Recent advances in chemotherapy of the lymphomas: a review

A review of some of the developments over the last two decades in the field of chemotherapy of the lymphomas is provided. The evolution of the current treatment regimens through clinical trials is emphasized, and the need to develop a similar approach to cancer chemotherapy in African treatment centres is advocated. In view of their different natural histories, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of 'favourable' and 'unfavourable' histologic variants need to be treated differently. While the former type of NHL need only a non-myelosuppressive chemotherapy, the latter would benefit from intensive chemotherapy involving the use of adriamycin and cytosine arabinoside, which appear to have salutary effects in this form of NHL. Burkitt's and Hodgkin's lymphomas are both highly curable forms of cancer and indications are given in support of further improvement in their current chemotherapeutic management. As over 50% of adequately treated lymphoma patients are likely to experience prolonged survival, more attention is now being directed to factors contributory to their quality of life. Thus, some complications of chemotherapy and their prevention are reviewed.