Bone marrow transplantation in multiple myeloma

We report 3 cases of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in multiple myeloma that we have recently performed. Following conditioning treatment with i.v. cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg/d, for 2 d), oral melphalan (1.0 mg/kg/d, for 5 d), i.v. BCNU (5.5 mg/kg, in a single dose) and total body irradiation (10 Gy in a single fraction) we observed in all 3 cases the disappearance both of serum M component and of monoclonal bone marrow plasma cells. 1 patient died of acute GVH disease, grade IV, at 2 months, while the other 2 patients are in good health and in unmaintained complete remission at 4 and 20 months, respectively. The usefulness of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in the management of multiple myeloma is emphasized.