Etoposide and cisplatinum in resistant lymphomas

Etoposide and cisplatinum have used separately to treat refractory lymphomas. This report describes 22 patients in whom these two agents were used in conjunction. All had been extensively treated with standard therapies previously. The combination of etoposide and cisplatinum was chosen on the basis of preclinical evidence for synergy and because these agents do not cross-react. Cisplatinum was continuously infused for 5 days at a dose of 15 mg/m2/d. As a push a 100 mg/m2/d dose of etoposide was injected on days 1 and 2 of treatment. This schedule produced good responses in 18 patients, i.e. 15 partial remissions and three complete remissions. The side effects were acceptable.