[Combination chemotherapy of primary gastric lymphoma with vincristine, endoxan (cyclophosphamide), prednisolone and adriamycine (VEPA)].

A new combination chemotherapy(VEPA) was applied to 9 patients with advanced and/or non-resectable primary gastric lymphoma. Among 6 patients with measurable disease, there were 3 (50%) complete responses and 1 (17%) incomplete response. None of 3 patients with lymph node and/or anastomosis involvements at the gastrectomy have relapsed after 13 months to 32 months. Complications during chemotherapy with VEPA were mild myelosuppression and gastrointestinal disturbances, and severe alopecia. Only one paralytic ileus with vincristine occurred, but no cardiotoxicities with adriamycin were observed. This study indicates that VEPA therapy is effective in the patients with primary gastric lymphoma.