[High dose therapy with autologous stem cell support--finally a progress in myelomatosis].
BACKGROUND
Since the introduction of the simple cyclic oral treatment with melphalan and prednisone in the late 1960s, there has been no substantial improvement in the therapy of multiple myeloma. In 1994, the Nordic Myeloma Study Group initiated a population-based, prospective study to evaluate the impact on survival of high dose chemotherapy in newly diagnosed, symptomatic patients under 60 years of age, compared to a conventionally treated control group.


METHODS
274 patients were treated according to a specified high dose protocol and compared to 274 patients from previous population-based trials fulfilling the same eligibility criteria.


RESULTS
Median survival was 44 months in the control group and 62 months in the intensive treatment group (risk ratio 1.65; 95% CI = 1.28-2.14, P = 0.0001). A study of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) which was integrated in the trial showed a moderately reduced HRQoL associated with the intensive treatment phase, but no statistically significant difference beyond the first year of follow-up. In a cost-utility analysis of the trial, the cost per (quality-adjusted life years) was estimated at USD 26,000.


CONCLUSIONS
The incremental cost of the treatment is within what is usually thought to be acceptable limits. Further improvement of the results and reduction of stay in hospital would give an even more favourable cost-utility ratio.
Wisløff
F
F
Hematologisk avdeling Ullevål sykehus 0407 Oslo. f.g.b.wisloff@ioks.uio.no
Tangen
J M
JM
Brinch
L
L
Dahl
I M
IM
Gruber
F X
FX
Hammerstrøm
J
J
Waage
A
A
Nesthus
I
I
Ernst
P
P
D000328:Adult; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone
Høydosebehandling med autolog stamcellestøtte--endelig et fremskritt ved myelomatose.