[A comparative study of mitoxantrone and adriamycin in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a preliminary result].

In order to compare the efficacy and toxicity of mitoxantrone and adriamycin in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a randomized trial has been conducted by a cooperative study group since June 1984. Previously untreated patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of intermediate-grade-malignancy were allocated to either MCOP (a combination of mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone) or CHOP (a combination of adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone) regimens. Forty-four patients were entered and 43 of these were fully evaluated for tumor response and toxicity. The complete remission rate was 80% for 20 patients receiving MCOP compared to 61% for 23 patients treated with CHOP. Response duration and overall survival were similar for the two treatments. Toxicity was almost comparable for the two treatments. Only alopecia was significantly less frequent in patients given MCOP than in those receiving CHOP. Mitoxantrone thus appears to be as effective as adriamycin in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.