Five-year follow-up of a prospective randomised multi-centre trial of weekly chemotherapy (CAPOMEt) versus cyclical chemotherapy (CHOP-Mtx) in the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Central Lymphoma Group.
BACKGROUND
Weekly alternating regimen known as CAPOMEt is compared to standard cyclical chemotherapy (CHOP-Mtx) in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).


METHODS
Three hundred and eighty-one patients with aggressive NHL were randomised to receive either cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone and methotrexate (CHOP-Mtx) on a cyclical basis or a weekly regimen incorporating the same drugs with the addition of etoposide (CAPOMEt).


RESULTS
After pathological review, 281 patients were deemed eligible. At the census date of 31 March 1994, 158 patients were alive with a median follow up of 5.9 years (minimum 3.0 years). Analysis of all patients and eligible patients showed no significant treatment differences in the rates of complete remission (CR), failure free survival (FFS) or overall survival (OS) between the two arms. The actuarial median OS was 24 months for CAPOMEt compared with 31 months for CHOP-Mtx, with five-year actuarial survival rates of 37% and 43%, respectively. Myelosuppression was significantly more severe with CHOP-Mtx and neurotoxicity was much more common with CAPOMEt.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly CAPOMEt is equally effective as standard cyclical CHOP-Mtx treatment in aggressive NHL.
CRC Trials Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. nigel.bailey@newcastle.ac.uk
N P
NP
Bailey
N S
NS
Stuart
E M
EM
Bessell
J A
JA
Child
D
D
Norfolk
J
J
Fletcher
R J
RJ
Grieve
A V
AV
Simmons
D L
DL
Barnard
A
A
Jack
J
J
Farish
J
J
Dunn
C M
CM
Woodroffe
C
C
Stack
M H
MH
Cullen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D006113:United Kingdom; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D008727:Methotrexate