title: Sequential versus alternating chemotherapy for high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: a randomized multicentre trial.
abstract: In a multicentre phase III trial 146 previously untreated patients with high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas stage II-IV were randomized to receive either four cycles of CHOEP (cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 iv d 1, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 iv d 1, vincristine 2 mg iv d 1, etoposide 100 mg/m2 iv d 3-5, prednisolone 100 mg po d 1-5) (treatment arm A), or four cycles of chemotherapy with hCHOP (cyclophosphamide 1200 mg/m2 iv d 1, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 iv d 1 + 2, vincristine 2 mg iv d 1, prednisolone 100 mg po d 1-5) alternating with IVEP (ifosfamide 1500 mg/m2 iv d 1-5, vindesine 3 mg/m2 iv d 1, etoposide 120 mg/m2 iv d 3-5, prednisolone 100 mg po d 1-5) (treatment arm B). After four cycles of chemotherapy an involved field irradiation with a total dose of 35 Gy was given to all patients in complete or partial remission without persisting extranodal disease. A complete response (CR) was seen in 124/146 patients (86 per cent) with 87 per cent CR in arm A versus 83 per cent CR in arm B. During a median follow-up of 17 months (range 2-40) 30 patients relapsed (16 patients arm A, 14 patients arm B). The overall survival at 40 months is projected to be 71 per cent versus 70 per cent for arm A and B, respectively. Disease-free survival is projected to be 68 per cent in arm A and 59 per cent in arm B at 40 months. So far, the differences in CR, survival and disease-free survival are not statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Abt Hämatologie/Onkologie, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köppler
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Pflüger
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eschenbach
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pfab
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birkmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeller
authors.forename: E U
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Steinhauer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gropp
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oehl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lötzke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D014751:Vindesine; D007069:Ifosfamide; D011241:Prednisone