Effective Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma Refractory to Alkylating Agents

Abstract

Twenty-nine patients with advanced refractory multiple myeloma were treated with intermittent high-dose dexamethasone in combination with four-day infusions of vincristine and doxorubicin. Rapid and marked tumor-mass reduction (>75 per cent) was noted in 14 of 20 patients whose disease was resistant to alkylating agents and in 3 of 9 patients with additional resistance to doxorubicin — a result far superior to those in previous trials with similar patients. In responsive patients, remissions were of excellent quality, and survival was significantly longer than in unresponsive patients. (N Engl J Med 1984; 310:1353–6.)