[Short-term result of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated by the COMP regimen]

From March 1982 to November 1984, 31 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated by COMP regimen. 15 (48%) had stage III and IV lesions. This regimen consisted of cyclophosphamide 600 mg IV weekly, vincristine 2 mg IV weekly, methotrexate 20 mg IM weekly and prednisone 30 mg PO daily for 2-3 weeks. Then, there was an interval of 2 weeks and the same therapy was repeated. 27 patients had more than 3 cycles. Of the 31 patients, 22 gave objective response with an overall response rate of 71%. Among the 22 patients without prior treatment, 10 (45.5%) achieved complete remission (CR) and 8 (36.3%) partial remission (PR)--the overall response rate was 81.8%. 4 (44%) of 9 patients with prior chemotherapy responded to COMP regimen (1 CR and 3 PR). The treatment was well-tolerated. There were only 9 patients with leukocyte count below 4000 and none of them ever below 2000. One patient had a transient elevation of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, which dropped to normal very quickly after interruption of the treatment. COMP regimen was as effective as COPP (procarbazine replacing methotrexate) regimen in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Hence, it could be considered as a common regimen for advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and used to treat the patients refractory to certain chemotherapeutic agents.