COMBINATION OF ETOPOSIDE, IDARUBICIN, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE, VINCRISTINE, PREDNISONE AND BLEOMYCIN (VICOP-B) IN THE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED CUTANEOUS T-CELL LYMPHOMA

Background: Response of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) to systemic c hemotherapy is unsatisfactory: despite an initially high response rate (RR), duration is always short-lived. Objective: To investigate the c apability of a third-generation regimen including idarubicin in improv ing RR and response duration in CTCL patients. Methods: Twenty-five pa tients with advanced CTCL (stages IIB and IV) were treated with a 12-w eek polychemotherapeutic regimen (VICOP-B), which foresees the use of idarubicin in association with etoposide, cyclophosphamide, vincristin e, prednisone and bleomycin., Results: The overall objective RR was 80 % (36% complete response), The mycosis fungoides (MF) RR was 84%, with a median duration of 8.7 months, The pleomorphic-lymphoma RR was high er (100%), but the corresponding response duration was shorter (median : 3 months), No responses were documented in Sezary syndrome. Conclusi on: VICOP-B regimen is effective and feasible as first-line chemothera py in advanced MF, with or without extracutaneous involvement.