Chemoimmunotherapy for multiple myeloma.

The effect of chemoimmunotherapy consolidation treatment using alternating courses of alkylating agents and BCG was studied in 105 responding patients with multiple myeloma. The survival time of these patients was similar to that of responding patients treated on previous maintenance programs, indicating no apparent value from BCG for myeloma. The duration of unmaintained remission was longest in those with low numbers of residual plasma cells, and relapse usually developed within one year in patients with persistent serum myeloma peaks. Disease recontrol was achieved in 50% of relapsing patients whose median survival from retreatment was 20 months. Patient follow-up without chemotherapy until relapse was justified mainly for those responding patients with disappearance of myeloma proteins.