Intensive chemotherapy with combinations containing anthracyclines for refractory and relapsing multiple myeloma. Finnish Leukaemia Group.
94 patients with refractory multiple myeloma were treated in a multicentre trial with combinations of cytotoxic drugs including anthracyclines. All were refractory to a 5-drug combination containing 3 alkylating agents, vincristine and methylprednisolone (MOCCA). With a combination of epirubicin and iphosphamide a 50% response was achieved in 9% of 22 patients. The response rate after schedule VAP (vincristine, doxorubicin and prednisolone) was 8% of 13 patients and that after schedule VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone) 20% of 59 patients. The previous chemotherapy had lasted for less than 12 months in 13 cases from among all these patients, and 5 of these (38%) responded. In contrast, there were only 10 responders (12%) among the 81 patients with longer previous chemotherapy.
Palva
I P
IP
Hatanpää Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Ahrenberg
P
P
Ala Harja
K
K
Almqvist
A
A
Elonen
E
E
Hallman
H
H
Hänninen
A
A
Ilvonen
M
M
Isomaa
B
B
Jouppila
J
J
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D015251:Epirubicin; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011239:Prednisolone; D007069:Ifosfamide