title: NOPE for relapsed aggressive diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: Forty three patients with relapsed, diffuse aggressive lymphoma (Working Formulation Categories G to J) were treated with a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2 iv day 1, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 iv day 1 and 14, prednisolone 50 mg/m2 p.o. days 1-5 and etoposide 100 mg/m2 p.o. days 1-5 of each cycle (NOPE). Fourteen patients (34%) achieved complete remission and another 6/43 (15%) achieved a partial response. Factors which significantly affected response were the presence of early stage, absence of systemic symptoms, non-bulky disease and serum LDH value < 350 IU. Four patients are alive and in complete remission from 25+ to 45+ months after completion of therapy. Duration of response and survival was significantly influenced by the duration of the initial response to first chemotherapy. NOPE is an active and safe treatment regimen with a substantial complete remission rate in patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Witwatersrand Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Bezwoda
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bezwoda
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dansey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ariad
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012074:Remission Induction; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D011239:Prednisolone; D008942:Mitoxantrone