CEOP/PEB alternating chemotherapy in advanced intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
METHODS
From February, 1987 to July, 1990, 28 patients (M/F = 16/12; median age = 60.5 yrs) affected by intermediate (22) or high-grade (6) advanced stage (III = 8; IV = 20) NHL were given a median (range 4-10) of 8 cycles of CEOP (Cyclophosphamide, Epirubicin, Vincristine and Prednisone), alternated every 21 days with PEB (Cisplatin, Etoposide, Bleomycin).


RESULTS
Nineteen (68%) pts. achieved a CR, 5 (18%) a PR, and 4 (14%) experienced progressive disease (PD); 11/19 CRs subsequently relapsed within a median (range 3-15) time of 8 mos.. After a follow-up ranging from 6 to 42+ (median 18) mos., the 3-year actuarial overall survival (OS) was 51% and shifted to 18% at 42 mos. After 7-42+ (median 19) mos., 14/19 (73%) Crs were still alive with 63% of them predicted to survive at 3 years. The projected 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) for these pts. after 1-36+ (median 8) mos. was 28%.


CONCLUSIONS
CEOP/PEB alternating chemotherapy failed to improve the therapeutic results we obtained in a previous study with CEOP alone. Toxicity was moderate, but higher than expected.
Abate
G
G
Divisione di Ematologia Oncologica, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Napoli, Italy.
Tafuto
S
S
Romano
A
A
Gailli
E
E
Corazzelli
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D001761:Bleomycin; D015251:Epirubicin; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin; D011241:Prednisone