Lenalidomide cuts the risk of smouldering multiple myeloma progressing to overt cancer, a randomised controlled phase II/III trial has shown.

The study of patients with intermediate or high-risk smouldering multiple myeloma, a precancerous condition, found that three-year progression-free survival was 87% in phase II and 91% in phase III among patients receiving lenalidomide compared with 66% among those who did not receive the therapy and were just observed.

Dr Sagar Lonial, of Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University in the US, said the idea behind the study was to try to identify a precursor condition and potentially prevent the development of symptomatic cancer through early intervention.

“We typically see two types of patients: those who are anxious and want to do something to prevent cancer from developing, and those who are more cautious and are willing to watch and wait,” he said.