Procedures
PD, toxicities
DISEASE
In each cycle, patients were administered 10 mg/kg of aponermin or placebo via intravenous infusion on days 1–5, oral thalidomide 150 mg on days 1–28, and oral dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1–4 for 18 cycles (28 days for each cycle). In the first cycle, thalidomide was administered on days 2–28, and dexamethasone on days 2–5 to observe the changes in AST, ALT, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) after the first dose of aponermin alone. Treatment was continued for up to 18 cycles or until progressive disease (PD), unacceptable toxicities, or withdrawal from the study. After completing 18 cycles of treatment, patients might receive further treatment based on the investigators' opinions.