Chronic daily administration of oral etoposide in refractory lymphoma.
In a phase II study, 25 patients with previously treated lymphoma received oral etoposide for 21 consecutive days. All patients were considered incurable with standard therapy. Etoposide was administered at 50 mg/m2 per day: courses were repeated every 28-35 days, depending on myelosuppression. 15 patients (60%) had partial responses (95% CI 41-77%), while 10 patients had no response. Median time to disease progression was 5 months (range 2-13 months). Oral etoposide was active against indolent and aggressive (intermediate and high grade) lymphomas; however, median time to progression was only 3 months in aggressive lymphoma compared with 8 months in indolent lymphoma. Myelosuppression was the major side-effect; 7 patients (28%) had a leucocyte nadir below 1000/microliters during the first course, and 11 patients required dose reduction during subsequent courses due to unacceptable leukopenia. All patients had total alopecia, but other side-effects were uncommon. These results highlight the importance of schedule in the administration of etoposide.
Hainsworth
J D
JD
Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Johnson
D H
DH
Frazier
S R
SR
Greco
F A
FA
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
D005047:Etoposide