Combination of vindesine and prednisone in malignant lymphoma and acute leukemia

Nineteen patients with advanced refractory lymphoma and 12 patients with acute leukemia, including seven in blastic crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), were treated with vindesine in combination with prednisone. Of 16 evaluable patients with lymphocytic or histiocytic lymphoma, one achieved complete remission (6%) and eight achieved partial remissions (50%). Median duration of response was 12 weeks (range, 4-72+). Four of six evaluable patients in blastic crisis of CML showed definite improvement in blood cell counts and symptoms. The major dose-limiting toxic effect was bone marrow suppression, while neurotoxicity was seldom cause for dose modification. The study shows vindesine and prednisone to be active in heavily pretreated patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and blastic phase of CML.