Klin Onkol 1999; 12(2): 35-44.
Summary: The median survival of conventionally treated patients with multiple myeloma is 3 years. Modification of conventional chemotherapy has failed to show an improved survival in most randomized trials. Therapy with dose-escalating alkylating agents induced higher remission rates than conventional treatrnent. If followed by autologous hematopoietic progenitor celt transplantation, the
hematotoxicíty of the described dose escalated treatrnent could be reduced. Results of trials with high dose therapy supported by autologous hone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells are summarized and discussed. The randomized French myeloma trial and the results published by the Arcanssas group (comparison of high-dose treated group with historical control group treated with conventíonal chemotherapy) showed a difference of 15 and 14 months in median survival between conventionally and high-dose treated groups.
The method of high-dose chemotherapy as well as the role of interferon alfa and bisphosphonates for patients with multiple myeloma
