ABCVEP (I) TREATMENT FOR ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE GRADE AND HIGH-GRADE NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA

With the intent to improve the cure rate for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (N HL), a prospective single-arm trial named ABCVEP (I) was initiated in April 1989. ABCVEP (I) was consisted of 6 drugs: adriamycin (ADM); ble omycin (BLM); cyclophosphamide (CPM); vincristine (VCR); and prednisol one (PDN) with or without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF ) to rescue the neutropenia. As of March 1991, 31 patients with interm ediate- and high-grade NHL were entered in the trial and all the patie nts were evaluable with median age of 56 years. Twenty-five out of 31 patients were D. large; 2 were F. large, 2 D. small cleaved; and 2 D. mixed: 9 were in stage II, 6 in stage III and 16 in stage IV. Twenty-f ive patients achieved complete response and 6 partial response (respon se rate was 100%). The median follow-up period was 50 months, the actu al over all survival rate for the entire group was 59.3%. The relapse- free survival for complete responders was 63.8%. Administration of G-C SF was required for 20 patients. Relative dose intensity (RDI) in pati ents required G-CSF was maintained at more than 80% of the RDI in pati ents not requiring G-CSF. Although severe pulmonary toxicity due to bl eomycin was found in 4 patients, ABCVEP (I) is a feasible treatment re gimen for aggressive NHL.