[Therapy of multiple myeloma].
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.
La Verde
G
G
Dipartimento di Biopatologia Umana, Università La Sapienza, Roma.
Pulsoni
A
A
Petrucci
M T
MT
Mandelli
F
F
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
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone