Ifosfamide and etoposide as salvage therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The result of a combination consisting of ifosfamide and etoposide was evaluated in 57 patients suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who had relapsed or were resistant to adriamycin-containing combinations. Some of the patients (35%) also received methotrexate. 80% of the patients belonged to the histology group 'high-grade' malignant NHL. 11 of the 57 patients (19%) obtained a remission, 5 of these were complete and 6 partial. The remission predominantly occurred in the group of patients with 'high-grade' malignant histopathology who were treated at the first relapse after complete remission or when front-line treatment induced a partial remission and ifosfamide and etoposide were added in direct connection with front-line treatment. It is concluded that the use of the combination of ifosfamide and etoposide should be limited to such patients.