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Combination Chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide, Vinblastine, Procarbazine and Prednisone in the Treatment of Malignant Lymphomas
Author(s) -
Høst Herman,
Abrahamsen Arne Foss
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1973.tb00055.x
Subject(s) - procarbazine , vinblastine , medicine , cyclophosphamide , prednisone , chemotherapy , radiation therapy , vincristine , reticulum cell sarcoma , combination chemotherapy , nitrogen mustard , lymphoma , oncology , bleomycin , gastroenterology , pathology
Combination chemotherapy with four different drugs — cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, procarbazine and prednisone — was used in 159 patients with malignant lymphoma. The drugs were given in 2‐week cycles interrupted by a 4‐week rest period. Complete remissions were obtained initially in 59 % of the patients with Hodgkin's disease, in 42 % of the patients with reticulum cell sarcoma, and 61 % of the lymphosarcoma cases. Those who had been treated previously with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy did not respond so well as those previously untreated or those who had received either radiotherapy or chemotherapy alone. The 3‐year survival rates were as follows: Hodgkin's disease 58 %, reticulum cell sarcoma 32%, and lymphosarcoma none. The major toxic effect was leucopenia which was most pronounced in patients previously treated with chemotherapy and/or extensive radiotherapy. Alopecia was the most troublesome side effect and was the main reason for the replacement of cyclophosphamide by nitrogen mustard in later studies.