Rationale and design of the multicenter, national, randomized, open labeled phase III trial: allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma (AlloRelapseMM Study)

Abstract Background Even though major improvements have been made in the treatment of myeloma, the majority of patients eventually relapse or progress. Patients with multiple myeloma who relapse after initial high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cells have a median progression free survival u...

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Main Authors: Annemarie Glöckner, Stefan Schönland, Hermann Einsele, Nicolaus Kröger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13503-7
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author Annemarie Glöckner
Stefan Schönland
Hermann Einsele
Nicolaus Kröger
author_facet Annemarie Glöckner
Stefan Schönland
Hermann Einsele
Nicolaus Kröger
author_sort Annemarie Glöckner
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Even though major improvements have been made in the treatment of myeloma, the majority of patients eventually relapse or progress. Patients with multiple myeloma who relapse after initial high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cells have a median progression free survival up to 2–3 years, depending on risk factors such as previous remission duration. In recent years, growing evidence has suggested that allogeneic stem cell transplantation could be a promising treatment option for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma. However, prospective randomized trials including allogeneic stem cell transplantation as second-line therapy do not exist to date and therefore urgently needed to demonstrate the value of this therapy in the overall setting of patients with multiple myeloma. Methods This clinical trial is a national, multicenter, randomized, open labeled phase III study conducted in 30 hospitals spread all over Germany. After study inclusion, all patients will receive 3 cycles of salvage therapy with one of the currently approved triplet regimens for first relapse. After 3 cycles of salvage therapy, remission status will be assessed. If the patient achieves at least stable disease, partial or complete remission and an HLA compatible stem cell donor could be identified, he/she will be randomized (1:1) to the control or interventional study arm. Approximately 400 patients will be enrolled to enable a randomization of 280 patients. The primary endpoint is overall survival at five years after randomization. The main secondary objectives and endpoints are progression-free survival rate, time-to first occurrence of an infection with CTCAE grade 3–5, non-relapse mortality rate and incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Discussion The present clinical study is designed to evaluate the superiority of allogeneic stem cell transplantation compared to conventional therapy (triplet chemotherapy) for the difference in overall survival at 5 years, toxicity and quality of life in patients with multiple myeloma who have relapsed or progressed after first-line autologous stem cell therapy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05675319) registered on January 9, 2023.
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spelling doaj-art-458de5a8238049b58532fffaaa11aa082025-02-02T12:28:43ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-01-0125111610.1186/s12885-025-13503-7Rationale and design of the multicenter, national, randomized, open labeled phase III trial: allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma (AlloRelapseMM Study)Annemarie Glöckner0Stefan Schönland1Hermann Einsele2Nicolaus Kröger3Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfUniversity Hospital Heidelberg, Medical Clinic VDepartment of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital WürzburgDepartment of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfAbstract Background Even though major improvements have been made in the treatment of myeloma, the majority of patients eventually relapse or progress. Patients with multiple myeloma who relapse after initial high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cells have a median progression free survival up to 2–3 years, depending on risk factors such as previous remission duration. In recent years, growing evidence has suggested that allogeneic stem cell transplantation could be a promising treatment option for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma. However, prospective randomized trials including allogeneic stem cell transplantation as second-line therapy do not exist to date and therefore urgently needed to demonstrate the value of this therapy in the overall setting of patients with multiple myeloma. Methods This clinical trial is a national, multicenter, randomized, open labeled phase III study conducted in 30 hospitals spread all over Germany. After study inclusion, all patients will receive 3 cycles of salvage therapy with one of the currently approved triplet regimens for first relapse. After 3 cycles of salvage therapy, remission status will be assessed. If the patient achieves at least stable disease, partial or complete remission and an HLA compatible stem cell donor could be identified, he/she will be randomized (1:1) to the control or interventional study arm. Approximately 400 patients will be enrolled to enable a randomization of 280 patients. The primary endpoint is overall survival at five years after randomization. The main secondary objectives and endpoints are progression-free survival rate, time-to first occurrence of an infection with CTCAE grade 3–5, non-relapse mortality rate and incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Discussion The present clinical study is designed to evaluate the superiority of allogeneic stem cell transplantation compared to conventional therapy (triplet chemotherapy) for the difference in overall survival at 5 years, toxicity and quality of life in patients with multiple myeloma who have relapsed or progressed after first-line autologous stem cell therapy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05675319) registered on January 9, 2023.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13503-7Allogeneic stem cell transplantationMultiple myelomaSalvage therapy
spellingShingle Annemarie Glöckner
Stefan Schönland
Hermann Einsele
Nicolaus Kröger
Rationale and design of the multicenter, national, randomized, open labeled phase III trial: allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma (AlloRelapseMM Study)
BMC Cancer
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Multiple myeloma
Salvage therapy
title Rationale and design of the multicenter, national, randomized, open labeled phase III trial: allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma (AlloRelapseMM Study)
title_full Rationale and design of the multicenter, national, randomized, open labeled phase III trial: allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma (AlloRelapseMM Study)
title_fullStr Rationale and design of the multicenter, national, randomized, open labeled phase III trial: allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma (AlloRelapseMM Study)
title_full_unstemmed Rationale and design of the multicenter, national, randomized, open labeled phase III trial: allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma (AlloRelapseMM Study)
title_short Rationale and design of the multicenter, national, randomized, open labeled phase III trial: allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma (AlloRelapseMM Study)
title_sort rationale and design of the multicenter national randomized open labeled phase iii trial allogeneic stem cell transplantation as a potential curative treatment for patients with relapsed or progressed multiple myeloma allorelapsemm study
topic Allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Multiple myeloma
Salvage therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13503-7
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