Melphalan and Myeloma

Sixty-seven patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma were studied. Thirty-nine were treated with melphalan. The initial dose of 4 mg by mouth daily was reduced if the white blood count fell below 2,000 to 2,500/mm3. There were significant objective and subjective improvement and increased survival in the melphalan-treated patients as compared with a retrospective control group of 28 patients. The results compare favorably with reported series in which high-dose intermittent regimens were used. Information is insufficient to compare toxicity and complications associated with the two regimens.