In a recent study, Spanish researchers found that oral busulfan increased progression-free survival following stem cell transplant in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients compared to melphalan. However, there was no difference in overall survival between the two treatments.  Furthermore, oral busulfan treatment was associated with an increased risk of death due to the drug’s side effects.

The current standard of care for multiple myeloma patients under the age of 65 is treatment with high dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplant.  High dose chemotherapy prior to stem cell transplant, often called a …

A Phase 2 trial of Hycamtin, cyclophosphamide, and melphalan showed that the drug combination is a safe and effective treatment regimen for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma or patients in first remission. The combination, followed by stem cell transplantation, resulted in an overall response rate of 85 percent and a four-year overall survival rate of 66 percent, making this drug combination comparable in efficacy to treatment with melphalan alone.

High-dose melphalan (Alkeran) is the standard conditioning treatment for multiple myeloma patients who will receive an autologous stem cell transplant. …