Inclusion Criteria:  Newly diagnosed Stage-II and III multiple myeloma (According to Durie and Salmon classification) Age under 70 years Life expectancy over 3 months Patients must be able to give informed consent  Exclusion Criteria:  Serious concomitant medical disease which would limit life span or the ability to tolerate chemotherapy Severe cardiac failure (ejection fraction <40%) Impairment of renal function at diagnosis is not per se reason for exclusion but patients with severe impaired renal function (GFR <50 ml/min) after initial VAD (or VAD like) induction treatment are excluded Severe impairment of liver function (bilirubin >2 times upper limit of normal) Pregnant or lactating women Other major organ system dysfunction (GI, neurological, psychiatric dysfunction) that impairs tolerance of therapy or prolong hematological recovery