title: HIV-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: CHOP induction therapy and interferon-alpha-2b/zidovudine maintenance therapy.
abstract: In a prospective multicenter study 68 out of 158 patients with HIV infection and malignant lymphoma were assigned to a risk-adapted induction therapy using the following algorithm: High-risk patients fulfilled 2 of 3 criteria: T4 lymphocytes <50/microL; WHO activity index 3 or 4; pre-existing AIDS-defining opportunistic infection. Normal-risk patients received 4 to 6 cycles of CHOP chemotherapy; those that achieved complete remission (CR) received zidovudine (500 mg/d) and interferon-alpha maintenance therapy (5 million units three times a week) for one year. High-risk patients received low-dose CHOP or vincristine/prednisone chemotherapy. Supportive care was performed with pentamidine inhalation and G-CSF. Intrathecal (it) methotrexate was given for CNS prophylaxis. The median survival was 634 days for 38 patients of the normal-risk group and 129 days for 30 patients of the high-risk group. 18 high-risk patients treated with low-dose CHOP had better survival (156 days) than 12 patients treated with vincristine/prednisone (72 days p=0.044). 68% of the patients in the normal-risk group achieved complete remission. 5 out of 18 high-risk patients treated with low-dose CHOP achieved complete remission. Three normal-risk patients developed fatal opportunistic infections during chemotherapy. Immune parameters deteriorated after CHOP induction and partially recovered with maintenance treatment. We conclude that the normal-risk patients survived longer than reported in most published studies. Toxicity was low. Low-dose CHOP seems to be superior to vincristine/prednisone therapy in high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Städtische Kliniken Offenbach, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huhn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitrou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nerl
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schürmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheidegger
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Knauf
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trenn
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kronawitter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Lunzen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arastéh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herbst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015215:Zidovudine; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone