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Prognostic factors in multiple myeloma
Author(s) -
Alexanian Raymond,
Balcerzak Stanley,
Bonnet John D.,
Gehan Edmund A.,
Haut Arthur,
Hewlett James S.,
Monto Raymond W.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197510)36:4<1192::aid-cncr2820360403>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - medicine , azotemia , multiple myeloma , melphalan , anemia , prednisone , gastroenterology , oncology , renal function
The effect of certain disease parameters on remission and survival time was evaluated in 482 patients with multiple myeloma treated with intermittent courses of melphalan–prednisone combinations. Increasing degrees of anemia, hypercalcemia, azotemia, and high serum myeloma protein levels were associated with progressive lifespan shortening. The short survival of patients with anemia and hypercalcemia was associated with short remissions in responding patients with these abnormalities. The extent of tumor mass was defined from specific laboratory parameters reported by Durie 12 to be associated with large numbers of plasma cells. More advanced stages of myeloma were associated with higher frequencies and degrees of normal immunoglobulin depression. The response rate was not affected by the tumor mass grade, but increasing tumor mass was associated with a shorter lifespan. Greater degrees of tumor reduction were associated with longer remission and survival times. Patients in whom a marked tumor reduction was rapid had shorter survival and remission times than patients who responded more slowly.