was better than that of the TD group (Z = 2.407, P = 0.016). No significant difference was showed in serum VEGF and IL-6, TNF-α, concentrations before treatment (T0) (P > 0.05). The serum concentrations of VEGF and IL-6, TNF-α, in the IPD group were lower at 6 months and 12 months after treatment. The incidence of progression in the IPD group was 9.76% (4/41), and the estimated time of no progression was 11.73 ± 0.21 months. The incidence of progression was 19.51% (8/41) in the TD group, and the estimated time without progression was 10.95 ± 0.38 months, showing no significant difference (χ2 = 1.718, P = 0.190).

Conclusion: IPD regimen for relapsed elderly multiple myeloma has the characteristics of improving clinical efficacy and inhibiting VEGF and IL-6, TNF-α, concentrations increase. However, compared with TD therapy, IPD regimen has similar effects on the risk and time of progression.