Treatment options for recurrent lymphomas.
The prognosis of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas who fail to achieve a complete remission or who relapse following initial chemotherapy has improved dramatically in recent years. Bone marrow transplantation now provides a curative option and is the current treatment of choice. Conventional chemotherapeutic regimens are not capable of salvaging these patients; however, most patients should be treated with chemotherapy to induce a temporary remission prior to the transplantation procedure. Numerous studies are currently attempting to improve preparative chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Since conventional chemotherapy provides short-term palliation only, patients who are not candidates for transplantation should be entered into investigational protocols.
Section of Hematology/Oncology, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood.
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D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D012008:Recurrence