The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of Thalidomide in first-line treatment of multiple myeloma as induction treatment in young patients, with Dexamethasone before autotransplant, and in elderly patients in combination with conventional chemotherapy and as consolidation/maintenance therapy in young and elderly patients at plateau-phase.

MY-TAG : Thalidomide as induction treatment before high dose therapy, in young patients MY-DECT : Thalidomide as induction treatment with conventional chemotherapy, in elderly patients MY-PLAT : Thalidomide and Dexamethasone at plateau-phase, after high dose therapy or conventional chemotherapy

Inclusion Criteria:

• for MY-TAG(auto-transplant): age 18-65, multiple myeloma Salmon-Durie stage II, stage III and symptomatic stage I (lytic bone lesion or a 25 % increase of monoclonal protein)
• for MY-DECT (conventional chemotherapy) : qge 66-80, multiple myeloma Salmon-Durie stage II, stage III and symptomatic stage I (lytic bone lesion or a 25 % increase of monoclonal protein)
• for MY-PLAT (maintenance at plateau-phase): patients treated in MY-TAG or MY-DECt with at least a minimal response (25 % decrease of M protein)3-6 months after autotransplant or last chemotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• for MY-TAG : age 66 or more, smoldering stage I multiple myeloma, previous therapy, plasma cell leukemia,creatinine > 300 micromol/L, liver failure, anthracycline contra-indicated, thalidomide contra-indicated, corticosteroid contra-indicated
• for MY-DECT : age < 66 or > 80, smoldering stage I multiple myeloma, previous therapy, plasma cell leukemia,creatinine > 300 micromol/L, liver failure, thalidomide contra-indicated, corticosteroid contra-indicated
• for MY-PLAT : no response or progressive disease, randomization > 6 m since autotransplant or last chemotherapy, creatinine > 300 micromol/L, liver failure, thalidomide contra-indicated, corticosteroid contra-indicated