[IEMAD (modified MIME) therapy for refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of IEMAD (modified MIME) composed of isofosfamide, VM26 or VP16, methotrexate, cytarabine, dexamethasone or methylprednisolone, in treatment of refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Twenty-five patients with refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (11 refractory NHL patients, 14 relapsed NHL patients) were treated with IEMAD regimen. The results showed that the complete remission rate was 24.0% (6/25) and the partial remission rate was 28.0%, having an overall response rate of 52%. The median survival duration was 13 months and the median duration of progression-free survival was 8 months. The most frequent complications were gastrointestinal complaint (nausea, vomiting etc.) and myelosuppression. No treatment related mortality was found. It is concluded that the IEMAD (modified MIME) regimen may be a safe and effective regimen that can be used in treatment of patients with refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who did not respond to other regimens.