title: Comparison of two combination chemotherapy regimens for multiple myeloma: methyl-CCNU, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone versus melphalan and prednisone.
abstract: Of 139 evaluable and previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma, 67 received methyl-CCNU-cyclophosphamide-prednisone (group A) and 72 received melphalan-prednisone (group B); 48% and 33% respectively had good responses and the overall response rates (good plus partial) were 75% and 65% for groups A and B respectively. The survival curves for both groups of patients were similar, with a median survival of 32 months. At 36 months, 70% of those patients who obtained good response were alive, 29% of those with partial response were alive, and 13% of those with no response were alive. The clinical staging system described by Durie and Salmon shows a good prognosis for stage I patients, with 80% remaining alive at 48 months, while the survival curves for stage II and III patients were similar, with 33% and 28% respectively remaining alive at 48 months. The combination of methyl-CCNU-cyclophosphamide-prednisone is not more effective in terms of response rate or duration of survival than melphalan-prednisone.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012673:Semustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012673:Semustine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone