Effect of pirarubicin for elderly patients with malignant lymphoma

To determine the effect of a chemotherapy regimen containing pirarubicin, a multicenter clinical trial was performed in naive patients greater than or equal to 65 years with malignant lymphoma, between January 1990 and Decemb er 1992. The total number of patients was 37 (median age 74.2 years). One o f three different types of chemotherapy regimens, which was administered ev ery 3 to 5 weeks, was chosen for each patient at random. Regimen A (THP-COP ) included pirarubicin (30mg/m(2); day 1), cyclophosphamide (500mg/m(2); da y 1), vincristine (1mg/m(2); day 1) and prednisolone (30mg/m(2); days 1-5), regimen B, modified "CHOP", included doxorubicin (30mg/m(2); day 1), cyclo phosphamide (500mg/m(2); day 1) vincristine (1mg/m(2); day 1) and prednisol one (30mg/m(2); days 1-5); regimen C (THP-COPE) included etoposide (80mg/m( 2); day 1) in addition to regimen A. The complete response (CR) rate was 60 .0%, 45.5% and 62.5% with regimen A, B and C. The partial response (PR) rat e with regimen A was 20.0%, 18.2% with B and 25.0% with C. The 50% survival period with regimen A was more than 1,000 days, with C 643 days but it was only 365 days with B. The adverse effects related to these treatments occu rred more frequently in regimen B than A and C showing a statistically sign ificant difference. We concluded that chemotherapy regimens containing pira rubicin are useful and safe for the elderly patients with malignant lymphom a.