title: Consolidation treatment with dexamethasone and alpha-2B recombinant interferon further reduces the M-component level in multiple myeloma patients responding to conventional induction chemotherapy.
abstract: Three patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma who had achieved an objective response after conventional induction chemotherapy were treated with alpha-2b-interferon plus intermittent high-dose dexamethasone as consolidation therapy. This treatment included three mega units of alpha-2b-interferon three times a week, plus 4 days pulsed high-dose dexamethasone every 28 days for 6 months. Toxicity was limited to a mild flu-like syndrome. A further and significant M-component reduction (50%), obtained after conventional chemotherapy, suggests the value of intermittent high-dose dexamethasone plus interferon as consolidation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Università di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Garino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frieri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boccadoro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pileri
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone