[Usefulness of THP-COPBLM therapy in elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]

We studied the remission rate and adverse effects in THP-COPBLM therapy consisting of pirarubicin (THP), which is said to be less cardiotoxic than doxorubicin. Subjects were 21 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients older than 70 years of age. Of 21 patients, complete remission (CR) was achieved in 16 patients (76.2%) and partial remission in 2 patients (9.5%). Classified by stages, CR was achieved in 5 out of 6 patients in stage II, 7 out of 8 in stage III and 4 out of 7 in stage IV. Two-year survival rate was 61.5%. Adverse effects were observed in 7 patients (33.3%) with grade 3 or above leukocytopenia, 2 (9.5%) with thrombocytopenia and 1 (4.8%) with gastrointestinal symptoms. However, no abnormality in EKG was found, and the left ventricular ejection fraction in echocardiography did not differ before and after therapy. One patient each developed pneumonia and sepsis when they had granulocytopenia. THP-COPBLM therapy seemed useful in treatment of elderly patients with NHL. There were few adverse effects such as gastrointestinal symptoms or cardiotoxicity. However, leukocytopenia was observed in many patients despite combined use of G-CSF, suggesting the dose and administration method of THP should be studied further.