MYELOMA PROTEIN KINETICS FOLLOWING CHEMOTHERAPY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (4) , 851-855
Abstract
The effects of chemotherapy were evaluated in 43 multiple myeloma patients with high monoclonal globulin levels in both serum and urine. In responding patients, Bence-Jones protein excretion declined more rapidly and markedly than the serum myeloma protein. Bence-Jones protein excretion was reduced by 50% within 2 mo. in responders, remained unchanged in nonresponders, and declined with a slow halving time of 2-7 mo. in patients with partial disease control. Three patients with clinical resistance to treatment showed atypical protein changes and progressively more Bence-Jones protein excretion relative to their serum monoclonal component. Serial measurements of Bence-Jones protein excretion provided an early and reliable index of tumor mass change in patients with multiple myeloma.

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