PALLIATIVE CHEMOTHERAPY IN NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA

Goals of Work: There is a need for an effective and nontoxic chemother apy for palliative indication in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients who relapse after conventional or high-dose chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of peroral chemotherapy in the palliative treatment of NHL patients. Patients and Methods: Seventeen NHL patients were treated with peroral trofosfamid e (Ixoten((R))) with an initial dose of 50 mg three times daily. The m edian age of the patients was 62 years (range: 45-78). Most of the pat ients had received multiple courses of combination chemotherapy. Main Results: The overall response rate (complete remission and partial rem ission) was 53% (95% confidence interval 29-77), and median response d uration was 7 months. Cross-resistance was not observed between trofos famide and chlorambucil. Grade 1-3 hematological toxicity occurred in 16 patients. Other side effects, including mild or moderate nausea, ne urotoxicity, alopecia and fatigue, did not require dose adjustments. N o fatal complications occurred. Conclusion: Trofosfamide as a palliati ve regimen is feasible and effective in NHL patients even following pr evious heavy treatment.