Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A four-drug regimen suitable for elderly patients with advanced disease.
Twenty-eight patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas considered unsuitable for doxorubicin containing combination chemotherapy were given the four-drug combination chlorambucil, mitoxantrone, procarbazine and prednisolone every 3 weeks. The median age of the patients was 69 years and 15 had received prior treatment. Non-haematological toxicity was WHO grade I or II in all cases. Five patients had grade 4 neutropenia of which 3 were associated with fever and one was fatal. The complete response rate was 32% and the overall response rate 61%. The actuarial survival of the 17 responding patients at 12 months was 68%. This outpatient regimen produced good compliance among elderly patients, and modest toxicity with acceptable response rate and survival for the study population.
Watkin
S W
SW
Cancer Research Campaign, University of Liverpool, England.
Green
J A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis
D002699:Chlorambucil; D011344:Procarbazine; D011239:Prednisolone; D008942:Mitoxantrone