Abstract
Response rates, survival times and side effects were compared in 47 patients with multiple myeloma receiving a MIP sequential combination therapy and 23 patients receiving melphalan (M) alone or melphalan with prednisolone (M+P) therapy.
The results were as follows:
1) Response rate evaluated by the reduction of M-protein level and improvement of subjective symptom were higher in MIP group. Therefore, response rate in total evaluation of MIP group was also superior to that of M+MP group.
2) 50% survival time of stage I+II was shorter in MIP group. However, in stage III, response rate for M-protein was higher and 50% survival time was longer than those of M+MP group.
3) As to the frequency of side effects leucopenia and gastrointestinal symptom were slightly more frequent but complicated infection was less frequent in MIP group.
From these results, it was recognized that MIP therapy was a useful combination chemotherapy as remission induction therapy for the patients in the advanced stage of multiple myeloma.
