title: [Treatment of multiple myeloma with high-dose chemotherapy and transplantation of autologous hematopoietic stem cells and subsequent maintenance therapy with interferon alfa-2b or interferon alfa 2b and dexamethasone. Report of the ongoing study of the "4W" Czech Myeloma Group].
abstract: We report our results with high-dose chemotherapy in previously untreated multiple myeloma patients (4 courses of VAD chemotherapy, collection of PBSC after priming with cyclophosphamide, 5 g/m2, high-dose chemotherapy with melphalan, 200 mg/m2). Second transplantation was indicated only for patients who did not achieve remission after the first high-dose therapy (paraprotein lower than 25% of the pretreatment value). For the second transplantation melphalan (200 mg/m2) with methylprednisolone (1.5 g for 5 days) were used as conditioning regimen. After high-dose therapy all patients were randomized into two arms of maintenance therapy: interferon alpha-2b or sequential maintenance therapy (interferon alpha-2b for 3 months followed after 4 week pause by 40 mg of dexamethasone days 1-4, 10-13 and 20-23. The administration of interferon alpha was resumed four weeks after the last dexamethasone for next three months. The maintenance therapy continued for 48 months or until the progression. Fifty-five patients were enrolled in the study from January 1996 to August 1997. Thirty-five patients have undergone the first transplantation and 57% of them reached complete remission. There were 10% of non-responders after the first high-dose regimen. The mean time to reach white blood cell count above 1 x 10(9)/L after the application of high dose melphalan and platelets more than 50 x 10(9)/L were 12.2 (range 6-16 days) and 12.4 (range 0-25 days), respectively. Grade 4 mucositis according to SWOG classification requiring total parenteral nutrition was presented in 40% of the patients. The mean number of 1 unit of platelets and 2 units of packed red blood cells transfusions were given within the posttransplant period. Early transplant related mortality was 3%. This paper describes the response and tolerance of each particular step of therapy. The follow-up has been too short to evaluate event-free and overall survivals.
authors.affiliation: II. interní hemato-onkologická klinika FNsP, Brno-Bohunice.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krejcí
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bacovský
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authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hejlová
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svojgrová
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Franková
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gumulec
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janca
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Veprek
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Januska
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lehanka
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rezek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Praskac
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cahová
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vránová
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Papajík
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Králová
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Novotná
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scudla
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drbal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mareschová
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hájek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone