Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma at advanced stage: a case successfully treated with cyclophosphamide plus somatostatin, bromocriptine, retinoids, and melatonin.

Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) at advanced stage are still incurable, and treatment may include chemotherapy with a single drug or a combination of different drugs. With a combination of cyclophosphamide, somatostatin, bromocriptin, retinoids, melatonin, and adrenocorticotropic hormone, we already reported 100% of global response (50% complete response and 50% partial response) in 12 patients with low-grade NHL at advanced stage: 4 previously untreated patients and 8 with relapse of disease after single or combined chemotherapy and therapy free time >or=6 months. This provided the rationale to treat a patient affected by low-grade NHL stage 4, with cyclophosphamide, somatostatin, bromocriptin, retinoids, and melatonin (adrenocorticotropic hormone was not administered for high blood pressure). The patient was treated for at least 2 months. After this period, if he had stable or responding disease, he received an additional 3 months of treatment, and if he was stable or responding after 5 months he was treated for 3 months and more. After 2 months the patient had a partial response, and after 5 months he achieved a complete response. Today, 18 months after the beginning of treatment, the patient is in complete remission. Treatment had very good tolerance, and the patient carried on at home doing his normal activities.