[VEPA and ML-Y1 regimen for elderly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

A total of 32 previously untreated patients aged 65 years or older with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were treated with VEPA (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisolone and doxorubicin) or ML-Y1 (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, bleomycin, procarbazizin and prednisolone). The median age of the patients was 70 years (range 65-77), 19 males and 13 females. The outcome of 16 patients with VEPA and 16 patients with ML-Y1 was retrospectively evaluated. There were no significant differences in response or survival between VEPA and ML-Y1, complete remission rates were 37.5% vs. 31.3% and duration of 50% survival were 20 months and 13 months, respectively. Major side effects of both regimens were myelosuppression, hair loss, nausea, vomiting and peripheral neuropathy. There was no increased toxicity in ML-Y1 but this regimen seemed like VEPA, to be insufficient for NHL in elderly patients. A new intensive regimen should be designed to treat NHL in the elderly patients.