Could a Triple-Drug cocktail prevent multiple myeloma?
NCT ID NCT01572480
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 pilot study tested a combination of three drugs—carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone—in 55 people with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma, a condition that often leads to active myeloma. The goal was to see if the treatment could eliminate signs of the disease in the bone marrow (minimal residual disease) and delay progression. Participants received eight 28-day cycles of all three drugs, followed by up to 12 more cycles of lenalidomide alone if their disease did not worsen.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could delay or prevent smoldering myeloma from turning into active multiple myeloma, potentially reducing the need for more aggressive treatments later.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase pilot study (55 participants) with no control group, so results may not apply broadly. The drugs have side effects like fatigue, low blood counts, and infection risk.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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55 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2012
- Finished
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Feb 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed Smoldering Multiple Myeloma confirmed by the Laboratory of Pathology, national Cancer Institute (NCI) or the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center (CC) based on the International Myeloma Working Group Criteria: * Serum M-protein greater than or equal to 3 g/dl and/or bone marrow plasma cells greater than or equal 10% and \<60% * Absence of anemia: Hemoglobin \>10 g/dl * Absence of renal failure: serum creatinine \< 2.0 mg/dL * Absence of hypercalcemia: Calcium (Ca) \<10.5 mg/dl * Absence of lytic bone lesion on X-ray, computed tomography (CT), or positron-emission tomography (PET)/CT and not more than 1 lesion on spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). (NOTE: At the discretion of the investigator, PET/CT may replace MRI in patients who have a contraindication to MRI.) * Involved-un-involved light chain ratio must be \<100 Measurable disease within the past 4 weeks defined by any one of the following: * Serum monoclonal protein greater than or equal to 1.0 g/dl * Urine monoclonal protein \>200 mg/24 hour * Serum immunoglobulin free light chain \>10 mg/dL AND abnormal kappa/lambda ratio NOTE: As of Amendment L (version date 05/17/2018), the primary endpoint is minimal residual disease (MRD(-) Complete Response (CR) rate; therefore, per the discretion of the Principal Investigator, patients without measurable disease (e.g., M-spike \<1) may also be enrolled. This is in line with the most recent International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) multiple myeloma (MM) response criteria. Age greater than or equal to 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of carfilzomib in combination with lenalidomide in patients \<18 years of age, children are excluded from this study, but may be eligible for future pediatric trials. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status less than or equal to 2 (Karnofsky greater than or equal to 60%). Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below: \- absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to1.0 K/uL NOTE: At the discretion of the investigator, patients with an ANC of 0.5 K/uL \<1.0 K/uL may also be enrolled if clinically appropriate (e.g., patients with a baseline neutropenia that is chronic and that does not cause complications) * platelets greater than or equal to 75 K/uL * hemoglobin greater than or equal to 8 g/dL(transfusions are permissible) * total bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 times institutional upper limit of normal * aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) less than or equal to 3.0 times institutional upper limit of normal * Serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 X institutional ULN. If serum creatinine is above 1.5 X ULN, Creatinine Clearance (CrCl) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (estimated glomerular filtration rate) must be greater than or equal to 50 ml/min. * Creatinine clearance (CrCl) will be calculated by Cockcroft-Gault method. CrCl (calculated) = (140 - Age) x Mass (in kilograms) x \[0.85 if Female\] 72 x Serum Creatinine (in mg/dL). * eGFR will be calculated by either of the following well established formulas: modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) or the chronic kidney disease (CKD)-epidemiology collaboration (EPI) (institutional standard) equations * CrCl may also be determined by measuring a 24 hour urine collection. The measured CrCl must be greater than or equal to 50 ml/min. In addition to having Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM), patients must also be classified as 'high-risk SMM' per Mayo Clinic or Spanish Programa de Estudio y Tratamiento de las Hemopatías Malignas (PETHEMA) criteria. Criteria set forward by Rajkumar, Landgren, Mateos\[14\] may also be used to define high risk disease, namely clonal bone marrow plasma cells greater than or equal to 10% and any one or more of the following: * Serum M protein greater than or equal to 30g/L * Immunoglobulin A (IgA) SMM * Immunoparesis with reduction of 2 uninvolved immunoglobulin isotypes * Serum involved/uninvolved free light chain (FLC) ratio greater than or equal to 8 (but less than 100) * Progressive increase in M protein level (evolving type of SMM; increase in serum M protein by greater than or equal to 25% on 2 successive evaluations within a 6-month period) * Clonal bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) 50%-60% * Abnormal plasma cells (PCs) immunophenotype (greater than or equal to 95% of BMPCs are clonal) and reduction of greater than or equal to 1 uninvolved immunoglobulin isotypes * t(4;14) or del(17p) or 1q gain * Increased circulating PCs * MRI with diffuse abnormalities or 1 focal lesion * PET-CT with focal lesion with increased uptake without underlying osteolytic bone destruction All study participants must be registered into the mandatory RevAssist program and be willing and able to comply with the requirements of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). The effects of carfilzomib and lenalidomide on the developing human fetus are unknown. The immunomodulatory agents used in this trial (i.e., lenalidomide) are known to be teratogenic. Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception. Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 10 - 14 days and again within 24 hours prior to prescribing lenalidomide for Cycle 1 (prescriptions must be filled within 7 days) and must either commit to continued abstinence from heterosexual intercourse or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control, one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME, at least 28 days before she starts taking lenalidomide. FCBP must also agree to ongoing pregnancy testing. Men must agree to use a latex condom during sexual contact with a FCBP even if they have had a successful vasectomy. All patients must be counseled at a minimum of every 28 days about pregnancy precautions and risks of fetal exposure. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. In regard to carfilzomib, FCBP and their male partners must agree to use at least one method of effective contraception for at least 30 days after the last dose of carfilzomib and males must agree to use contraception and not to donate sperm for at least 90 days after the last dose of carfilzomib. Ability of subject to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents. Concurrent systemic treatment or prior therapy within 4 weeks for SMM \- Treatment with corticosteroids for other indications is permitted Patients with a diagnosis of MM as defined by the 2014 IMWH diagnostic criteria. Contraindication to any concomitant medication, including antivirals, anticoagulation prophylaxis, tumor lysis prophylaxis, or hydration given prior to therapy History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to carfilzomib or lenalidomide agents used in study, such as bortezomib or thalidomide, in addition to patients with known allergy to sulfobutyl ether \<=- cyclodextrin (Captisol). Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes Pregnant or lactating females. Pregnant women are excluded from this study. The effects of carfilzomib on a developing human fetus are unknown. Lenalidomide is teratogenic with unknown potential for abortifacient effects. Breastfeeding women and women planning on breastfeeding may not participate. No studies of carfilzomib have been conducted on breast feeding women and it is not known if it is excreted in milk. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with Carfilzomib/Lenalidomide, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with Carfilzomib/Lenalidomide. Significant cardiovascular disease with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II, III or IV symptoms, or hypertrophic cardiomegaly, or restrictive cardiomegaly, or myocardial infarction within 3 months prior to enrollment, or unstable angina, or unstable arrhythmia Active hepatitis B or C infection Has refractory gastrointestinal (GI) disease with refractory nausea/vomiting, inflammatory bowel disease, or bowel resection that would prevent absorption Significant neuropathy \>Grade 2 at the time of first dose or within 14 days of enrollment. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations within 2 weeks that would limit compliance with study requirements. History of other malignancy (apart from basal cell carcinoma of the skin, or in situ cervix carcinoma) except if the patient has been free of symptoms and without active therapy during at least 2 years or if, at the clinical discretion of the investigator, the risks of this study do not outweigh the potential benefits on a case to case basis. Major surgery within 1 month prior to enrollment.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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