Prolonged survival in the absence of disease-recurrence in advanced-stage follicular lymphoma following chemo-immunotherapy: 13-year update of the prospective, multicenter randomized GITMO-IIL trial.

A prospective trial conducted in the period 2000-2005 showed no survival advantage for high-dose chemotherapy with rituximab and autograft (R-HDS) versus conventional chemotherapy with rituximab (CHOP-R) as first-line therapy in 134 high-risk follicular lymphoma patients aged <60 years. The study has been updated at the 13-year median follow up. As of February 2017, 88 (66%) patients were alive, with overall survival of 66.4% at 13 years, without a significant difference between R-HDS (64.5%) and CHOP-R (68.5%). To date, 46 patients have died, mainly because of disease progression (47.8% of all deaths), secondary malignancies (3 solid tumor, 9 myelodysplasia/acute leukemia; 26.1% of all deaths), and other toxicities (21.7% of all deaths). Complete remission was documented in 98 (73.1%) patients and associated with overall survival, with 13-year estimates of 77.0% and 36.8% for complete remission versus no-complete remission, respectively. Molecular remission was documented in 39 (65%) out of 60 evaluable patients and associated with improved survival. In multivariate analysis, complete remission achievement had the strongest effect on survival (P<0.001), along with younger age (P=0.002) and female sex (P=0.013). Overall, 50 patients (37.3%) survived with no disease recurrence (18 CHOP-R, 32 R-HDS). This follow up is the longest reported on follicular lymphoma treated upfront with rituximab-chemotherapy and demonstrates an unprecedented improvement in survival compared to the pre-rituximab era, regardless of the use of intensified or conventional treatment. Complete remission was the most important factor for prolonged survival and a high proportion of patients had prolonged survival in their first remission, raising the issue of curability in follicular lymphoma. (Registered at clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 00435955).

Diagnostic value of whole-body ultra-low dose computed tomography in comparison with spinal magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of disease in multiple myeloma.

This study compared the diagnostic value of Whole-Body Ultra Low-Dose computed tomography (WBULDCT) with that of Spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (SMRI) in identification of spinal bone marrow involvement in patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM). Thirty-five patients with histologically proven MM underwent WBULDCT and dedicated SMRI. Unenhanced WBULDCT was performed on a 256-slice scanner, with 120 kV and 40 mAs. SMRI was performed on a 1·5T magnet, with T1-turbo spin echo and T2-short tau inversion recovery sequences on sagittal plane. WBULDCT was compared with SMRI in terms of lesion detection, pattern and bone marrow involvement. The overall concordance between WBULDCT and SMRI in lesion detection was 76·7%, detecting (25/35) or excluding (8/35) involvement of the axial skeleton, while in 2/35 patients WBULDCT and SMRI were discordant in terms of axial skeleton involvement. The concordance in spinal distribution of lesions was 61·6% on cervical, 71·5% on dorsal, 86·4% on lumbar and 94·4% on sacral, while for the pattern of disease, it was 56·1% for the focal and 88·7% for the combined pattern. Cohen's kappa index was 0·85 (P < 0·001) assessing an excellent agreement. WBULDCT represents a useful diagnostic tool in the detection of spinal involvement of MM patients, offering detailed information about extra-axial involvement, which could be potentially missed with dedicated SMRI.

Response-adjusted ISS (RaISS) is a simple and reliable prognostic scoring system for predicting progression-free survival in transplanted patients with multiple myeloma.

Complete response (CR) is associated with better outcome in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) treated with autologous transplant even though the progression-free survival (PFS) can be very variable among patients with good response. No simple and reliable prognostic scoring system, able to predict the duration of response, are so far available. Aim of this study was to identify any correlation between baseline clinical findings, response after transplant and the length of PFS, and thus develop a prognostic model. The new prognostic model was developed in a learning cohort of 549 patients with MM transplanted in five Italian hospitals. The prognostic value of this new score was confirmed in a validation cohort of 276 distinct patients with MM transplanted in two different Italian hospital. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox models. The most important independent baseline predictor of transplant outcome, together with response after transplant, was International Staging System (ISS). We thus incorporated response to transplant and baseline ISS in a new scoring system, named response-adjusted international scoring system (RaISS), that was able to classify patients in three risk groups (low, intermediate, high) with different probabilities of progression after transplant (median PFS 35.9-15.4 months). The prognostic value of this new score was confirmed in the validation cohort. In conclusion, RaISS is a new simple and easily available scoring system that, accurately defining the risk of progression, can allow to identify patients who could deserve further treatment after transplant (consolidation, maintenance).

Invasive aspergillosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a SEIFEM-2008 registry study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors, treatments and outcome of invasive aspergillosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia based on data collected in a registry. DESIGN AND METHODS: The registry, which was activated in 2004 and closed in 2007, collected data on patients with acute myeloid leukemia, admitted to 21 hematologic divisions in tertiary care centers or university hospitals in Italy, who developed proven or probable invasive aspergillosis. RESULTS: One hundred and forty cases of invasive aspergillosis were collected, with most cases occurring during the period of post-induction aplasia, the highest risk phase in acute myeloid leukemia. The mortality rate attributable to invasive aspergillosis was 27%, confirming previous reports of a downward trend in this rate. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the stage of acute myeloid leukemia and the duration of, and recovery from, neutropenia were independent prognostic factors. We analyzed outcomes after treatment with the three most frequently used drugs (liposomal amphotericin B, caspofungin, voriconazole). No differences emerged in survival at day 120 or in the overall response rate which was 71%, ranging from 61% with caspofungin to 84% with voriconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Our series confirms the downward trend in mortality rates reported in previous series, with all new drugs providing similar survival and response rates. Recovery from neutropenia and disease stage are crucial prognostic factors. Efficacious antifungal drugs bridge the period of maximum risk due to poor hematologic and immunological reconstitution.

Role of a pre-existing neuropathy on the course of bortezomib-induced peripheral neurotoxicity.

We investigated a series of bortezomib-treated patients and correlated the course of bortezomib-induced peripheral neurotoxicity with the presence or absence of peripheral neuropathy at baseline. Forty-eight patients were examined with the total neuropathy score reduced version (TNSr), visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, and nerve conduction studies at baseline and after two and four cycles of chemotherapy. Twenty-three patients had a baseline TNSr = 0-2, and 25 patients had a baseline TNSr >2 (median = 6, range 3-13). The course of bortezomib-induced peripheral neurotoxicity was generally more severe in those patients with the highest baseline TNSr. However, among those subjects with a normal baseline TNSr, two patients developed a clinically relevant peripheral neuropathy with a marked increase in TNSr as early as after two cycles of bortezomib treatment (TNSr = 10 and 15, respectively), while after four cycles, three other patients with normal baseline TNSr had a TNSr of 11, 12, and 13. VAS reporting confirmed that painful neuropathy is frequent after bortezomib administration. Our results indicate that the course of bortezomib-induced peripheral neurotoxicity can be severe in subjects with normal neurological examination at baseline, and therefore, careful monitoring during treatment is suggested in these patients.

Oral melphalan and prednisone chemotherapy plus thalidomide compared with melphalan and prednisone alone in elderly patients with multiple myeloma: randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Since 1960, oral melphalan and prednisone (MP) has been regarded as the standard of care in elderly multiple myeloma patients. This multicentre randomised trial compared oral MP plus thalidomide (MPT) with MP alone in patients aged 60-85 years. METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were randomly assigned to receive oral MP for six 4-week cycles plus thalidomide (n=129; 100 mg per day continuously until any sign of relapse or progressive disease) or MP alone (n=126). Analysis was intention-to-treat. This study is registered at , number NCT00232934. RESULTS: Patients treated with thalidomide had higher response rates and longer event-free survival (primary endpoints) than patients who were not. Combined complete or partial response rates were 76.0% for MPT and 47.6% for MP alone (absolute difference 28.3%, 95% CI 16.5-39.1), and the near-complete or complete response rates were 27.9% and 7.2%, respectively. 2-year event-free survival rates were 54% for MPT and 27% for MP (hazard ratio [HR] for MPT 0.51, 95% CI 0.35-0.75, p=0.0006). 3-year survival rates were 80% for MPT and 64% for MP (HR for MPT 0.68, 95% CI 0.38-1.22, p=0.19). Rates of grade 3 or 4 adverse events were 48% in MPT patients and 25% in MP patients (p=0.0002). Introduction of enoxaparin prophylaxis reduced rate of thromboembolism from 20% to 3% (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Oral MPT is an effective first-line treatment for elderly patients with multiple myeloma. Anticoagulant prophylaxis reduces frequency of thrombosis. Longer follow-up is needed to assess effect on overall survival.

Peg-filgrastim versus filgrastim after autologous stem cell tranplantation: case-control study in patients with multiple myeloma and review of the literature.

We investigated the effects of a single s.c. injection of peg-filgrastim in 32 patients with multiple myeloma who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (AuSCT) as first line treatment. For comparison, 32 myeloma patients with similar characteristics and receiving standard daily administration of filgrastim were matched. Overall, there were no statistically significant differences between peg-filgrastim and filgrastim in terms of tolerability, marrow recovery, severity of neutropenia, incidence and duration of febrile neutropenia, documented infections and transfusions. However, some favourable trends or effects in favour of peg-filgrastim were observed. This was confirmed by a review of the published papers about this topic.

Implemented myeloma management with whole-body low-dose CT scan: a real life experience.

A total of 318 consecutive myeloma patients underwent whole-body low-dose CT scan (WBLDCT) at baseline and during follow-up as a radiological assessment of lytic lesions in place of skeletal X-ray survey. After WBLDCT baseline assessment, 60% had bone involvement. The presence of lytic lesions represented the only met CRAB (hyperCalcaemia, Renal insufficiency, Anaemia, Bone lesions) criteria in 29% of patients. Patients presenting with extramedullary masses were 10%. Radiological progression was documented in 9% of the population with available follow-up. Additional pathological incidental findings were detected in 28 patients (14.5%), most located in the chest region (68%). In conclusion, our real-life data shows that WBLDCT scan represents a reliable imaging tool for decision-making process for multiple myeloma management in different disease phases, providing significant additional information on the presence of soft tissues plasmacytomas detection as well as the presence of pathological incidental findings.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte/monocyte ratio predicts outcome in follicular lymphoma and in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients in the rituximab era.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive lymphoma and a large number of studies have therefore focused on the search for prognostic factors. The same interest concerns FL, for which identification of patients candidates for watch and wait (W&W) strategy is still an option. Studies about the number and type of lymphocytes and monocytes detectable in patients with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas indicate they might affect the pathogenesis and prognosis of these diseases. LMR is recently under investigation as a new prognostic parameter in DLBCL; the role of this ratio in FL in the rituximab era is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 137 DLBCL and 132 FL patients referred to our institution; among FL pts, a W&W approach was performed at diagnosis for 42 patients. The remaining patients were treated with rituximab-containing therapy. We analyzed different LMR cutoff values at diagnosis and we wanted to investigate the prognostic effect among DLBCL and FL. RESULTS: We found that the most discriminative LMR was 2.4 for DLBCL and 2 for FL. Among DLBCL patients, an LMR value < 2.4 was associated with a worse 2-year progression-free survival (PFS), and we observed no difference in overall survival and complete response rate. Considering FL patients, LMR > 2 was associated with a longer time to treatment start compared with the LMR < 2 group (P = .0096). Among the 92 patients treated with rituximab chemotherapy, 2-year PFS was superior in the LMR > 2 group. CONCLUSION: LMR at diagnosis is a simple tool to better define long-term outcome of DLBCL and FL patients. The use of this tool might better define selection in FL of ideal candidates for W&W strategy.

Diagnostic value of whole-body low-dose computed tomography (WBLDCT) in bone lesions detection in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

PURPOSE: To assess the role of whole-body low-dose computed tomography (WBLDCT) in the diagnosis and staging of patients with suspicion of multiple myeloma (MM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 138 patients (76 male and 62 female; mean age 63.5 years, range 50-81 years), with early MM, underwent WBLDCT protocol study, performed on 16-slice scanner (Brilliance, Philips Medical System, Eindhoven, The Netherlands): tube voltage 120 kV; tube current time product 40 mAs. Diagnosis of osteolytic lesions was performed on the basis of axial and multiplanar reformatted images, whereas the assessment of spinal misalignment and fracture was done by using multiplanar reformatted images. The overall dose delivered to each patient was 4.2 mSv. Every patient gave personal informed consent, as required by our institution guidelines. RESULTS: The diagnosis was established either by histopathology or imaging follow-up (size increase of over a period time). In all 138 patients, image resolution was diagnostic, enabling correct classification of multiple myeloma patients. WBLDCT showed a total of 328 pathologic bone findings in 81/138 patients. CT scanning resulted in complete evaluation of the bone lesions in these areas of the skeleton: skull (42), humerus (15), femur (20), ribs (7), scapulae (13), pelvis (35), clavicle (13), sternum (10), cervical (39), dorsal (65), lombar (48) and sacral rachis (21). In 40/81 bone involvement detected by CT was the only CRAB criterion present. Furthermore, WBLDCT demonstrated pleuro-pulmonary lesions in 20 patients (11 infective, 9 as MM localizations) and 1 renal neoplasia. CONCLUSION: WBLDCT, detecting bone marrow localizations and demonstrating extra-osseous findings, with a fast scanning time and high resolution images, is a reliable imaging-based tool for a proper management of MM patients.

Role of radiotherapy in patients with early-stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of Waldeyer's ring in remission after anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

Consolidation radiotherapy (cRT) in patients with stage I/II diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the Waldeyer's ring (WR-DLBCL) in complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy (CHT) is often associated with relevant acute and chronic toxicity, and its impact on survival remains to be defined. A total of 184 patients in CR after anthracycline-based chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed: 62 underwent CHT alone (CHT group), while 122 (66%) patients were referred to cRT (CHT + RT group). After a median follow-up of 54 months, 36 patients (20%) experienced relapse: 19% in the CHT group and 20% in the CHT + RT group. At the time of analysis 47 (76%) CHT patients and 97 (80%) CHT + RT patients were alive. Five-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and lymphoma-specific survival (LSS) were 80%, 74% and 86%, respectively. Five-year OS was significantly prolonged in the CHT + RT group, while DFS and LSS were similar between groups. This discrepancy was attributed to a high percentage of deaths due to unrelated causes in CHT patients. cRT does not prolong LSS in patients with early-stage WR-DLBCL in CR after anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. An international confirmatory trial is warranted.

High response rate and improvement of long-term survival with combined treatment modalities in patients with poor-risk primary thyroid diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: an International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group and Intergruppo Italiano Linfomi study.

The impact of different treatment modalities and prognostic factors on the clinical course of primary thyroid diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PTDLBCL) is still the subject of research. This study was conducted to clarify these clinical aspects of this disorder. The clinical parameters of 48 patients with PTDLBCL at time of diagnosis were comparable to those of previous studies. Patients underwent either radiotherapy (RT)  ±  surgery (SX), chemotherapy (CHT) alone or in combination with local treatments (RT or SX), or SX followed by CHT and RT. A 90% complete remission (CR) rate was observed among patients who underwent combined treatment modalities (CTM), compared to 76% among the others. The 5-year progression-free survival differed significantly between both groups (p = 0.028). Poor performance status and advanced age correlated with decreased survival. PTDLBCL is a curable disease prevalent in elderly patients. Combined treatment modalities were able to induce an elevated rate of CR, improving long-term survival in younger patients. However, the outcome in elderly patients still remains unsatisfactory.

Bortezomib as induction before autologous transplantation, followed by lenalidomide as consolidation-maintenance in untreated multiple myeloma patients.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of bortezomib as induction therapy before autologous transplantation, followed by lenalidomide as consolidation-maintenance in myeloma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Newly diagnosed patients age 65 to 75 years were eligible. Induction (bortezomib, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone [PAD]) included four 21-day cycles of bortezomib (1.3 mg/m(2) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11), pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (30 mg/m(2) on day 4), and dexamethasone (40 mg/d; cycle 1: days 1 to 4, 8 to 11, and 15 to 18; cycles 2 to 4: days 1 to 4). Autologous transplantation was tandem melphalan 100 mg/m(2) (MEL100) and stem-cell support. Consolidation included four 28-day cycles of lenalidomide (25 mg/d on days 1 to 21 every 28 days) plus prednisone (50 mg every other day), followed by maintenance with lenalidomide (LP-L; 10 mg/d on days 1 to 21) until relapse. Primary end points were safety (incidence of grade 3 to 4 adverse events [AEs]) and efficacy (response rate). Results A total of 102 patients were enrolled. In a per-protocol analysis, after PAD, 58% of patients had very good partial response (VGPR) or better, including 13% with complete response (CR); after MEL100, 82% of patients had at least VGPR and 38% had CR; and after LP-L, 86% of patients had at least VGPR and 66% had CR. After median follow-up time of 21 months, the 2-year progression-free survival rate was 69%, and the 2-year overall survival rate was 86%. During induction, treatment-related mortality was 3%; grade 3 to 4 AEs included thrombocytopenia (17%), neutropenia (10%), peripheral neuropathy (16%), and pneumonia (10%). During consolidation-maintenance, grade 3 to 4 AEs were neutropenia (16%), thrombocytopenia (6%), pneumonia (5%), and cutaneous rash (4%). CONCLUSION Bortezomib as induction before autologous transplantation, followed by lenalidomide as consolidation-maintenance, is an effective regimen.

Efficacy and safety of bortezomib in patients with plasma cell leukemia.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with plasma cell leukemia (PCL), an aggressive variant of multiple myeloma (MM), is usually poor. Bortezomib is the first proteasome inhibitor approved for the treatment of advanced MM. Currently available information regarding the role of bortezomib in PCL is scanty and derives from anecdotal, single-case reports. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective survey of unselected Italian patients with primary or secondary PCL who were treated with bortezomib outside of clinical trials. Twelve evaluable patients were recorded who had received bortezomib for 1 to 6 cycles as either a single agent or variously combined with other drugs. Three patients were treated with bortezomib as frontline therapy, and 9 patients received bortezomib after 1 to 4 lines of chemotherapy, including autologous stem cell transplantation and thalidomide. RESULTS: According to the International uniform response criteria of the International Myeloma Working Group, 5 partial responses (defined as a reduction in M-protein of >50%), 4 very good partial responses (defined as a reduction of >90% in M-protein), and 2 complete responses (defined as negative immunofixation) were achieved, for a response rate of 92%. Responses did not appear to be influenced by previous treatments or by other clinical or biologic parameters, including chromosome 13 deletion or the combination of bortezomib with other drugs. The median progression-free and overall survivals after bortezomib were 8 months and 12 months, respectively. At the time of last follow-up, 8 patients were alive 6 to 21 months after treatment with bortezomib, 4 of whom were in very good partial or complete responses. Grade 3/4 hematologic or neurologic toxicities (graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE; version 3]) were reported to occur in 9 patients and 1 patient, respectively, whereas 6 patients experienced possible or documented infections. CONCLUSIONS: Bortezomib appears to be an effective drug for PCL that could significantly improve the usually adverse clinical outcome of these patients.

A randomized clinical trial of ceftriaxone and amikacin versus piperacillin tazobactam and amikacin in febrile patients with hematological neoplasia and severe neutropenia.

GOAL OF WORK: We compared the efficacy of ceftriaxone (CA regimen) and piperacillin-tazobactam (PTA regimen) in association with amikacin in the treatment of febrile episodes in severely neutropenic hematological patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 252 febrile episodes in 224 patients were randomized. MAIN RESULTS: The CA regimen was effective in 62/122 evaluable episodes (50.8%), and the PTA regimen was effective in 64/121 (52.9%; P>0.2). Median time to failure was 4 and 5 days (P>0.1). Further infections developed in 21/122 episodes (17.2%) with the CA regimen and in 12/121 (9.9%) with the PTA regimen (P=0.06). The overall mortality at the end of the febrile episode was 11/243 (4.5%); seven deaths were considered to be related to infection. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin tended to become afebrile sooner and to suffer a lower rate of further infections, even though our data did not show any statistically significant differences between the two groups.

Growth Factors: Thrombopoietic Property of the Pineal Hormone Melatonin.

The recent advances in the psychoneuroimmunology have suggested that the hematopoiesis may be under a neuroendocrine regulation, mainly exerted by the pineal gland. In particular, melatonin (MLT), which is the main pineal hormone, has appeared to stimulate platelet generation, probably by promoting the megakaryocyte fragmentation and modulating the cytokine network involved in platelet production. On this basis, we have evaluated the effect of pharmacological doses of MLT on platelet number in patients with persistent thrombocytopenia due to different causes. The study included 200 patients, who were randomized to receive supportive care alone or MLT at 20 mg/day orally in the evening, for al least 1 month. No MLT-related toxicity occured. Platelet mean number rapidly and significantly increased in response to MLT, and a normalization of platelet number was achieved on MLT therapy in 71/98 (72%) patients. The least responsive form of thrombocytopenia was DIC. This study shows that the pineal hormone MLT may represent a well tolerable and effective therapy of thrombocytopenia due to different pathogenetic mechanisms.

Long-term follow-up of patients with intermediate or high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with a combination of cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vincristine, and prednisone.

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is one of the most serious side effects of the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy, regimen, especially among elderly patients. In the CEOP regimen, epirubicin was substituted for doxorubicin to reduce cardiotoxicity. METHODS: Between March 1984 and September 1998, 186 previously untreated patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma according to the Working Formulation were treated with CEOP (cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m(2), epirubicin, 75 mg/m(2), vincristine, 1.4 mg/m(2); and prednisone, 60 mg per day orally on Days 1-5). Of 186 patients, 85 (45.7%) had Stage IV disease, and 60 (32.3%) had an International Prognostic Index score > 2. Comorbidity was present in 36 patients (19.3%). RESULTS: Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 119 patients (64.3%), and partial remission was achieved in 30 patients (16.2%). Among the patients who achieved a CR, 95 (79.8%) were still disease free at a median follow-up time of 86.9 months (range, 14-200 months). The remaining 24 patients experienced disease recurrence, at a median follow-up time of 19 months (range, 3-101 months). The relative dose intensities were 0.69, 0.89, and 0.80 for vincristine, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide, respectively. Two patients died of toxicity due to infection. Two patients, 59 and 73 years old, respectively, experienced arrhythmia. Another patient, age 64 years, who had a myocardial infarction 10 years earlier, had angina. One patient with hypertension experienced cardiac failure. No patients died of cardiac toxicity. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up confirmed that CEOP is an effective and well-tolerated chemotherapy regimen for intermediate- and high-grade lymphoma. The results were promising, especially among elderly patients.

Intermediate-dose melphalan improves survival of myeloma patients aged 50 to 70: results of a randomized controlled trial.

High-dose therapy is an effective standard treatment for multiple myeloma patients. Evidence that intermediate-dose therapy improves survival is limited. At diagnosis, about 70% of patients are older than 65. Intermediate-dose regimen is very well tolerated in older patients. In a multicenter study, 194 patients were randomized to receive at diagnosis either conventional chemotherapy (6 courses of oral melphalan and prednisone [MP]) or intermediate-dose therapy (2 courses of melphalan at 100 mg/m(2) [MEL100]) with stem cell support. Response rate was higher after MEL100. Near-complete remission (nCR) was 6% after MP and 25% after MEL100 (P = .0002). At 3 years, MEL100 increased event-free survival (EFS) from 16% to 37% and overall survival (OS) from 62% to 77% (P < .001). Similar results were observed in patients aged 65 to 70: nCR was 8% after MP and 25% after MEL100 (P = .05); at 3 years, MEL100 improved EFS from 18% to 31% (P = .01) and OS from 58% to 73% (P = .01). Patients aged 65 to 70 had a median OS of 37.2 months (MP) versus 58 months (MEL100). Intermediate-dose melphalan improves response rate, EFS, and OS in myeloma patients, specifically in those aged 65 to 70. It constitutes a more effective first-line regimen than standard treatment for elderly patients.