Combination of etoposide, idarubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone and bleomycin (VICOP-B) in the treatment of advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
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.
Fierro
M T
MT
Clinica Dermatologica I, dell'Università di Torino, Italy.
Doveil
G C
GC
Quaglino
P
P
Savoia
P
P
Verrone
A
A
Bernengo
M G
MG
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
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