The COP-BLAM III Therapy for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Abstract

COP-BLAM III therapy was given to 18 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the therapeutic effects as well as adverse effects of the treatment were examined. Of the 18 patients 16 had a complete remission (CR) and 2 showed an partial remission (PR) with a total response rate of 100%. In terms of the stage of disease, CR was achieved in all patients in stage III and in 11 of 13 patients in stage IV. Patients with neutrophil counts less than 1,000/μl were given rhG-CSF (1.5 μg/kg/day, sc), which significantly shortened the duration of neutropenia and decreased the number of days with episodes of fever when compared with those not given rhG-CSF, consequently facilitating the treatment without prolonging the dosing intervals. No serious infection was observed. Adverse effects included neutropenia of less than 1,000/μl in 6 of the 18 patients (33.3%), thrombocytopenia less than 5×10⁴/μl in 3 (16.7%), nausea and vomiting in 8 (44.4%), peripheral neuropathy in 4 (22.2%) and stomatitis in 4 (22.2%). There were no fatalities caused by the treatment. The above findings indicate that COP-BLAM III therapy is capable inducing high frequency of complete remissions in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and that its combination with G-CSF can improve the results of the therapy and relieve adverse reactions.