Expansion of the growth fraction in multiple myeloma with alkylating agents

摘要: Patients with IgG multiple myeloma underwent serial studies of tumor cell kinetics including (1) estimation the total body number (TBMC), (2) measurement tritiated thymidine labeling index (LI), and (3) calculation cells undergoing DNA synthesis. Intermittent courses chemotherapy cycle-non-specific agents such as melphalan resulted in a marked increase LI patients who had 75% reduction TBMC. The long “plateau” phase partial remission these was associated continued high LI: this suggests that plateau from balance between cytoreductive effects expansion growth fraction (GF) tumor. Preliminary attempts to capitalize therapeutically on GF several included administration cycle-active vincristine cytosine arabinoside. Vincristine appeared induce further patients, although arabinoside be ineffective despite clear evidence its inhibition synthesis vivo. Further clinical drugs appear warranted; however, successful exploitation dynamic change will require use selective toxicity for cells.