[Comparison of CHOP and COP-BLAM chemotherapy in highly malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

The course of disease in 61 consecutive patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma of high grade malignancy, treated between 1979 and 1985 with either CHOP or COP-BLAM regimen, was analysed retrospectively. Both groups showed a highly similar distribution of prognostic variables. COP-BLAM treatment resulted in significantly more complete remissions (23 of 27) than CHOP (11 of 29, P = 0.001). Life expectancy was, therefore, considerably higher in the COP-BLAM treated group. The mean observation period, however, was longer for CHOP-treated patients (37 vs. 30 months. The higher remission rate of the COP-BLAM regimen was not compromised by a substantial increase in toxicity; no therapy-related death was observed. Thus, the COP-BLAM regimen appears to be superior in inducing complete remissions in aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Actual survival curves suggest that this corresponds to an increased proportion of cured patients, but longer follow-ups are needed.