Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 29, Issue 1 33-37, Copyright © 1999 by Foundation for Promotion of Cancer Research
WS Wang, TJ Chiou, JH Liu, FS Fan, CC Yen, SL Tung and PM Chen
BACKGROUND: The ESHAP regimen, a combination of the chemotherapeutic drugs
etoposide, methylprednisolone (solumedrol), high-dose cytarabine (ara-C)
and cisplatin, has been shown to be active against refractory non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma in therapeutic trials. We were interested in determining whether
this regimen would be effective and tolerable for Chinese patients.
METHODS: Thirty-two patients with refractory/relapsed non-Hodgkins lymphoma
(23 intermediate-grade and nine high-grade) were enrolled in this study.
Etoposide was administered at a dose of 40 mg/m2/day as a 1 h intravenous
infusion from day 1 to day 4, solumedrol 500 mg/day was given as a 15 min
intravenous infusion from day 1 to day 5, ara-C 2 g/m2 was given as a 2 h
intravenous infusion on day 5 and cisplatin was given at a dose of 25
mg/m2/day as a continuous infusion from day 1 to day 4. Clinical efficacy
and toxicity were assessed on the basis of the WHO criteria. RESULTS: Ten
patients (31.3%, 95% Cl 15.2-47.4%) attained complete remission (CR) and
seven had partial remission (PR). The overall response rate was 53.1% (95%
Cl 35.8-70.4%). In eight of the 10 CR patients, the remission lasted for
more than 8 months. The remaining two patients had CR of 5 and 6 months.
The median duration of CR was 12.2 months (range 5-22 months).
Myelosuppression with subsequent infections was the major toxicity. Severe
leukopenia (WBC < 1000/microliter) lasted for an average of 12 days and
thrombocytopenia (< 25,000/microliter) 18 days. One patient (3.1%) died
of neutropenia-associated sepsis within 4 weeks after treatment.
Non-myeloid toxicities included alopecia in 66% (28% grade 2, 22% grade 3),
stomatitis in 72% (25% grade 2, 28% grade 3, 13% grade 4), hepatotoxicity
in 9% (3% grade 2), renal toxicity in 13% (6% grade 2, 3% grade 3) and
infection in 56% (18% grade 2, 25% grade 3, 13% grade 4). The majority of
the responders relapsed within 2 years after ESHAP treatment. Median
survival for all patients was 8.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: ESHAP is an active
and tolerable regimen in Chinese patients with relapsed/refractory
lymphoma, but the duration of remission is brief and without significant
impact on survival.
CASE REPORTS
ESHAP as salvage therapy for refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Taiwan experience
Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan.
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