Fifteen patients with
multiple myeloma, two of whom had
plasma cell leukemia, were treated between May 1974 and December 1978.
Peptichemio was administered intravenously at doses of 40-80 mg/48 h, courses including 4-17 administrations in association with moderate doses of
prednisone (15-50 mg/day) and
androstanes at high dosages (250 mg weekly). In two patients PTC was associated with
vincristine (VCR) administered on the first day of the course. Eight patients were previously untreated, four had been resistant to
melphalan (MPH) and/or
cyclophosphamide (CTX), and three had been treated irregularly with one or both of these
alkylating agents. The criteria of response to
therapy are reported. Out of a total of 15 PTC courses administered we obtained 13 responses, eight complete and five partial; no response was achieved in the other two patients. In the four patients who were resistant to MPH and/or CTX we obtained three responses, which were maintained with the same
alkylating agent to which they had been resistant previously. The time needed to obtain a response in 90% of the patients was 6 weeks.
Peptichemio was shown to be effective in patients in an advanced stage of the disease, in patients with light-chain myeloma and in those with
plasma cell leukemia. The association of VCR potentiated the antitumor effect, but also increased the myelotoxicity. The PTC treatment was well tolerated. It is suggested that PTC be used in induction treatment of
myelomatosis and in patients resistant to traditional
alkylating agents.