title: Gemcitabine, etoposide, cisplatin, and dexamethasone in patients with refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To date, an effective salvage chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of refractory or relapsing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has not been discovered. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine, etoposide, cisplatin, and dexamethasone in relapsed or refractory NHL patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients had histologically proven relapsed or refractory NHL. Treatments consisted of gemcitabine 700 mg/m(2) by continuous i.v. on days 1 and 8; etoposide 40 mg/m(2) by i.v. on days 1-4; cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) by i.v. on day 1; or dexamethasone 40 mg by i.v. on days 1-4 (GEPD) every 21 days. The primary end point was the patient response rate following two cycles of treatment. After two cycles, stem cells were harvested using mobilizing regimens (ESHAP or GEPD plus filgrastim), and this was followed by autologous stem cell transplantation or four additional cycles of GEPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 2005 and January 2006, 20 patients (13 males and 7 females) were enrolled in the study. The median age was 53 (range 16-75) years. The most common histology was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n=10). The median follow-up duration was 5.2 (range 1.0-16.0) months. After two cycles, the overall response rate was 50.0% (10/20), including two complete responses and eight partial responses. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression. Grade IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 13 (65.0%) and 6 patients (30.0%), respectively. The median number of CD34-positive cells collected was 6.0 (range, 2.8-11.6)x10(6)/kg. Of the 17 patients < 66 years of age, 4 (23.5%) proceeded to autologous stem cell transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GEPD chemotherapy in patients with refractory or relapsed NHL was effective as a salvage therapy and helpful for stem cell harvest followed by autologous transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology & Oncology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Hyang
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Don
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Chang Hak
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Ho Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Joo Seop
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Goon Jae
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Yang Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Sik
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D005047:Etoposide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine