Results and further perspectives of plasmocytoma chemotherapy

Polychemotherapy has improved prognostic parameters of survival in patients with plasmocytoma. The mean survival in patients given long-time prednisone and melphalan treatment is 20 months, in those given polychemotherapy over 30 months. In patients with a slow disease progression the combinations COPP and VMCP give satisfactory results in about 40%, but in a majority of patients more effective treatment is necessary. The authors compare the 5-year survival of two polychemotherapy groups with the prednisone and melphalan group. The mean survival after prednisone and melphalan was 33 months, after polychemotherapy (groups COPP, VMCP) 46 months and 57 months (VMCP + M2), respectively. Survival time was influenced by the clinical stage.