Total therapy-based treatment for multiple myeloma--a single center experience

Ann Hematol. 2010 Jan;89(1):53-9. doi: 10.1007/s00277-009-0767-x. Epub 2009 Jun 6.

Abstract

Incorporation of novel biological agents has become the cornerstone of treatment in multiple myeloma. For the last 4 years we have adopted the more intensified approach, previously published as total therapy 3 by the Arkansas group and used it with local modifications. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Arkansas protocol-based treatment outside clinical trial in a tertiary medical center in Israel. We retrospectively analyzed 23 patients. Seventy-three percent of the patients achieved very good partial remission (VGPR) before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Eighty-six percent of the patients achieved at least VGPR after tandem ASCT. Two-year overall survival was estimated as 70%. Four patients died during treatment, one as a result of disease progression. We conclude that this protocol is effective and rather safe. Further clinical trials should assess which subgroups of patients would benefit most from this approach.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Etoposide / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / mortality*
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / mortality*
  • Survival Rate / trends
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Thalidomide
  • Etoposide
  • Dexamethasone
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Cisplatin

Supplementary concepts

  • DT-PACE protocol