Gemcitabine, cisplatin, and dexamethasone and ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide regimens have similar efficacy as salvage treatment for relapsed/refractory aggressive lymphoma: A retrospectively comparative study.

In this study, our aim was to compare the efficacy and toxicity profiles of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and dexamethasone (GDP) and ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) regimens in the salvage treatment of relapsed/refractory lymphoma. A total of 110 patients with refractory/relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 22) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 88) who received GDP or ICE salvage regimens from January 2011 to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 110 patients, 50 patients received GDP, and 60 patients received ICE. The response could be evaluated in all patients. In the GDP group, 30 (60.0%) patients achieved overall response rate (ORR), and in the ICE group, the ORR was 56.6%. Of the classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients, the ORR were 72.8% and 54.6% in the GDP and ICE groups, respectively. Of the non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, the ORR were 56.4% and 57.1% in the GDP and ICE groups, respectively. Grade I-II toxicity occurred in 16 (32.0%) patients in the GDP group and 18 patients (30.0%) in the ICE group; 14 (28.0%) patients had Grade III-IV toxicity in the GDP group, as did 20 (33.3%) patients in the ICE group. As a result, both GDP and ICE regimens are suitable for the treatment of recurrent/refractory lymphoma. The overall adverse reactions of both regimens are acceptable.