[Chemotherapy of malignant lymphoma, with special regard to non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas was considered an incurable disease 20 years ago, but it is now possible to administered intensive combination chemotherapy thanks to the development of new anticancer agents and the sophistication of their administration, making it possible to increase both the complete response rate and the 2-year survival rate to more than 80%. The outcome is that more than 50% of cases are now curable. One significant feature of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Japan is the fact that the prevalence of T-cell lymphomas, which is unfavorable, is higher than in Western nations. A check of the survival time of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas between the five years ending in 1970 and those beginning in 1971 indicates that it was significantly extended. In cases to which BACOP, HOP and other agents were concurrently administered during the initial course of treatment, the complete response rate increased over 70%, and the median survival time at 45 months, making it possible to hopes on the future development of chemotherapy.