Chemotherapy alone compared with chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for localized intermediate- and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
Patients with clinically localized, intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma usually receive initial treatment with a doxorubicin-containing regimen such as cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP). Pilot studies suggest that eight cycles of CHOP alone or three cycles of CHOP followed by involved-field radiotherapy are effective in such patients.


METHODS
We compared these two approaches in a prospective, randomized, multi-institutional study. The end points were progression-free survival, overall survival, and life-threatening or fatal toxic effects. Two hundred eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive CHOP plus radiotherapy, and 201 received CHOP alone.


RESULTS
Patients treated with three cycles of CHOP plus radiotherapy had significantly better progression-free survival (P=0.03) and overall survival (P=0.02) than patients treated with CHOP alone. The five-year estimates of progression-free survival for patients receiving CHOP plus radiotherapy and for patients receiving CHOP alone were 77 percent and 64 percent, respectively. The five-year estimates of overall survival for patients receiving CHOP plus radiotherapy and for patients receiving CHOP alone were 82 percent and 72 percent, respectively. The adverse effects included one death in each treatment group. Life-threatening toxic effects of any type were seen in 61 of 200 patients treated with CHOP plus radiotherapy and in 80 of 201 patients treated with CHOP alone (P=0.06). The left ventricular function was decreased in seven patients who received CHOP alone, whereas no cardiac events were recorded in the group receiving CHOP plus radiotherapy (P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Three cycles of CHOP followed by involved-field radiotherapy are superior to eight cycles of CHOP alone for the treatment of localized intermediate- and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Miller
T P
TP
Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.
Dahlberg
S
S
Cassady
J R
JR
Adelstein
D J
DJ
Spier
C M
CM
Grogan
T M
TM
LeBlanc
M
M
Carlin
S
S
Chase
E
E
Fisher
R I
RI
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone