title: [Therapy of multiple myeloma].
abstract: The association of melphalan and prednisone, introduced in the sixties, allowed a dramatic improvement in the prognosis of multiple myeloma. The subsequent evaluation of different polychemotherapeutic schedules did not ameliorate the results with respect to the melphalan-prednisone association, which remains the treatment of choice in patients older than 60-65 years. In younger patients high dose therapy allowed, in the recent years, significant improvement in terms of reduction of tumor mass and survival. The use of interferon as maintenance treatment allowed a prolongation of the response phase obtained after induction treatment. In this paper we discuss current trends in the management of multiple myeloma and related complication.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biopatologia Umana, Università La Sapienza, Roma.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Verde
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pulsoni
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Petrucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mandelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone