title: [Teniposide, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone combination treatment for stage III multiple myeloma: a report of 21 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and toxicites of combination chemotherapy of teniposide, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (VCD) for stage III multiple myeloma (MM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients with stage III MM were treated with VCD regimen. Among 21 evaluable patients, 16 were in stage IIIA; 5 in stage IIIB. Teniposide was given 30 mg/m2 by intravenous(i.v.) infusion on days 1-3; cyclophosphamide 200 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, 3, 5; dexamethasone 10-20 mg daily p.o. on days 1-7. The treatment was recycled every 28 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 76%(16/21), including partial response 38%(8/21); improvement 38%(8/21) and failure 24%(5/21). The survival time was 3-31 months; medium survival time (MST) 13 months; MST of MM patients in stage IIIA, IIIB were 11, 12 months, respectively. The medium duration of response was 5 months; the medium cycle for initial response was 2. Among 21 cases, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were detected respectively in 10%, 54%, 31%, 5% and 67%, 17%, 13%, 3% according to WHO grade 0, I, II, III criteria. The gastrointestinal reaction was mild. No cardiovascular, renal and hepatic toxicites were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VCD regimen is an effective treatment for stage III multiple myeloma.
authors.affiliation: School of Oncology, Beijing Medical University, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013713:Teniposide / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D013713:Teniposide