Clinical observation of four-weekly pirarubicin combined with COP regimen in aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients with bone marrow involvement

Objective To evaluate the clinic efficacy and adverse effects of four-weekly pirarubicin combined with COP (CTOP-28) regimen in aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients with bone marrow involvement. Methods 65 aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases with bone marrow involvement (BMI)from January 2002 to January 2007 were chosen, who were newly diagnosed according to 2001 World Health Organisition (WHO) classification. The response rate and adverse effects of CTOP-28 regimen were retrospectively compared with standard CHOP-21 regimen in these patients. CHOP-21 regimen:eyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2(day 1), vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 (maximum 2 rag, day 1), adrimycin 50 mg/m2 (day1), prednisene 100 nag (day 1 to 5). CTOP-28 regimen: cyclopbosphamide 750 mg/m2 (day 1, 15), vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 (maximum 2 rag, day 1,8,15,22), pirarubicin 25 mg/m2 (day 1,2 and 15,16), prednisone 40 mg/m2(day 1 to 28). Results The complete remission rate (CRR) in CHOP-21 group was less than in CTOP-28group (40 % vs 80 %, P＜0.05). The incidence of 3 and 4 degree blood toxicity in CTOP-28 was more than in CHOP-21 (100.0 % vs 50.0 %, P ＜0.05), but incidence of 1 and 2 degree cardic toxicity was similar as CHOP-21 (8.57 % vs 10.0 %, P＞0.05) and 3 and 4 degree cardic toxicity did not occurred in both groups.The gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and renal toxicities at only 1 and 2 degree took place and no difference wasfound between two groups. No therapy-related mortality occurred in these patients. Conclusion CTOP-28regimen is more effective, safer for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients with BMI as induction treatment. Key words: Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin;  Bone marrow involvement;  Pirarubicin