title: Low-dose oral fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide as first-line treatment in elderly patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: Twenty-five elderly patients with untreated indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma were treated with oral fludarabine 25 mg/m(2)/d (40 mg total dose) and cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m(2)/d, both for four consecutive days, repeated every 28 d for four cycles. In all, 21 (84%) patients were responsive: 10 patients achieved complete remission while partial response was obtained in 11. During an observation period of 37 months, there was an overall survival rate of 70% and a median event-free survival of 20 months. Haematological and extra-haematological toxicity were mild. This reduced-dose Flu-based oral regimen showed good efficacy and was simple to administer on an outpatient basis.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Haematology and Transplants, Policlinico S Maria alle Scotte, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. fabbri7@unisi.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: Mariapia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenoci
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gozzetti
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chitarrelli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olcese
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raspadori
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lauria
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine