title: Third generation chemotherapy with P-VABEC for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the elderly.
abstract: Between July 1990 and March 1992, 23 elderly patients with intermediate or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) received a combination chemotherapy (P-VABEC: Etoposide, Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide on days 1, 15, 29, 43, Vincristine and Bleomycin on days 8, 22, 36, 50 and Prednisolone on weeks 1-9). The regimen was administered on an outpatient basis. The median age of the patients was 67 years (range 60-78); 15 were previously untreated, 8 were on second line therapy; 6 patients (44%) had stage IV disease, 19 (83%) B symptoms, 15 (65%) had bulky disease, and (26%) bone marrow involvement. The complete remission (CR) rate was 57%, and the partial remission (PR) rate 43%, with an overall response rate of (100%). No difference in response rate was observed between previously untreated patients and patients treated with P-VABEC as second-line therapy while hematological and clinical toxicity were very mild.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Unit, University of Pisa, Ospedale Santa Chiara, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Capochiani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Papineschi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grassi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide