[The efficacy of polychemotherapy programs in treating multiple myeloma patients].

AIM: To compare efficiency of the programs MCVP, VCAP and ARA-COP in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) as regards completeness of the response, duration of the remission and toxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 41 MM patients entered the study (27 females, 14 males, age from 41 to 72 years, MM duration from 1 month to 8 years). 16, 10 and 15 patients were treated according to MCVP, VCAP and ARA-COP programs. RESULTS: Both in the resistant and primary patients the response was the highest to ARA-COP treatment. The remission or stabilization was achieved in 93.4% of patients. VCAP program was less effective. However, clinicohematological remission was achieved in 50% of patients. This program is rather heart toxic. MCVP program was the least effective. Survival was followed up in 16 patients (10 MCVP, 3 VCAP and 3 ARA-COP patients). The survival was 20-62, 16-36, 23.6-64.8 months for ARA-COP, VCAP and MCVP, respectively. CONCLUSION: ARA-COP program proved most effective of the three programs both in primary and drug-resistant patients. VCAP and MCVP programs are less effective but can be used in primary management of MM patients.