VP-16 in the treatment of malignant lymphomas: a report from the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK).

In a pilot study, researchers at The Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) treated advanced lymphoma patients with a combination of DDP/VP-16/prednisone. Overall response rate was 34%. Currently, the new platinum derivatives are being studied. Meanwhile, various pilot studies are being conducted in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients to evaluate the combination, VP-16/bleomycin/procarbazine/ARA-C. Preliminary results are encouraging. It is hoped that this will be an effective salvage regimen for NHL patients and also for use in an alternating regimen along with a well-established first-line treatment.