EMOP/CA chemotherapy for the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

From October 1983 to June 1987, 32 patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (diffuse centroblastic, lymphoblastic and Burkitt type) were treated with the weekly alternating EMOP/CA schedule, total duration 12 weeks. There were six bulky stage II, nine stage III and 17 stage IV patients, median age 54 years (range 19-75). The complete remission rate was 59% (95% confidence limits 40-76%) and the partial remission rate 28% providing an overall response rate of 87%. With a median follow up time of 33 months (range 18-56) the relapse-free survival of those patients achieving a complete remission is 52% and the overall survival for the 32 patients treated is 27%. The CR rate for patients with stage IV disease was 47% and for those with stage II and III disease was 73% of whom 81% remain in remission. EMOP/CA chemotherapy produces acceptable results in stage II and III aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas but is inadequate therapy for stage IV disease.