title: Multiple myeloma treated with mitoxantrone in combination with vincristine and prednisolone (NOP regimen) versus melphalan and prednisolone: a phase III study. Nordic Myeloma Study Group (NMSG).
abstract: One-hundred-and-fifty-one patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma were allocated to treatment with either NOP regimen (mitoxantrone 16 mg/m2 and vincristine 2 mg day 1 and prednisolone 250 mg day 1-4 and 17-20) or M+P regimen (melphalan 0.25 mg/kg and prednisolone 100-200 mg/day day 1-4). Both regimens were repeated every 4 weeks and were scheduled for 1 year. Seventy-seven patients were treated with NOP and 74 patients with M+P. No major clinical differences were recorded between the groups before treatment. Sixty percent of the patients responded (CR+PR) to NOP versus 64% to M+P (NS). The time to progression was 16 months (95% C.L. 14-51) in the NOP group versus 21 months (95% C.L. 15-27) in the M+P group (NS). The median survival was 14 months (7-21) in the NOP group and 31 months (21-43) in the M+P group (p = 0.02). NOP was significantly more toxic than M+P. Seven patients treated with NOP died due to infection and neutropenia and 1 patient died of cardiac toxicity, in contrast to 1 death due to infection and neutropenia in the M+P group. Gastrointestinal toxicity was acceptable in both groups. In conclusion, NOP was inferior to M+P as primary treatment of multiple myeloma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Haematology, KAS Gentofte, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keldsen
authors.forename: O W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Bjerrum
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drivsholm
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellegaard
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gadeberg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gimsing
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grønvold
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hippe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009664:Norway; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D011239:Prednisolone; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D008558:Melphalan