title: Effective treatment of advanced multiple myeloma refractory to alkylating agents.
abstract: Twenty-nine patients with advanced refractory multiple myeloma were treated with intermittent high-dose dexamethasone in combination with four-day infusions of vincristine and doxorubicin. Rapid and marked tumor-mass reduction (greater than 75 per cent) was noted in 14 of 20 patients whose disease was resistant to alkylating agents and in 3 of 9 patients with additional resistance to doxorubicin--a result far superior to those in previous trials with similar patients. In responsive patients, remissions were of excellent quality, and survival was significantly longer than in unresponsive patients.
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000032:analysis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone