title: CHOEP-21 chemotherapy for newly diagnosed nodal peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness and tolerability of the combination of chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) with the addition of etoposide (CHOEP-21) for newly diagnosed nodal peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2009 and October 2011, patients aged 18 to 60 years with newly diagnosed nodal PTCLs at the Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital were enrolled to receive CHOEP-21 every three weeks for eight cycles. G-CSF prophylaxis was given to all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four patients were enrolled. Twenty of them were male with a median age of 49 years. The majority of patients (66.7%) had PTCL, not otherwise specified (PTCL, NOS), and 95.8% of the patients were in stage III or IV. The overall response rate was 58% with 42% having complete response. The response rates were better among patients with ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL; 100%) and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL; 85%) than those with PTCL, NOS (44%). With a median follow-up of 21 months, the patients had an estimated 2-year event-free survival, and an overall survival rate of 37.6% and 54.4%, respectively. The most common adverse effects were infection and hematologic toxicities that was manageable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although CHOEP-21 induced favorable responses in patients with ALK-negative ALCL and AITL, the responses were not durable and further therapy is mandated in management of patients with nodal PTCL.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. erattari@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Ekarat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rattarittamrong
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Lalita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norasetthada
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Adisak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tantiworawit
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chatree
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chai-Adisaksopha
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Weerasak
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nawarawong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005047:Etoposide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone