title: A third generation regimen VACOP-B with or without adjuvant radiotherapy for aggressive localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: report from the Italian Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Co-operative Study Group.
abstract: The objective of this multicenter prospective study was to determine the clinical efficacy and toxicity of a polychemotherapeutic third generation regimen, VACOP-B, with or without radiotherapy as front-line therapy in aggressive localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ninety-three adult patients (47 males and 46 females, median age 45 years) with aggressive localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 43 in stage I and 50 in stage II (non-bulky), were included in the study. Stage I patients received VACOP-B for 6 weeks plus involved field radiotherapy and stage II patients received 12 weeks VACOP-B plus involved field radiotherapy on residual masses. Eighty-six (92.5%) achieved complete remission and 4 (4.3%) partial remission. Three patients (3.2%) were primarily resistant. Ten-year probability of survival, progression-free survival and disease-free survival were 87.3, 79.9 and 83.9%, respectively. Eighty-four patients are surviving at a median observation time of 57 months (range: 6-126). Statistical analysis showed no difference between stages I and II in terms of response, ten-year probability of survival, progression-free survival or disease-free survival. Side effects and toxicity were negligible and were similar in the two patient groups. The results of this prospective study suggest that 6 weeks of VACOP-B treatment plus radiotherapy may be the therapy of choice in stage I aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Twelve weeks of VACOP-B treatment with or without radiotherapy was shown to be effective and feasible for stage II. These observations need to be confirmed by a phase III study comparing first and third generation protocols in stage I-II aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, San Martino Hospital, Genoa, Italy. gino.santini@hsanmartino.liguria.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aversa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Candela
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chisesi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubagotti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Centurioni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Congiu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gennaro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Truini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone