A RANDOMIZED STUDY OF MOD VERSUS VAD IN THE TREATMENT OF RELAPSED ANDRESISTANT MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

67 patients with relapsed or resistant multiple myeloma were randomize d to receive either VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone) or M OD (mitozantrone, vincristine, dexamethasone). 12/30 (40%) patients re ceiving VAD and 15/37 (41%) patients receiving MOD achieved plateaux. The median duration of plateaux was significantly longer on VAD (15 mo nths) than on MOD (8 months). No significant difference in overall sur vival was seen between the two treatment arms. The only toxicity which was severe in more than 5% of treatment cycles on either treatment ar m was myelosuppression. No toxicity was significantly more severe on M OD than VAD. However, hair loss was significantly more severe on VAD t han MOD. The frequencies of thrombocytopenia, haematuria and cutaneous toxicity were significantly greater on VAD than on MOD. Raised serum direct bilirubin levels were seen significantly more often on MOD than VAD. MOD and VAD have similar efficacy in relapsed/resistant multiple myeloma. MOD is the less toxic of the two regimens.