title: Combined alpha-2C-interferon/VMCP polychemotherapy versus VMCP polychemotherapy as induction therapy in multiple myeloma: a prospective randomized trial.
abstract: Thirty-three previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma were randomized to either a combination of recombinant interferon-alpha-2C (rIFN-alpha-2C) plus vincristine/melphalan/cyclophosphamide and prednisone (VMCP) or VMCP chemotherapy alone. The combined regimen effected 67% responses and 26% minor responses, while 35 and 47% of VMCP-treated patients had a pathologically documented remission, respectively. Despite the somewhat earlier achievement and duration (12.0 vs. 8.0 months) of objective response, and the marginal survival benefit observed in the rIFN-alpha-2C + VMCP treatment arm, a significant improvement in therapeutic gain by adding a biologic response modifier to conventional first-line polychemotherapeutic drug treatment in myeloma patients has not yet been achieved. The combined regimen was well tolerated without unusual or unexpected toxic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, Vienna University School of Medicine, Austria.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Scheithauer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortelezzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kührer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ludwig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone