TY - JOUR
T1 - Interferon alfa-2b with VMCP compared to VMCP alone for induction and interferon alfa-2b compared to controls for remission maintenance in multiple myeloma
T2 - Interim results
AU - Ludwig, Heinz
AU - Cohen, Amos M.
AU - Huber, Heinz
AU - Nachbaur, David
AU - Jungi, Walter F.
AU - Senn, Hansjörg
AU - Günczler, Peter
AU - Schüller, Johannes
AU - Eckhardt, Sándor
AU - Seewann, Heinz L.
AU - Cavalli, Franco
AU - Fritz, Elke
AU - Micksche, Michael
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgement: This study has been supported by the Austrian Research Grant No. 4999 and by a research grant from Schering International, USA
PY - 1991/12
Y1 - 1991/12
N2 - The present trial was designed to evaluate whether interferon (IFN) combined with standard induction chemotherapy and/or interferon remission maintenance treatment improve treatment results in patients with multiple myeloma. Up to now 89 patients have received IFN plus vincristine/melphalan/cyclophosphamide/prednisolone (VMCP) as induction therapy, and 86 conventional VMCP. The proportion of patients with progressive disease was significantly lower (P < 0.005) under IFN + VMCP as compared to the VMCP treatment group. Survival times were significantly longer (P < 0.02) after IFN + VMCP induction therapy than after VMCP alone. In the second phase of this investigation, 33 progression-free myeloma patients were assigned to receive IFN as maintenance therapy, and 41 patients served as untreated controls. Patients maintained with IFN showed a tendency towards increased progression-free survival. Haematological side effects were observed significantly more often in patients receiving IFN, with more severe haematological toxicity in patients on the combined IFN + VMCP regimen and an increased number of patients with mild haematological toxicity in the group maintained with IFN. Other side effects, such as fever and fatigue, remained within tolerable limits. In conclusion, the preliminary results of this current clinical trial indicate significant advantages of combined IFN + VMCP induction treatment in terms of reduced disease progression and prolonged survival and possible benefits of IFN maintenance therapy in patients with multiple myeloma.
AB - The present trial was designed to evaluate whether interferon (IFN) combined with standard induction chemotherapy and/or interferon remission maintenance treatment improve treatment results in patients with multiple myeloma. Up to now 89 patients have received IFN plus vincristine/melphalan/cyclophosphamide/prednisolone (VMCP) as induction therapy, and 86 conventional VMCP. The proportion of patients with progressive disease was significantly lower (P < 0.005) under IFN + VMCP as compared to the VMCP treatment group. Survival times were significantly longer (P < 0.02) after IFN + VMCP induction therapy than after VMCP alone. In the second phase of this investigation, 33 progression-free myeloma patients were assigned to receive IFN as maintenance therapy, and 41 patients served as untreated controls. Patients maintained with IFN showed a tendency towards increased progression-free survival. Haematological side effects were observed significantly more often in patients receiving IFN, with more severe haematological toxicity in patients on the combined IFN + VMCP regimen and an increased number of patients with mild haematological toxicity in the group maintained with IFN. Other side effects, such as fever and fatigue, remained within tolerable limits. In conclusion, the preliminary results of this current clinical trial indicate significant advantages of combined IFN + VMCP induction treatment in terms of reduced disease progression and prolonged survival and possible benefits of IFN maintenance therapy in patients with multiple myeloma.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026353881&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0277-5379(91)90570-4
DO - 10.1016/0277-5379(91)90570-4
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AN - SCOPUS:0026353881
SN - 0277-5379
VL - 27
SP - S40-S45
JO - European Journal of Cancer and Clinical Oncology
JF - European Journal of Cancer and Clinical Oncology
IS - SUPPL. 4
ER -
