TREATMENT INTENSIFICATION WITH R-METHUG-CSF IN HIGH-GRADE MALIGNANT NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS

Background: Hematologic grovvth factors may allow dose intensification of chemotherapy, possibly leading to improved treatment results in hi gh-grade malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In the present study, the feasibility of reducing the time intervals between treatment cycles of chemotherapy was examined. Patients and Methods: In 43 patients with high-grade malignant lymphomas, intervals between chemotherapy cycles of the VIM/CHOP regimen were reduced from the original 21 to 17 and ev en 14 days, r-metHuG-CSF (Filgrastim) doses of 5 mu g/kg were administ ered subcutaneously for 10 or 9 days after each treatment cycle. Resul ts: Time interval reduction as scheduled was achieved in 76% of the cy cles. Treatment delays of more than 2 days for medical reasons occurre d in only 4% of cycles. Side effects of r-metHuG-CSF treatment were ob served in only 11 patients who experienced bone pain, which was severe in 2 patients. Other toxicity was chemotherapy-related and seldom sev ere. Conclusions: With r-metHuG-CSF (Filgrastim) support, treatment in tervals of VIM/CHOP chemotherapy can safely be reduced. Whether this w ill lead to better treatment results needs further examination.