[BH-AC.nitrosourea-therapy for refractory or relapsed malignant lymphoma]

Thirty patients with refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with behenoyl ara-C (BH-AC) and nitrosoureas. Sixteen patients (53%) had a diffuse, large cell lymphoma and 22 patients (73%) had a stage IV disease. BH-AC, 250 mg/body, in combination with ACNU or MCNU, 50 mg/body, was administered by drip infusion for two days (Day 1, 2) every 3 to 4 weeks. Six patients (20%), all of them relapsed cases of diffuse lymphoma, obtained complete remission lasting one to six (mean: 2.5) months and 15 patients (50%) obtained partial remission lasting one to five (mean: 2.7) months. The major side effect was thrombocytopenia, and nine patients (30%) had required platelet-transfusions. There was no case complicated by infection due to prolonged neutropenia. Therefore, we conclude that BH-AC.Nitrosourea-therapy is very useful for the salvage chemotherapy of malignant lymphoma.