Consolidation therapy is generally defined as treatment given for a short duration (i.e., 2 to 4 cycles), usually with the same regimen used for induction therapy, following high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). The goal of consolidation therapy is to further deepen response.
What Is Consolidation Therapy?
In the context of non-transplant patients, consolidation therapy can be defined as the continuation of frontline therapy for 2-4 cycles after the first 4- to 6-cycle course of frontline treatment, and before maintenance therapy is given. As in the post-transplant setting, the goal of consolidation for non-transplant patients is to deepen and/or consolidate the gains made with the initial cycles of therapy.
In What Settings Is Consolidation Therapy Used?
Consolidation is not currently the standard of care for myeloma, but is incorporated into many clinical trials. Until and unless the results of those trials demonstrate that this therapy adds an overall survival benefit, it will not be covered by insurance plans for clinical practice (i.e. outside the context of a clinical trial) in the U.S. or by government-funded healthcare programs outside the U.S.
What Is the Timing and Duration of Consolidation Therapy?
The number of cycles varies from trial to trial, so there is no established duration of consolidation treatment either for patients who have had a planned autologous transplant or for those who have not. Generally, consolidation lasts for 2-4 cycles.
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Last Medical Content Review: May 1, 2024