Natural interferon-α in combination with melphalan/prednisone versus melphalan/prednisone in the treatment of multiple myeloma stages II and III: A randomized study from the myeloma group of Central Sweden

Abstract

Three hundred thirty-five previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma in clinical stages II and III entered a randomized trial comparing intermittent oral melphalan and prednisone (MP) therapy (n = 171) with MP in combination with natural (leukocyte-derived) α-interferon (MP/IFN) (n = 164). The treatment groups were comparable with regard to major prognostic factors. The response frequency was 42% in the MP group and 68% in the MP/IFN group (P