A combination of anti-interleukin 6 murine monoclonal antibody with dexamethasone and high-dose melphalan induces high complete response rates in advanced multiple myeloma

To improve the complete response (CR rate in advanced multiple myeloma (MM) without increasing the toxicity of high-dose therapy we have used a new co nditioning regimen, A combination of BE-8 [an anti-interleukin 6 (IL-6) mur ine monoclonal antibody] and dexamethasone followed by high-dose melphalan (220 mg/ m(2)) and autologous stem cell transplantation was used to treat a series of 16 patients with advanced multiple myeloma. A strong inhibition of IL-6 activity evaluated by quantification of C-reactive protein was obse rved in all patients and was correlated with the high CR rate achieved with this combination therapy.