Chemotherapy of advanced non-Hodgkin lymphomas: a report of 35 cases

Thirty-five patients with stage III and IV non-Hodgkin lymphomas, classified according to Lennert have been treated by combination chemotherapy (CVP). Total remission (complete plus partial) was obtained in 68.5% of the cases and complete remission in 28.5%; 73% of the favorable types and 55% of the unfavorable histologic types achieved tumor response: the difference was not statistically significant, perhaps because of the limited number of cases. Median survival was 14 months for the unfavorable histologic types and 28 months for the favorable types; longer survivals were obtained in patients who achieved complete remission. CHOP regimen after CVP in patients refractory to this type of treatment was not satisfactory in our patients.