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HJ Cohen, HR Silberman, K Tornyos and AA Bartolucci
A randomized controlled trial was initiated in 1972 to compare two
chemotherapeutic regimens [1-3-bis (2-chloroethyl) 1-nitrosourea (BCNU),
cyclophosphamide, and prednisone versus melphalan and prednisone], to
determine whether the two regimens are cross-resistant, and to evaluate the
effectiveness of sodium fluoride, vitamin D, calcium gluconate, and
fluoxymesterone in the promotion of bone healing. Initial responses (50%)
and survival (36 mo median) for patients treated with the two
chemotherapeutic regimens were the same. Patients on either regimen who
failed to respond after 6 mo had a very low response rate to the
alternative regimen (approximately 10%). Initially responding patients were
randomly assigned to either an active drug regimen (sodium fluoride,
vitamin D, calcium gluconate, fluoxymesterone) or placebo tablets. There
was no significant difference in the low percentage of patients
demonstrating bone improvement. Thus, the BCNU, cyclophosphamide,
prednisone regimen is as effective as melphalan and prednisone. Fluoride,
calcium, vitamin D, and androgenic steroids should not be routinely
recommended in myeloma, as they seem to add little to effective
chemotherapy and may contribute to morbidity.
This article has been cited by other articles:
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| Copyright © 1984 by American Society of Hematology Online ISSN: 1528-0020 | |||||||||