title: Tumor growth patterns in multiple myeloma.
abstract: Serial changes in tumor mass were evaluated in 61 patients with multiple myeloma who had received intermittent courses of melphalan-prednisone until death. The variations in the kinetics of tumor reduction and relapse could be explained by a mathematical model based on two cell populations, one sensitive to and one resistant to chemotherapy. For all responding patients, the median tumor halving-time was 1.3 months and the median doubling time was 2.9 months. The duration of a constant tumor mass during remission was brief in most patients. A larger fraction of resistant cells prior to therapy was associated with a slower tumor doubling-time during relapse. With a constant fractional reduction of sensitive cells and a tumor halving-time of one month or less, all cells sensitive to alkylating agents would be eliminated with 3 years of uninterrupted intermittent therapy.
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone