[ABEP chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]

Nineteen patients with refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with a combination of N4-behenoyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (150-200 mg/m2), aclacinomycin (15 mg/m2), etoposide (70 mg/m2 i.v. or 100 mg/m2 p.o) and prednisolone (20 mg/m2) (ABEP regimen). Patients who achieved complete remission (CR) received 10 courses of consolidation therapy with ACOP-E chemotherapy (adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone and etoposide). Seven patients achieved CR and three partial remission. Twelve patients with fresh non-Hodgkin's lymphoma stage IV were treated with ABEP regimen. CR was obtained in eight patients (66.7%). The median duration of CR was 11+ alpha months. Hematological toxicity was a dose-limiting factor but this was manageable.