title: Essential thrombocythemia: response during first year of therapy with melphalan and radioactive phosphorus: a polycythemia Vera Study Group report.
abstract: Thirty-one patients with essential thrombocythemia were randomized to receive either melphalan or radioactive phosphorus as myelosuppressive therapy. Twenty-seven patients were evaluable for response. Of 13 patients treated with melphalan, 11 had a complete response (platelet count less than 450,000/mm3) at 3 and 6 months. This response rate was significantly better than the response to radioactive phosphorus. The response rates were similar at 12 months. No significant toxicity was observed with either regimen.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000628:therapy*; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D008558:Melphalan