title: [A clinical observation of fludarabine-containing regimens in the treatment of low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the therapeutic efficiency and adverse effect of the fludarabine-containing regimens in the treatment of low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma consisting of 19 primary one and 13 relapsed or refractory were treated with fludarabine-containing regimens, which included FMD (fludarabine, mitoxantrone and dexamethasone); FMC (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and mitoxantrone) and FC ( fludarabine and cyclophosphamide).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average course completed in these 32 patients was 4.1 with a complete response rate (CR), partial response rate (PR) and overall response rate (OR) of 65.6%, 18.8% and 84.4% , respectively. There were no significant difference in CR, PR and OR between primary and relapsed or refractory group (71.4%, 21.0%, 92.4% vs. 46.2%, 13.1%, 59.3%, respectively). Myelotoxicity and immunotoxicity was the dominating adverse effects. Ill to IV grade granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 31.3% (10/32) and 9.4% (3/32) of these patients respectively. Infection developed in 7 patients, and two of them died of pulmonary infection. The median follow-up period was 16 months (1-30 months) with 2-year overall-survival rate (OS) and progression-free survival rate (PFS) of 93.8% and 84.4%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between primary and relapsed or refractory group in OS (100% vs. 76.9%) and PFS (94.7% vs. 69.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fludarabine-containing regimens is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xian-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Xiao-Qian
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jian-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine