title: FLUDAP: salvage chemotherapy for relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the combination of fludarabine phosphate, dexamethasone, cytosine arabinoside and cis-platinum (FLUDAP) in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). This regimen comprises: dexamethasone 100 mg/d continuous infusion (cont. inf.) d1-3; cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) 1 g/m2/d cont. inf. d 2,3; fludarabine phosphate 30 mg/m2 short inf. 4hr prior to each 24hr ara-C inf.; cis-platinum 50 mg/m2 4hr inf. at the start of each 24hr ara-C inf. G-CSF (lenograstim, Granocyte) is given at 263 microg s.c. daily from day 7 until the neutrophil count reaches 1.0x10(9)/l. The regimen repeats at 21 day intervals. A total of 33 patients were registered (median age 47 years; 24 males, 9 females); the majority (73%) were refractory to their previous treatment and most had advanced disease by Ann Arbor stage. Thirteen (39%) of the 33 enrolled patients (52% of the 25 fully evaluable patients who received at least 2 courses of FLUDAP) responded to treatment. A maximum response of complete remission was achieved in 5 patients, good partial remission in 3, and partial remission in 5. Twelve patients went on to successful stem cell supported intensification therapy. Median survival times were higher in the responding patients, and in those patients transplanted post-FLUDAP. The toxicity associated with the FLUDAP regimen was generally predictable; frequently reported severe events included haematological toxicity and infection. In conclusion, the FLUDAP regimen shows promise as a salvage regimen and increases the available therapeutic options in the treatment of recurrent/refractory aggressive NHL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Child
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rule
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tollerfield
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wareham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012008:Recurrence; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate; D001084:Vidarabine Phosphate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D001084:Vidarabine Phosphate; C042382:fludarabine phosphate; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002945:Cisplatin