ETOPOSIDE, DOXORUBICIN, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE AND HIGH-DOSE BETAMETHASONE (EACB) AS OUTPATIENT SALVAGE THERAPY FOR REFRACTORY MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

Fifty-six patients with refractory multiple myeloma were treated with intermittent courses of etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and h igh-dose betamethasone (EACB) every 4th week. The overall response rat e was 30%. Durable remissions exceeding 1 year were obtained in 12 of the 17 responding patients. A significant prolongation of the survival time was found for responding patients (median 13 months) compared to those patients who did not respond (median 9 months) to EACB therapy (p = 0.01). A low frequency of neutropenic fever episodes was noted co mpared to other salvage treatment regimens. The EACB regimen was usual ly well tolerated and could be administered safely on an out-patient b asis. This regimen might be an alternative especially for elderly pati ents unresponsive to initial therapy.