title: A phase II trial of PEG-L-asparaginase in the treatment of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
abstract: A polyethylene glycol conjugate of L-asparaginase (PEGLA) was administered to 21 patients with refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The dose given was 2,000 mu/m2 intramuscularly every 2 weeks. Eligibility required at least one prior trial of chemotherapy and ambulatory performance status. At entry, all patients had measurable lesions and documented disease progression. The median age of the patients was 61 years; 18 (86%) were ambulatory with minimal symptoms, 12 patients (57%) had 3 or more prior regimens, and 13 (62%) had stage IV disease. Histologic subtype was low grade in 11 patients (52%), intermediate in 7 (33%), high grade in 2 (10%) and unclassifiable in one (5%). There were two partial responses (11%) noted (95% confidence interval of response of 1-30%). Eleven patients (52%) were removed from study due to disease progression. Nine patients (43%), required removal for toxicity (7 for protracted nausea and vomiting and 2 for confusion). One patient died of sepsis while on study but this was not considered drug related. Almost one third of patients complained of fatigue or loss of appetite. Nausea and vomiting occurred in approximately half the patients and was moderate to severe in 9. Diarrhea and abdominal pain were also noted in one-third of those treated. Changes in the partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen were noted in most patients but resulted in no bleeding complications. In this trial, PEGLA displayed modest activity in a heterogenous group of patients with progressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center of Wake Forest University, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Muss
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scudiery
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Spurr
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C042705:pegaspargase; D001215:Asparaginase