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Primary therapy of multiple myeloma with paclitaxel (taxol)
M A Dimopoulos1, S Arbuck, M Huber
1University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
Background:
The treatment of multiple myeloma remains unsatisfactory and new active agents are needed. Paclitaxel is effective against a variety of solid tumors and we assessed the utility against multiple myeloma.
Patients And Methods:
From March 1993 to May 1994, we treated 33 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma with paclitaxel given intravenously at a dose of 125 mg/m2 over 24 hours (13 patients) or at a dose of 135 mg/m2 over 3 hours (20 patients).
Results:
Five of 33 patients responded (15%; 95% CI: 5 to 32%) with an unmaintained remission of 3-11+ months. Severe but reversible neutropenia was the major dose limiting toxicity, but myalgias and alopecia were also common.
Conclusion:
Paclitaxel was slightly active against multiple myeloma. Whether higher doses or new analogues of this agent can produce superior results requires further study.