DIZE (dexamethasone, idarubicin, and continuous infusion of ifosfamide and etoposide): an effective and well-tolerated new regimen for patients with relapsed lymphoma.

We performed a phase II study of dexamethasone, ifosfamide, idarubicin and etoposide (DIZE) in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's (HL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The regimen consisted of dexamethasone (20 mg i.v. days 1-4), idarubicin (8 mg/m2 i.v. days 1+2), continuous infusion (c.i.) of ifosfamide (1,000 mg/m2 days 1-4), and c.i. etoposide (60 mg/m2 days 1-4). G-CSF (5 microg/kg) was used to support neutrophil recovery from day 5. In older patients (> 60 years) the dosage of idarubicin and ifosfamide was reduced to 75% in the initial cycle. Fourty six patients (pts) were treated with a total of 131 cycles. Sixteen pts were primary resistant and 30 were relapsed. Median age was 54.3 years (range 22-75). The median number of different prior chemotherapies was 1.7 (range 1 to 5). 31/46 (67.4%) pts had advanced disease (stage III or IV); 19/46 had B symptoms. Of 43 evaluable pts the response rate was 58.1% including 11 complete remissions (CR) and 14 partial remissions (PR). Mean duration of response was 8 months (1-30+). DIZE was more effective in relapsed than in refractory high-grade NHL (74 % vs 16.6%; p < 0.001). Of four heavily pretreated pts with HL, one obtained CR and two PR (response rate 75%). Myelosuppression was generally moderate with a mean duration of leukocytopenia < 1,000/microl of 2.5 days (range 0-18) and of thrombocytopenia < 25,000/microl 1.5 days (range 0-17). One patient died of uncontrollable infection in treatment related neutropenia. No other serious toxicities apart from alopecia were observed. We conclude that DIZE is safe and effective in heavily pretreated pts with relapsed lymphoma. The continuous infusion of cytostatic drugs such as that used in the new DIZE protocol might reduce hematotoxicity.

Oral idarubicin, dexamethasone and vincristine (VID) in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

In order to replace the central venous line necessary for continuous infusion of vincristine and doxorubicin with high-dose dexamethasone (VAD) and to avoid hospitalization, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of oral idarubicin, vincristine and dexamethasone (VID) in patients with multiple myeloma. Vincristine (1.6 mg/m2, max 2 mg) was given as a bolus injection on day 1. Idarubicin was given in capsules 10 mg/m2/day for days 1-4 with an intraindividual dose escalation, 40 mg dexamethasone were given on days 1-4, 9-12, 17-20. Treatment cycles were repeated every 28 days. At this interim analysis, 53 patients have been entered into the ongoing trial; 46 patients are evaluable for toxicity. The median age was 60 years (interquartile range, 52-65). 46% were primary or secondary refractory, 20% had previously been treated with VAD and 30% had previously untreated disease, 4% had two or more relapses. Four patients died within 2 months from entry and were considered as early deaths (8.7%). 45% of the 42 patients evaluable for efficacy achieved a partial remission and 26% a minor remission. The median reduction of the M-component was 43% (interquartile range, 25-64%). VID is an effective and convenient alternative to VAD even in relapsed or refractory patients.