 Patients 60 to 70 years of age with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were prospectively randomized between 4 cycles of anthracyclinedexamethasone-based induction chemotherapy A1 or only 2 x 4 days of dexamethasone A2. A reference arm included patients who could not be randomized B. Tandem melphalan 140 mgm2 MEL140 with autologous transplantation was scheduled for all patients. 