[Combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisolone (VEPA) for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Combination Chemotherapy with Adriamycin (VEPA) was applied to 16 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The effects of VEPA therapy were compared with those of combination chemotherapy without Adriamycin (non-VEPA). Complete remission rate achieved with VEPA therapy was 37.5% while that with non-VEPA therapy was 27.6%. Histologically, the complete remission rate in cases of large-cell type treated with VEPA therapy was 40%, while that with non-VEPA therapy was 14.3%. No cases of stage IV showed complete remission, whereas the complete remission rate for cases of stage III was 37.5% for VEPA therapy, but 27.6% for non-VEPA therapy. From these results we concluded that VEPA therapy is more effective for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, especially large-cell type, than non-VEPA therapy.