Chemotherapy of multiple myeloma using cyclophosphamide and high dose dexamethasone

초록

Melphalan and prednisone are not being used as the primary therapy for multiple myeloma because the stem cell damage linits the option of bone marrow transplant(BMT). Lack of stem cell damage is an advantage in using vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone(VAD) before BMT. However, the use of VAD does not go without toxicity, particularly in elderly people. High dose dexamethasone alone given in doses similar to VAD has shown response rates approaching to those with VAD in primary refractory myeloma. Cyclophosphamide, an active agent in multiple myeloma, seldom causes stem cell damage. We opted to combine cyclosphosphamide and high dose dexamethasone (CHD) as the primary therapy of myeloma to see the efficacy of the regimen.