title: Combination of etoposide, idarubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone and bleomycin (VICOP-B) in the treatment of advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Response of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) to systemic chemotherapy is unsatisfactory: despite an initially high response rate (RR), duration is always short-lived.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the capability of a third-generation regimen including idarubicin in improving RR and response duration in CTCL patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with advanced CTCL (stages IIB and IV) were treated with a 12-week polychemotherapeutic regimen (VICOP-B), which foresees the use of idarubicin in association with etoposide, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone and bleomycin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall objective RR was 80% (36% complete response). The mycosis fungoides (MF) RR was 84%, with a median duration of 8.7 months. The pleomorphic-lymphoma RR was higher (100%), but the corresponding response duration was shorter (median: 3 months). No responses were documented in Sézary syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VICOP-B regimen is effective and feasible as first-line chemotherapy in advanced MF, with or without extracutaneous involvement.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Dermatologica I, dell'Università di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fierro
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Doveil
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quaglino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Savoia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verrone
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bernengo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000188:drug therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone; D015255:Idarubicin