Multiple myeloma in central and northern Norway 1981-1982: a follow-up study of a randomized clinical trial of 5-drug combination therapy versus standard therapy.

In a randomized study of 92 previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma, the intention was to document the possible beneficial effect of combination chemotherapy including vincristine, carmustine, alkylating agents and prednisone, as compared to conventional therapy with melphalan and prednisone. Major prognostic factors did not differ significantly between the treatment groups. With the 2-drug therapy and 5-drug combination therapy, 48 and 54% of the patients achieved remission, respectively. Median survival for patients treated with the 2-drug regimen and 5-drug regimen was 29 and 33.5 months, respectively. No significant difference was found between the survival curves for stage III patients treated with the two regimens. After 12 months, patients who had achieved remission were randomized to have treatment discontinued or to have maintenance treatment. The numbers of relapses, remission duration and survival of the two groups were similar.

Multiple myeloma in central Norway 1981-1982: a randomized clinical trial of 5-drug combination therapy versus standard therapy.

67 previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma were entered on a randomized clinical trial to determine whether the use of combination chemotherapy including vincristine, carmustine, alkylating agents, and prednisone was more effective than conventional therapy with melphalan and prednisone. The treatment groups did not show significant differences with respect to major prognostic factors. With the 2-drug combination therapy and 5-drug combination therapy, 67 and 74% of the patients achieved remission, respectively. Moreover, no significant difference was found between the two treatment schedules in terms of median survival (30+ months). The survival curves for stage III patients treated with the two regimens did not differ significantly. After 12 months, patients who had achieved remission were randomized to have treatment discontinued or to have maintenance treatment. 7 of 15 patients on maintenance therapy relapsed, whereas 9 of 14 patients who had their therapy discontinued relapsed, and the survival of the two groups was similar.

[A rapid decalcification method for the production of serial sections of the larynx]. / Eine Schnellentkalkungsmethode zur Herstellung von Kehlkopfserienschnitten.

The technique of large serial sections of larynx has proved useful for the examination of growth tendencies of laryngeal carcinoma. A new method using RDO solution (rapid decalcification agent) is presented. The embedding is done in paraffin. The thickness of the individual histological sections is 5 micron. The overall time for completing the procedure is 9-10 days. Rapidity and good preservation of histological structures are the main advantages of this method.

Flaming promyelocytes in acute hypergranular promyelocytic leukaemia. Light and electron microscopic study.

Flaming in the peripheral parts of promyelocytes was seen in 3 out of 4 patients with acute hypergranular promyelocytic leukaemia. In one of these patients (ER) the flaming was quite marked, and electron microscopy showed the flaming to correspond to greatly dilated cisternae of the RER.