CEOP/PEB alternating chemotherapy in advanced intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND METHOD: From February, 1987 to July, 1990, 28 patients (M/F = 16/12; median age = 60.5 yrs) affected by intermediate (22) or high-grade (6) advanced stage (III = 8; IV = 20) NHL were given a median (range 4-10) of 8 cycles of CEOP (Cyclophosphamide, Epirubicin, Vincristine and Prednisone), alternated every 21 days with PEB (Cisplatin, Etoposide, Bleomycin). RESULTS: Nineteen (68%) pts. achieved a CR, 5 (18%) a PR, and 4 (14%) experienced progressive disease (PD); 11/19 CRs subsequently relapsed within a median (range 3-15) time of 8 mos.. After a follow-up ranging from 6 to 42+ (median 18) mos., the 3-year actuarial overall survival (OS) was 51% and shifted to 18% at 42 mos. After 7-42+ (median 19) mos., 14/19 (73%) Crs were still alive with 63% of them predicted to survive at 3 years. The projected 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) for these pts. after 1-36+ (median 8) mos. was 28%. DISCUSSION: CEOP/PEB alternating chemotherapy failed to improve the therapeutic results we obtained in a previous study with CEOP alone. Toxicity was moderate, but higher than expected.