A Phase 3 interventional study of Carfilzomib and Lenalidomide in Multiple Myeloma and New Diagnosis Tumor, sponsored by Fondazione EMN Italy Onlus. Active, not recruiting at 40 sites in Italy. Open to participants aged 65 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-21.
Sponsored by Fondazione EMN Italy Onlus · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
The combination of lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone (Rd) is considered the new standard for elderly newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. The combination carfilzomib plus lenalidomide-dexamethasone (KRd) in relapsed-refractory MM patients improved the progression-free survival (PFS) of approximately 1 year compared to standard Rd treatment. In a small phase 2 trial (23 pts) the KRd combination in elderly NDMM pts showed a complete response (CR) rate of 79% and a PFS at 3 years of 80%. Cardiovascular adverse events are the most limiting toxicities, especially in elderly patients.
This protocol is a randomized, multicenter study designed to determine the MRD negativity and the PFS of KRd treatment regimen.
Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive carfilzomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (KRd - Arm A) or lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Rd - Arm B).
Patients will be stratified basing on international staging system (ISS) and fitness status using a web-based procedure completely concealed to study participants.
All consecutive patients ≥ 65 years with newly diagnosed MM will be enrolled in a large randomized study during a period of 24 months.
Patients will be treated until disease progression or intolerance to the therapy. The only exception is for patients enrolled in KRd arm who achieve at least a VGPR during the first year of treatment and in sustained MRD negativity (MRD negative at least at 10-5 after one and two years of therapy): these patients will stop carfilzomib administration after 2 years, whereas treatment with lenalidomide and dexamethasone will be continued.
3,760 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Myeloma; 769 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 84 is above the median of 41 across 3,005 interventional studies indexed under Multiple Myeloma.
Browse Multiple Myeloma studies →Fondazione EMN Italy Onlus is the lead sponsor of 21 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Newly diagnosed symptomatic MM based on either standard CRAB criteria (at least 10% of clonal bone marrow plasma cells plus CRAB defined as the onset of any of the following clinical symptoms: hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia and bone lesions) or at least 10% of bone marrow plasma cells plus the presence of at least one of the following biomarkers of :
Pre-treatment clinical laboratory values within 30 days before randomization:
Exclusion Criteria:
Presence of:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Stem cell (bone marrow) transplants. Allogeneic uses cells from a donor; autologous uses your own cells, collected earlier and given back.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.
The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.
The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
On an ECG, the QT interval is the time the heart’s lower chambers take to activate electrically and recover in each beat. QTc is that time adjusted for heart rate (QTcF by Fridericia’s formula, QTcB by Bazett’s). Some medicines lengthen it, and a long QTc can raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.
The study may name a correction formula and a limit in milliseconds, often around 450–480.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Allogeneic and autologous transplant
Stem cell (bone marrow) transplants. Allogeneic uses cells from a donor; autologous uses your own cells, collected earlier and given back.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Measurable disease
The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.
The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ECOG performance status
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Platelets
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Creatinine clearance (CrCl)
How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)
The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
QT and QTc
On an ECG, the QT interval is the time the heart’s lower chambers take to activate electrically and recover in each beat. QTc is that time adjusted for heart rate (QTcF by Fridericia’s formula, QTcB by Bazett’s). Some medicines lengthen it, and a long QTc can raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm.
The study may name a correction formula and a limit in milliseconds, often around 450–480.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Excipients
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Carfilzomib (K): * 20 mg/m2 IV on day 1 of cycle 1; * 56 mg/m2 IV on days 8 and 15 in cycle 1; * 56 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8 and 15 in cycles 2-12; * 56 mg/m2 on days 1 and 15 from cycle 13 and onwards. Lenalidomide (R): \- 25 mg orally on days 1-21 of each cycle. Dexamethasone (d): \- 40 mg orally on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each cycle. Each cycle is a 28-day cycle. Until PD or intolerance. Only patients that achieve at least a VGPR within the first year of treatment and in sustained MRD negativity (MRD negative at least at 10-5 after 1 and 2 years of therapy) will stop carfilzomib after 2 years of treatment, and will continue with lenalidomide and dexamethasone administration.
Drug: Carfilzomib · Drug: Lenalidomide · Drug: Dexamethasone
Lenalidomide (R): -25 mg orally on days 1-21 of each cycle. Dexamethasone (d): -40 mg orally on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each cycle. Each cycle is a 28-day cycles. Until PD or intolerance.
Drug: Lenalidomide · Drug: Dexamethasone
* 20 mg/m2 IV on day 1 of cycle 1 enhanced to 56 mg/m2 on days 8, and 15 of cycle 1; * 56 mg/m2 IV on days 1, 8 and 15 in cycles 2-12; * 56 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 15 from cycle 13 and onwards.
Also known as: Kyprolis
\- 25 mg orally on days 1-21 of each cycle.
Also known as: Revlimid
\- 40 mg orally on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each cycle. Each cycle is to be repeated every 28 days. Patients that achieve at least a VGPR within the first year of study treatment and in sustained MRD negativity (MRD negative at least at 10-5 after 1 and 2 years of therapy) will stop carfilzomib administration after 2 years and will continue with lenalidomide and dexamethasone treatment until disease progression or intolerance to the therapy. Other patients will continue carfilzomib administration until disease progression or intolerance. For patients \>75 years of age, the dose of dexamethasone is 20 mg/day on Days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of each treatment cycle.
Minimal residual disease (MRD)
1\. Minimal residual disease (MRD): unit of measure is not applicable, MRD is expressed as a pure number
Time frame: 5 years
Progression-free survival (PFS)
2\. Progression-free survival (PFS): unit of measure is not applicable, PFS is expressed as a pure number
Time frame: 5 years
Rate of drug reduction or drug discontinuation
Incidence of dose reduction and drug discontinuation in both treatment arms.
Time frame: 5 years
Cardiovascular assessment
Benefit of proper cardiovascular baseline assessment and monitoring during treatment in both treatment arms:to mitigate major cardiovascular adverse event incidence, to prolong duration of treatment, to improve efficacy.
Time frame: 5 years
Rate of dose reduction, drug discontinuation and toxicities
Safety as rate of dose reduction, drug discontinuation and toxicities
Time frame: 5 years
Response rate
Response rate will include complete response (CR), very good partial response (VGPR) and partial response (PR) using the International Response Criteria. Responders are defined as subjects with at least a PR.
Time frame: 5 years
Progression-free survival 2 (PFS2)
Time from randomization to objective tumor progression on next-line treatment or death from any cause.
Time frame: 5 years
Time to progression (TTP)
Time to progression will be measured from the date of randomization to the date of first observation of PD, or deaths related to PD.
Time frame: 5 years
Duration of response (DOR)
Time between first documentation of response and PD. Responders without disease progression will be censored either at the time of lost to FU, at the time of death due to other cause than PD, or at the end of the study.
Time frame: 5 years
Overall survival (OS)
Time between randomization and death. Subjects who die will be censored at time of death as an event, regardless cause of death.
Time frame: 5 years
Time to next therapy (TNT)
Time to next therapy will be measured from the date of randomization to the date of next anti-myeloma therapy. Death due to any cause before starting therapy will be considered an event.
Time frame: 5 years
MRD negativity
Correlation between MRD negativity and PFS, PFS2, TTP, TNT and OS
Time frame: 5 years
Prognostic factors
The following outcomes will be analysed in subgroups with different prognostic factors: * Progression-free survival (PFS), * Time to second disease progression (PFS2), * Time to progression (TTP), * Time to next therapy (TNT ), * Overall survival (OS)
Time frame: 5 years
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Carfilzomib
Fondazione EMN Italy Onlus