COP-BLAM MULTIDRUG INFUSION CHEMOTHERAPIES FOR LYMPHOMA - RESULTS IN A COMMUNITY-HOSPITAL SETTING

Twenty-two patients with malignant lymphoma were treated with three di fferent COP-BLAM infusional chemotherapy protocols at the Jersey Shore Medical Center. The treatment group included 18 patients with large-c ell lymphoma, 3 patients with Hodgkin's disease, and 1 patient with co mposite lymphoma (large-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease). Three pa tients were treated with COP-BLAM III, 9 with COP-BLAM IV, and 10 with COP-BLAM V. The age of the patients at diagnosis ranged from 18 to 74 years, with a median age of 64 years. One patient had stage I bulky d isease, 4 had stage II bulky disease, 3 had stage III disease, and 14 had stage IV disease. Twenty patients were evaluable for response; 2 w ere too early to evaluate. Complete response (CR) was seen in 18 of th e 20 evaluable patients (90%). Potential cure (excludes non-lymphoma-r elated deaths) at 24 months is projected at 78%. Eleven patients are p resently without disease and off therapy (55%). Projected failure-free survival at 2 years is 71% (a failure being death from any cause). El even of 22 patients developed 15 febrile episodes. Vincristine neuropa thy was seen in 6 patients. Subclinical pulmonary fibrosis was seen in 1 patient. There was one cardiotoxic death. The COP-BLAM infusional p rotocols are highly effective, tolerable regiments that are applicable in community hospitals and can yield good response rates, with a high percentage of disease-free survivors in all age groups. The treatment can be completed in a short period with acceptable toxicity.