High-dose melphalan and autologous bone marrow transplantation as consolidation in previously untreated myeloma.
OBJECTIVE
We report the results of intensive chemotherapy with high-dose melphalan (HDM) following conventional-dose cytoreductive chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with myeloma.


METHODS
From 1986 to 1991, 53 previously untreated patients with myeloma received HDM 200 mg/m2 plus methylprednisolone 1.5 g daily (MP) for 5 days with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) after cytoreductive chemotherapy.


RESULTS
At the time of HDM administration, responses to induction therapy were complete remission (CR) in nine patients, partial remission (PR) in 38, and no response (NR) in six. Following HDM, all but one patient responded, with 40 patients achieving a CR (75%). There was one treatment-related death following HDM. The median time to reach a WBC count more than 1,000/microL and platelet count more than 25,000/microL was 19 days (range, 13 to 30) and 24 days (range, 15 to 55), respectively. The median duration of response has not been reached at 20 months, and it is significantly longer for patients in CR than for those in PR (P < .025). Currently, with a median follow-up duration of 31 months (range, 6 to 58), 12 patients are dead and 40 are alive, and the estimated probability of survival at 54 months is 63%. Multivariate analysis found hemoglobin (Hb) more than 10 g/dL (P = .012), and stage A disease (P = .001) at diagnosis to be favorable indicators for survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Myeloma patients who are able to receive HDM plus ABMT following conventional chemotherapy achieve a high proportion of CRs, which may be associated with prolonged survival.
Cunningham
D
D
Cancer Research Campaign Section of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Paz-Ares
L
L
Milan
S
S
Powles
R
R
Nicolson
M
M
Hickish
T
T
Selby
P
P
Treleavan
J
J
Viner
C
C
Malpas
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008558:Melphalan