ADMINISTRATION OF RHG-CSF INCREASES COMPLETE REMISSION RATES AFTER CHOP AND PROMACE CYTABOM FOR NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA - A PILOT-STUDY/

To evaluate the clinical effects of the administration of recombinant human granulocyte-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) post chemotherapy for p atients with advanced-staged intermediate-grade or high-grade non-Hodg kin's malignant lymphoma (NHL), we conducted this multicenter study an d compared the responses between both the regimens, CHOP as a first-ge neration chemotherapy and ProMACE/CytaBOM as a third-generation chemot herapy, when combined with the rhG-CSF administration. In this multice nter study, where forty patients were registered, patients in both the CHOP and ProMACE/CytaBOM groups were treated with the original regime n designs without the necessity of reducing drug dosages when combined with the administration of rhG-CSF. The administration of rhG-CSF pos t both of the cytotoxic therapies brought about much higher rates of c omplete remission in both the groups (CHOP, 75 percent; ProMACE/CytaBO M, 75 percent), as compared with those of the previous study without t he rhG-CSF administration. Regarding response rates according to the I nternational prognostic factor index, the CHOP group showed a lower ra te of complete remission in patients with risk factors, compared with ProMACE/CytaBOM group. This result suggested that the administration o f rhG-CSF may offer one important approach for improving the first-lin e therapy for aggressive NHL with high risk factors.