Comparison of vincristine, carmustine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, prednisone (VBMCP) and interferon-α with melphalan and prednisone (MP) and interferon-α (IFN-α in patients with good-prognosis multiple myeloma: A prospective randomized study

Citation:

Zervas K, Pouli A, Gregoraki B, Anagnostopoulos N, Dimopoulos MA, Bourantas K, Tzilianos M, Barbarousi D, Venetis E, Vyniou N, et al. Comparison of vincristine, carmustine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, prednisone (VBMCP) and interferon-α with melphalan and prednisone (MP) and interferon-α (IFN-α in patients with good-prognosis multiple myeloma: A prospective randomized study. European Journal of Haematology [Internet]. 2001;66(1):18 - 23.

Abstract:

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate, in a selected group of myeloma patients with favorable prognosis, the effect, on response and survival, of polychymotherapy compared with melphalan-prednisone, plus interferon in both arms. Methods: Eighty-nine previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma and prognostic factors indicating a good prognosis were randomized to either oral melphalan plus prednisone (MP) in combination with recombinant interferon-α (rIFN-α) or combination chemotherapy with vincristine, carmustine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone (VBMCP) alternating with rIFN-α. The two treatment groups were comparable in terms of pretreatment characteristics. Results: The overall response rate was 67.4% (2.3% complete remission, 65.1% partial response) in the MP/IFN-α group and 69.1% (14.3% complete remission, 54.8% partial response) in the VBMCP/IFN-α group (p = 0.59). There were no differences also in response duration and overall survival between the two treatment groups. The median response duration was 39.1 months in the MP/IFN-α group and was not reached in the VBMCP/IFN-α group (p = 0.6). Overall survival was long in both treatment groups. The estimated 5-yr survival was 66% and 62% in the MP/IFN-α and VBMCP/IFN-α group, respectively (p = 0.8). Toxicity was modest and treatments were well tolerated. Neutropenia (WHO grade 3 or 4) was higher, but not statistically significant, in the VBMCP/IFN-α group. Conclusions: The results of the study show that in myeloma patients with good prognosis, combination chemotherapy alternating with interferon-α has no advantage over conventional MP plus interferon-α, in regard to response rate, response duration, and overall survival of patients. © Munksgaard 2001.

Notes:

Cited By :8Export Date: 21 February 2017

Website