Myeloma cell resistance to melphalan, BCNU and epirubicin determined in vitro with the 3H-thymidine incorporation technique prior to chemotherapy.
Drug resistance of marrow plasma cells had been measured in vitro before chemotherapy was started. Resistance to melphalan was found in 20, to BCNU in 27 and to epirubicin in 38 out of 65 myelomas. Nineteen myelomas were resistant to a single cytostatic, 14 to two cytostatics and further 13 to all three. Patients with plasma cells resistant to melphalan in vitro failed to reduce 50% of monoclonal Ig plasma level after therapy along the VBMCP (M2) protocol, whereas sensitive myelomas responded to this program satisfactorily. Patients with cells resistant to two or three cytostatics, beside a bad therapeutic response, had also a shorter survival time. Results in vitro were in conformity with in vivo effects in 78%.
Gola
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A
Department of Hematology, Medical School, Wroclaw, Poland.
Kuliczkowski
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K
Sedek
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002330:Carmustine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008558:Melphalan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014316:Tritium; D015251:Epirubicin; D008558:Melphalan; D002330:Carmustine; D013936:Thymidine