BACKGROUND: Post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) consolidation and 
maintenance therapies in multiple myeloma (MM) have recently been the central 
focus of studies. However, there have been no reports of Japanese patients with 
MM treated with post-ASCT consolidation/maintenance therapies.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated eight Japanese patients with 
newly-diagnosed symptomatic MM who received ASCT after high-dose melphalan, and 
three to four courses of bortezomib-plus-dexamethasone and two courses of 
lenalidomide-plus-dexamethasone followed by maintenance lenalidomide for 6-24 
months.
RESULTS: Four patients achieved complete response (CR) after ASCT, and five 
patients (63%) achieved stringent CR after the consolidation and maintenance 
therapy; two out of these five were in molecular CR. At the median follow-up of 
38 months, all patients were alive and only one patient had disease progression 
following post-ASCT therapy.
CONCLUSION: Post-ASCT consolidation and maintenance therapy using lenalidomide 
may be effective in the treatment of Japanese patients with MM.