title: FMP regimen (fludarabine, mitoxantrone, prednisone) as therapy in recurrent low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: Fludarabine (FLU) is a new antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agent with promising therapeutic activity in the lymphoproliferative disorders and in particular in low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LG-NHL). In order to evaluate FLU in combination with other antineoplastic agents, we used a three-drug combination of FLU, mitoxantrone and prednisone (FMP) to treat 18 patients with recurrent LG-NHL. The FMP regimen was as follows: FLU, 25 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 to 3; mitoxantrone, 10 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1; prednisone 40 mg i.v. on days 1 to 5. Of the 18 patients, 4 (22%) achieved complete response (CR), 9 (50%) partial response, and the remaining 5 showed no benefit from the treatment. The 4 CR patients are still in remission after 4, 6, 6, and 8 months, respectively. The median duration of overall survival of all patients was 9 months. The major toxic effects observed were neutropenia (50%) and infections and/or febrile episodes (17%); no fatalities due to drug side effects occurred. These results confirm the efficacy of the fludarabine-mitoxantrone combination-containing regimen in inducting a good remission rate with moderate side effects in recurrent LG-NHL.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology, Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zinzani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendandi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine; D011241:Prednisone