title: Etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and high-dose betamethasone (EACB) as outpatient salvage therapy for refractory multiple myeloma.
abstract: Fifty-six patients with refractory multiple myeloma were treated with intermittent courses of etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and high-dose betamethasone (EACB) every 4th week. The overall response rate was 30%. Durable remissions exceeding 1 year were obtained in 12 of the 17 responding patients. A significant prolongation of the survival time was found for responding patients (median 13 months) compared to those patients who did not respond (median 9 months) to EACB therapy (p = 0.01). A low frequency of neutropenic fever episodes was noted compared to other salvage treatment regimens. The EACB regimen was usually well tolerated and could be administered safely on an out-patient basis. This regimen might be an alternative especially for elderly patients unresponsive to initial therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohrling
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björkholm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osterborg
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Juliusson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Björeman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brenning
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Celsing
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gahrton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grimfors
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012008:Recurrence; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001623:Betamethasone