Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026

An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells
Published on: July 15, 2015
Fixed duration vs continuous therapy in multiple myeloma
1Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Department of Medicine I, Center for Medical Oncology, Hematology and Outpatient Department and Palliative Care, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria; and.
Abstract:
The introduction of new drugs with less severe toxicity profiles than those of conventional antimyeloma agents allowed the evaluation of continuous therapy compared with fixed duration therapy. In transplant-eligible patients, consolidation therapy with bortezomib or bortezomib-based regimens showed significant progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in cytogenetic standard-risk patients and to a lesser extent, high-risk patients. Continuous therapy with lenalidomide maintenance treatment after autologous stem cell transplantation resulted in a significant survival gain. In transplant noneligible patients, continuous lenalidomide-dexamethasone therapy improved survival over fixed duration melphalan-prednisone-thalidomide. The concept of prolonged treatment in elderly patients is supported by some other studies, but most of them revealed a gain in PFS only. Young patients with unfavorable prognosis show a greater willingness to accept long-term treatment, whereas the readiness to undergo such treatments and the benefits therefrom decline with increasing age and decreasing fitness, rendering fixed duration therapy a suitable option in elderly frail patients.
Related Concept Videos
Drug Accumulation During Multiple Dosing: Intermittent IV Infusions
Dosage Regimen: Fixed Dose
Fixed-dose regimens can be used for various routes of administration, including intravenous (IV) injections and oral medications. For IV administration, a predetermined amount of the drug is...
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Continuous-Release Systems
Rational Dosage Regimen: Maintenance Dose and Loading Dose
In most cases, drugs are administered repetitively or infused continuously to maintain a steady-state concentration in the body. At a steady...

