title: Patterns of chemotherapy administration in patients with intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: Records from 653 patients treated between 1991 and 1998 in the Oncology Practice Patterns Study (OPPS) were analyzed to determine contemporary chemotherapy delivery patterns in patients with intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Of the 653 patient records reviewed, 90 (14%) omitted an anthracycline or mitoxantrone (Novantrone) from primary therapy. Among patients receiving CHOP (cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan, Neosar], doxorubicin HCl, vincristine [Oncovin], prednisone) or CNOP (cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, vincristine, prednisone), 134 (27%) of 492 received an average relative dose intensity of less than 80% of the literature-referenced dose, due either to an inadequate planned or delivered dose. Of 181 advanced-stage patients with responsive disease, 28 (15%) failed to receive at least six treatment cycles. Overall, 283 (43%) of 653 patients potentially received suboptimal chemotherapy due either to choice of regimen or chemotherapy delivered. Patient age > or = 65 years and cardiac comorbidity appeared to have the greatest influence on a physician's decision regarding chemotherapy administration. Among the 492 patients who received CHOP or CNOP, 235 (48%) experienced a delay or reduction in chemotherapy dose (usually neutropenia-related), 100 (20%) developed mucositis, and 116 (24%) were hospitalized for febrile neutropenia. Growth factor was administered to 261 patients (53%), and its primary prophylactic use was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of hospitalizations for febrile neutropenia in all patient subgroups receiving appropriate chemotherapeutic dose intensity (P = .02). This assessment of chemotherapy delivery to patients with intermediate-grade NHL showed significant variation from current standards. Further analysis of factors influencing chemotherapy delivery might improve therapeutic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98111, USA. hemvjp@vmmc.org
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Picozzi
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Pohlman
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Lawless
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fridman
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D011241:Prednisone