Comparative clinical trial of CTOP versus CHOP regimens in treatment of elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Objective To explore the clinical complete response rate,remission rate and adverse reaction of T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with CTOP(THE-COP) regimen in elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.Methods Sixty patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were admitted to this hospital.Their ages ranged from 32 to 74 years.Twenty-six cases were T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 34 cases were B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.The patients were randomized into two groups A and B.Group A was treated with CTOP regimen,including THP 30/m2,iv d1;CTX 500 mg/m2,iv d1;VCR 1 mg/m2,iv d1;pred 30 mg/body bid PO,d1-5.Group B was treated with CHOP regimen composed of same drugs as for group A except that ADM was used to replace THP.Four weeks comprised one cycle and the efficacy was evaluated after three cycles.Results The efficacy was significantly higher in CTOP group than in CHOP group in elderly patients with T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,with CR of groups A,B being 51.4% vs 19.4% respectively(P0.05).The incidences of toxic reactions of nervous system,cardiac toxicity,anorexia,alopecia,fever and ECG were lower in CTOP group than in CHOP group(P0.05);the hematological toxicity was similar in two groups.Conclusion There was similar overall response rate after treatment with the two regimens in elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,but CTOP group showed significantly better life quality,particularly in patients with T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.CTOP regimen is effective and the toxicity is tolerable.It is deserved to be evaluated further.