title: Autologous stem cell transplantation following induction therapy with an anthracycline-based regimen including interferon-alpha for low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: The role of upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (LGNHL) continues to be an area of investigation. After undergoing this novel anthracycline-based induction regimen including interferon (IFN)-alpha, a group of LGNHL patients received high-dose chemotherapy followed by ASCT. The induction regimen was based on the concept of regrowth resistance in which patients received nonmyelotoxic agents mid-cycle to slow tumor proliferation between courses of cytotoxic therapy. In addition, IFN-alpha was given at the end of the cycle because studies have shown that it has a 50% response rate in treating LGNHL. We treated 44 consecutive patients between August 1993 and February 1999 with an induction regimen containing cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, and teniposide intravenously on day 1 with oral prednisone given on days 1-5. On day 15, patients received vincristine and bleomycin IV. IFN-alpha-2b subcutaneously was administered on days 22-26. In this phase II single-institution study, there were 2 main patient groups. Nineteen patients received the chemotherapy induction regimen and 17 patients received chemotherapy followed by upfront ASCT. For the chemotherapy group, 58% had follicular histology and 84% had stage IV disease. For the ASCT group, 76% had follicular histology, and 71% had stage IV disease. Of the patients treated with chemotherapy, the overall response rate was 95% with 58% complete responses and 37% partial responses. Of the patients treated with chemotherapy and later ASCT, the overall response rate was 100% with 82% complete responses and 18% partial responses. In analyzing progression-free curves for these 2 groups of patients, there was evidence that the upfront autologous group fared better, log-rank test X(2)=4.6028, P < .0319.
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center, Section of Hematology, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. sari_enschede@rush.edu
authors.forename: Sari H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Enschede
authors.forename: Carlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Parameswaran
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venugopal
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gregory
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D013713:Teniposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D013713:Teniposide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D011241:Prednisone