Response-oriented therapy with CHOP and VIM-Bleo in high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
Twenty four patients with high grade malignant NHL (stage II 8, stage III 4, stage IV 12 patients respectively) were treated with a response-oriented regimen: Treatment was initiated according to the CHOP-protocol. Patients achieving at least a partial remission after 2 and a complete remission (CR) after 4 cycles were continued on CHOP to a total of 9 cycles. Patients not meeting these criteria were switched to a combination of Etoposide, Ifosfamide, Methotrexate, and Bleomycin (VIM-Bleo). With CHOP treatment, 16 patients (67%) achieved a CR. Of the remaining 8, 7 were treated with VIM-Bleo; 5 of these entered CR for a overall CR rate of 21/24 (88%). With a median follow up of 28 months 7 patients relapsed: 6 relapses occurred in patients with a rapid initial response and treated only with CHOP. We conclude, that there is a significant risk of relapse even in patients readily responding to CHOP and that consolidation therapy with a non cross-resistant regimen may improve results in these patients.
Steinke
B
B
Medizinische Universitätsklinik Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
Krüger
H U
HU
Kraft
H
H
Heim
M E
ME
Günther
E
E
Arnold
H
H
Busch
F W
FW
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007069:Ifosfamide; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate