[Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple mayeloma: first experience of the "centre national de greffe de moelle osseuse" and review of therapeutic strategies]

Alkylating agents administered with prednrisone have been the standard therapy for myeloma over the last three decades. Intensive treatment with autologous hematopoietic support has become the treatment of choice for multiple myeloma patients up to 60 years of age. From march 1999 to January 2000, seven patients with multiple myeloma [stage III] with a median age of 43 years [34-56] received an outologous stem cell transplantation. The myeloablative treatment regimen consisted of high-dose melphalan. All patients had sustained engraftment. The median duration of neutropenia [<500/mm3] was 12 days [11-140] and the median duration of thrombocytopenia[<20000/mm3] was 13 days [11-110]. One patient had a complete remission, one a very good partial remission, and 5 patients had a partial remission. With a median follow- up of 8 months [2-12], all patients are alive, without relapse