Cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) plus alpha-interferon (alpha IFN) determine prolonged complete remissions in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma partially responsive to first-line doxorubicin-containing regimens.
Ten patients with aggressive NHL who failed to achieve a complete remission with first-line chemotherapy were treated with Ara-C and alpha IFN. Ara-C was administered subcutaneously at 100 mg on day 1, 150 mg on day 2 and 200 mg on days 3, 4 and 5 of a 28 d cycle; alpha IFN was given at 3 million International Units three times a week and continued for 2 years in CR patients. Six CR were attained with a median duration of 36+ months. Toxicity was mild. A new approach to second-line therapy for aggressive NHL is proposed.
Palmieri
G
G
Cattedra di Oncologia Medica, Facoltà di Medicina, Università Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
Morabito
A
A
Rea
A
A
Caraglia
M
M
Tagliaferri
P
P
Bianco
A R
AR
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D003561:Cytarabine; D004317:Doxorubicin