 Multiple myeloma remains a non-curable disease. Initial therapy with one of the commonly used regimens, such as thalidomide with dexamethasone, VAD, dexamethasone pulses, and melphalan with prednisone results in at least partial response PR in approximately 50-75 of patients. Complete responses CRs with any of these regimens are uncommon. A proportion of patients will have further improvement of response after autologous stem cell transplant, which usually follows initial therapy. However, virtually all patients will eventually relapse and will require re-treatment. Emerging data suggests that achieving CR or near CR after transplantation will result in a more durable remission and longer survival. It is not clear whether CR in response to initial therapy and prior to transplant may have similar impacts on overall outcomes. 