[Treatment of multiple myeloma using vincristine, cyclophosphamide, melphalan and prednisone (VCMP). Long-term results in 63 patients].

The results achieved in a series of 63 patients diagnosed of multiple myeloma in one Centre between February 1981 and December 1984 are reported. One patient was in stage IA, 27 in stage II (A, 24; B, 3), and the remaining 35 were in stage III (A, 22; B, 13). The initial therapy consisted of courses of vincristine, cyclophosphamide, melphalan and prednisone combination chemotherapy (VCMP) given every 4th week. Among the 56 patients who were evaluable, 28 (50%) showed objective response, 6 (10.7%) clinical improvement, and therapeutical failure was seen in 14, whereas 8 patients died during the first two months of treatment. The haematological tolerance to VCMP was acceptable, but neurotoxicity due to vincristine appeared in 17.8% of the cases. Thirty-two patients showing resistance to VCMP at any given moment received vincristine, BCNU, adriamycin and prednisone or dexamethasone (VBAP/D) as salvage therapy, only 5 responses (15.6%) being achieved. Only 5 patients are still alive and the median survival of the series is 23 months. Progression of the disease and infections were the major causes of death.