melphalan + prednisone

Melphalan + prednisone (MP) is a combination chemotherapy regimen that has served as a standard of care for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, particularly in elderly patients or those ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation. Melphalan is a nitrogen mustard alkylating agent that works by cross-linking DNA strands, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis and cell division. Prednisone is a synthetic glucocorticoid that exerts anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, and in the context of plasma cell dyscrasias, it induces apoptosis in malignant plasma cells. In the IFM 01/01 Phase 3 trial led by the Central Hospital of Nancy and the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM), the MP regimen was used as the backbone to demonstrate that the addition of thalidomide significantly improves overall survival in very elderly patients (over 75 years old) with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Brand names

AlkeranDeltasone

Other names

Melphalan-PrednisoneMP regimen