Human immunodeficiency virus-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma : Activity of infusional cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide as second-line chemotherapy in 40 patients

✍ Scribed by Michele Spina; Emanuela Vaccher; Senka Juzbasic; Isabella Milan; Guglielmo Nasti; Renato Talamini; Marco Fasan; Andrea Antinori; Ezio Nigra; Umberto Tirelli

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 92 KB
• Volume: 92
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(20010701)92:1<200::aid-cncr1310>3.0.co;2-a

✦ Synopsis

Background:

The prognosis of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-related non-hodgkin lymphoma (nhl) is poor. in fact, despite a high complete response (cr) rate, approximately 50% of these patients die from progressive lymphoma.

Methods:

From november 1994 to april 2000, the authors treated 40 patients with resistant or recurrent hiv-related nhl with a 96-hour continuous intravenous infusion of cyclophosphamide (187.5 mg/m(2) per day), doxorubicin (12.5 mg/m(2) per day), and etoposide (60 mg/m(2) per day).

Results:

The median number of cycles administered was two (range, one to six cycles). a cr was documented in 4 of 40 patients (10%), and a partial remission (pr) was documented in 7 of 40 patients (18%). the cr median duration was 6 months (range, 4--30+ months), whereas prs lasted for 5 months (range, 2--8 months). the overall median survival was 4 months (range, < 1--33 months), and the median survival for responding patients was 10 months.

Conclusions:

The current data confirm that infusional cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide is active in patients with refractory or recurrent hiv-related nhl. however, the median survival of these patients remains poor, and the other innovative approaches should be used.