Adriamycin, 1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl) 1 nitrosourea (BCNU, NSC No. 409962), cyclophosphamide plus prednisone (ABC-P) in melphalanresistant multiple myeloma.

Fourteen patients with multiple myeloma resistant to melphalan plus prednisone were treated with BCNU 50 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 200 mg/m2 on day 1, adriamycin 20 mg/m2 on day 2 and prednisone 60 mg orally, daily for days 1 through 5. Therapy was repeated every four weeks. Depending upon criteria used, objective antitumor responses were achieved in five to nine of the 14 patients. Mean survival was 9.5 months and actuarial median survival was 7.0 months. Six patients are alive, four to 35 months after initiation of therapy. This preliminary report indicates that this combination may be a useful treatment program in the management of patients with advanced multiple myeloma. A review of studies employing adriamycin plus BCNU suggests that these regimens currently offer the most effective treatment of melphalan-resistant patients.