Elderly and frail patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are more vulnerable to the toxicity of combination therapies, often resulting in treatment modifications and suboptimal outcomes. The phase 3 BOSTON study showed that once-weekly selinexor and bortezomib with low-dose dexamethasone (XVd) improved PFS and ORR compared with standard twice-weekly bortezomib and moderate-dose dexamethasone (Vd) in patients with previously treated MM.
This is a retrospective subgroup analysis of the multicenter, prospective, randomized BOSTON trial. Post hoc analyses were performed to compare XVd versus Vd safety and efficacy according to age and frailty status (= 65 years, nonfrail and frail).
Patients >= 65 years with XVd had higher ORR (OR 1.77, p = .024), >= VGPR (OR, 1.68, p = .027), PFS (HR 0.55, p = .002), and improved OS (HR 0.63, p = .030), compared with Vd. In frail patients, XVd was associated with a trend towards better PFS (HR 0.69, p = .08) and OS (HR 0.62, p = .062).
Significant improvements were also observed in patients = VGPR, and TTNT). Patients treated with XVd had a lower incidence of grade >= 2 peripheral neuropathy in >= 65 year-old (22% vs. 37%; p = .0060) and frail patients (15% vs. 44%; p = .0002).
Grade >= 3 TEAEs were not observed more often in older compared to younger patients, nor in frail compared to nonfrail patients. XVd is safe and effective in patients = 65 and in nonfrail and frail patients with previously treated MM.