title: Administration of a modified chemotherapeutic regimen containing vincristine, liposomal doxorubicin and dexamethasone to multiple myeloma patients: preliminary data.
abstract: For elderly patients with multiple myeloma (MM), conventional melphalan and prednisone (MP) therapy has been the treatment of choice; the vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) regimen is preferred for younger patients who also receive high-dose melphalan in combination with autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Although survival time is similar in both the MP and VAD regimens, the continuous infusion of doxorubicin which the latter treatment entails constitutes a disadvantage along with the 4-day hospitalization required. Doxorubicin also induces cardiotoxicity, particularly in the elderly. A modified form of VAD therapy includes liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx) (40 mg/m2 for 1 d) [corrected], oncovin (2 mg for 1 d) and dexamethasone 40 mg for 4 d per os. Doxorubicin encapsulated with liposomes has less cardiotoxicity, is more efficient and has fewer side effects than conventional doxorubicin, and it can be administered on an outpatient basis: dexamethasone can be given orally and vincristine in bolus infusion. In order to estimate its efficacy and tolerability, we administered this regimen to 12 patients (first-line treatment in 6 patients, salvage therapy in 6 patients). All patients exhibited good tolerance to liposomal doxorubicin with no severe side effects. Eight patients achieved complete hematological remission and three partial response. One patient died before completing the treatment. In conclusion, compared to other therapies, this modified VAD regimen containing liposomal doxorubicin can be more easily administered to MM patients, without severe side effects and with increased full remission rates, almost similar to those with the conventional VAD treatment.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Unit, University of Ioannina, Greece. stsiara@cc.uoi.gr
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Tsiara
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kapsali
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panteli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pritsivelis
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bourantas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin