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Severe myelotoxicity of oral etoposide in heavily pretreated patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphatic leukemia
Author(s) -
Shaklai Sharon,
Bairey Osnat,
Blickstein Dorit,
Prokocimer Miron,
Hadar Herzlia,
Lahav Meir,
Sulkes Jaqueline,
Shaklai Mati
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19960601)77:11<2313::aid-cncr20>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - medicine , etoposide , lymphoma , chronic lymphatic leukemia , lymphatic system , leukemia , chronic lymphocytic leukemia , lymphatic leukemia , dermatology , oncology , chemotherapy , pathology
BACKGROUND Promising results have been reported for patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) receiving chronic oral etoposide. Due to the small number of patients reported, information regarding side effects is limited, and therefore warrants further evaluation. METHODS Twenty eligible patients with NHL and chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL), resistant to or relapsed after previous protocols of polychemotherapy were treated with oral etoposide at a dosage of 50 mg/m 2 /day for 21 days in a 28‐day cycle. Response and toxicity were evaluated according to standard criteria. RESULTS Total response was noted in 13 patients, complete response in 2 patients, and partial response in 11 patients. Two patients had stable disease and five patients had progression of disease during treatment. Seventy‐five percent of patients experienced neutropenia below 1500/μL. Half acquired infection and required hospitalization. Fifty‐five percent required blood transfusions. All patients needed course shortening and dosage reduction. CONCLUSIONS Chronic daily administration of oral etoposide is effective in patients with NHL and CLL. In heavily pretreated patients, myelotoxicity is severe. Therefore, modification of the schedule plan is mandatory in this group of patients. Cancer 1996;77:2313‐7.