Intensified CHOP regimen in aggressive lymphomas: maximal dose intensity and dose density of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide.
BACKGROUND
Following our previous study of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) intensification in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), in the present report we attempted to further increase dose intensity by shortening the between-course intervals with the support of growth factors.


METHODS
A total of 67 patients were enrolled. With a fixed dose of doxorubicin 75 mg/m(2), cyclophosphamide (CTX) was started at a dose of 1750 mg/m(2) and increased by 250 mg/m(2) in consecutive cohorts of patients provided that no dose-limiting toxicity occurred. After the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) had been identified, this was used to treat more patients in order to confirm the feasibility of the regimen on a large scale, with the number of cycles being varied on the basis of disease extension.


RESULTS
Twenty-three cases were enrolled in the CTX dose finding phase. Dose-limiting non-hematological toxicity occurred at 2250 mg/m(2). As the intermediate level of 2000 mg/m(2) had a borderline toxicity profile, a CTX dose of 1750 mg/m(2) was defined as the MTD. A total of 53 patients then received the MTD during the course of the study as a whole. At the MTD, toxicity was acceptable. Only 10 of 189 cycles (4%) required hospitalization due to infection or febrile neutropenia. Seventy-four percent of the patients achieved complete remission. Freedom from progression and overall survival at 12 months were 71% and 86% in the whole series, and 58% and 71% for high-risk cases, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This intensified CHOP regimen is feasible on an outpatient basis. It can be safely considered a definitive treatment in patients at low and intermediate risk, and as induction before high-dose consolidation in high-risk cases.
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, and Division of Pathology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano Milano, Italy. monica.balzarotti@humanitas.it
M
M
Balzarotti
M
M
Spina
B
B
Sarina
M
M
Magagnoli
L
L
Castagna
I
I
Milan
C
C
Ripa
F
F
Latteri
D
D
Bernardi
A
A
Bertuzzi
A
A
Nozza
M
M
Roncalli
E
E
Morenghi
U
U
Tirelli
A
A
Santoro
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone