title: A report on a prospective trial of no initial therapy in patients with initial therapy in patients with asymptomatic favourable prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: Thirty-one (58 per cent) of a group of fifty-three unselected patients with stage II-IV favourable prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were regarded as being eligible for a prospective study of no initial therapy. Seventeen of these patients (55 per cent) have required no treatment for periods from 6 + -47 + months, (median 18 months) and fourteen patients have been treated with chemotherapy for progressive disease after a period varying from 3-40 months (median 9.5 months). Selected asymptomatic patients with non-bulky disease may be suitable for no initial therapy. Randomized prospective trials will be needed to test whether survival is affected by delaying therapy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008466:Mechlorethamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D002699:Chlorambucil; D011344:Procarbazine; D008466:Mechlorethamine; D014750:Vincristine; D011241:Prednisone