The rationale of therapy with mitoxantrone in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Co-operative Study Group, (NHLCSG) Italy.

In order to evaluate the role of Mitoxantrone in the therapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (intermediate-high grade malignancy) a series of successive phase II-III studies were performed in a multicenter cooperative group. The first phase II study consisted of Mitoxantrone alone administered at 14 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 and repeated every 3 weeks for six times. Fifteen refractory or relapsed patients (pts) entered the study, and an overall response of 54% (CR 4 pts, PR 4 pts) was obtained. 7 pts progressed or remained stable disease (NR). The second phase II consisted of Mitoxantrone in combination with Etoposide and Prednisone (VeMP). Twenty pts were treated and a complete remission (CR) of 50% with 1 partial remission (PR) were obtained with an overall response of 55%. The third phase II study consisted of 13 pts with refractory or relapsed disease treated with Mitoxantrone, Cis-platinum, Etoposide and Prednisone (CEMP); an overall response of 62% was obtained with an acceptable toxicity. This was not superior to other conventional salvage regimens. On this background a phase III study with VEMP (Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide, Mitoxantrone, Prednisone) was started as first line therapy for pts presenting one or more of following criteria: Performance Status (P.S.) 2-3, aggressive histology at stage I-IIE or advanced stage in old pts, low grade histology with B-symptoms stage in III-IV, age over 65 years. Until now 64 pts entered this study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)