Evaluation Of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin As A Front Line Therapy In The Management Of Intermediate And High Grade NHL

Abstract

This is a prospective randomized study that included forty patients with intennediate and high grade NHL diagnosed and treated at Clinical Oncology Department, Menoufiya University Hospital from January 2002 to June 2004. Patients were randomized into two anns in which ann

I received the standard CHOP regimen by the ordinary way of administration and ann 2 where patients received caelyx instead of doxorubicin in the CHOP ann. Patients of both anns were balanced at presentation as regard age, PS, IPI , LDH, and other prognostic factors. Patients were assessed for response, toxicity as well as two-year disease fTee survival. Results (in tenns of response and two-year DFS) were comparable in both anns. Toxicities also were comparable except for cardiac toxicity and alopecia which were more significant in ann 1 (CHOP ann) than ann 2 (caelyx ann) while hand -foot syndrome was present in ann 2 only. CR was achieved in 67.5 of cases (70% in ann 1 and 65% in ann 2), PR 22.5% (25% in ann 1 and 10% in ann 2) with no statistically significant difference between both anns. Relapsing patients were also comparable between both arms, where relapses occurs in 25.9% of cases (14.8% in ann I and 11.1% in ann 2). Cardiotoxicity of .different grades occlmed in 17.5% of cases (12.5% in ann 1 and 5% in

ann 2). Alopecia occurred in 77.5% of cases (50% , all cases in ann 1 and

27.5% in ann 2). Hand-Foot Syndrome occurred in 12.5% of cases all were in ann 1. The results of this study show that CHOP-Caelyx regimen is comparable to the standard CHOP regimen (in tenns of response and DFS) for patients with intennediate and high grade NHL in addition to its superiority for less cardiotoxicity especially in the elder age groups who there hears are more susceptible for this toxicity but data are still in need.