A pilot study of 220 mg/m2 melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with advanced haematological malignancies: pharmacokinetics and toxicity |
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Authors: | Philippe Moreau Marie-France Kergueris NoE¨l Milpied Stéphane Le Tortorec Béatrice Mahé Claude-Eric Bulabois Marie-JosÉ Rapp Claude Larousse RÉgis Bataille & Jean-Luc Harousseau |
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Institution: | Department of Haematology, Nantes, France |
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Abstract: | We studied the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of 220 mg/m2 melphalan (HDM 220) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in 16 patients with advanced haematological malignancies. Pharmacokinetic parameters (mean values of steady-state volume of distribution 14.6 l/m2, total body clearance 313 ml/min/m2, elimination half-life 46 min) were the same as those of 140 or 200 mg/m2 melphalan in previous reports. HDM 220 was feasible. Extramedullary toxicity was mainly W.H.O. grade 4 mucositis (13/16 patients). The median duration of 41 d (10, not reached) of thrombocytopenia <25 × 109/l was long. In multiple myeloma the response rate was 89% in heavily pretreated patients, suggesting that HDM 220 could be considered earlier in the course of the disease as an alternative consolidation therapy. |
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Keywords: | high-dose melphalan multiple myeloma pharmacokinetics |
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