Effectiveness of pentostatin (2'-deoxycoformycin) in refractory lymphoid neoplasms

Pentostatin (2'-deoxycoformycin, DCF) was administered to 17 patients with a variety of lymphoid neoplasms, both T- and B-cell, that were refractory to conventional treatments. Several responses and 2 complete remissions occurred. Toxic effects were less severe than previously described: this may be attributable to relatively low doses of DCF or to precautions taken to prevent tumour lysis syndrome. DCF appears valuable as a second-line treatment in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and as initial treatment in T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and mycosis fungoides. Although myelosuppression is mild, immunosuppression and superinfection are potential hazards of treatment with DCF. The ocular toxicity of DCF, previously described as conjunctivitis, appears to be a keratitis of moderate severity which requires further study.