title: COPBLAM III: infusional combination chemotherapy for diffuse large-cell lymphoma.
abstract: COPBLAM III, a polychemotherapy regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, infusional vincristine, prednisone, infusional bleomycin, doxorubicin, and procarbazine, was administered to 51 patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma. Ninety-six percent of patients age 60 or younger achieved a complete response (CR); none have relapsed. Overall, 88% of patients are alive and well and potentially in the survival plateau. For patients greater than 60 years, CR was obtained in 73%, with 42% potentially in the survival plateau, the difference resulting in part from four relapses, three toxic deaths, and one presumed unrelated death. These results in the elderly were paralleled by a relatively reduced ability to tolerate therapy. Toxicity was primarily pulmonary, occurring in 39% of patients, two of whom died. With an overall CR rate of 84%, of which 92% are sustained at a median follow-up of 40 months, COPBLAM III represents a highly effective treatment in a sizeable cohort of patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D011344:Procarbazine; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone