[Efficacy of alternating triple therapy on relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

Treatment of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) remains difficult. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of alternating triple therapy (ATT), alternating administration of ASHAP, m-BACOD, and MINE regimens every 3 weeks, on relapsed or refractory NHL.

Clinical data of 38 patients with relapsed or refractory NHL (28 relapsed NHL and 10 refractory NHL) treated with ATT were analyzed.

Of the 38 patients, 10 (26.3%) achieved complete remission and 12 (31.6%) achieved partial remission; the overall response rate was 57.9%. The response rate was 60.0% in B-cell lymphoma patients and 55.6% in T-cell lymphoma patients; it was 65.4% in the patients of 60 years old. With a median follow-up of 11 months, the 1-and 2-year survival rates were 42.1% and 13.2%, respectively. The major adverse event was myelosuppression.

ATT is effective and well tolerated in patients with relapsed or refractory NHL. Further clinical study is warranted.