[Treatment of large cell lymphoma]

During 1977-1985, 50 patients with Stages III and IV large cell lymphoma (diffuse histiocytic [DH] and diffuse mixed [DM] types, Rappaport classification) were treated with the CHOP regimen (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, Oncovin and prednisone). The male:female ratio was 1:1, the mean age at treatment 57 years, and mean follow-up 37 months. 80% had the DH type and 20% the DM type. 46% were in Stage III and 54% in Stage IV. The average relative dose intensity of CHOP was 0.68, which was well tolerated. In 68% a complete response was achieved after a mean of 4 treatment cycles. The average number of cycles for all patients was 7.2. The 5-year survival for those in Stage III was 50% and in Stage IV, 34%. Females survived better than males (60% vs 23%, respectively; p less than 0.02). The 5-year survival of the complete responders was 60% and their relapse-free survival 44%. In our experience, CHOP is a useful combination in the treatment of DH and DM lymphoma; it has yet to be proved in a randomized fashion that the current third generation of combinations is superior to it.