Infusional Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin and Etoposide in HIV-related Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: a Follow-up Report of a Highly Active Regimen

Based on our prior data suggesting a therapeutic advantage for infusional administration of cyclophosphamide (C), doxorubicin (D), and etoposide (E) in patients with relapsed and resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), we administered C (750 mg/m2), D (50 mg/m2), and E (240 mg/m2) via continuous intravenous infusion over 96 hours as first line therapy for 21 patients with intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Treatment was repeated every 28 or more days. The median CD4 count of the study group was 87/ul, and the median serum lactate dehydrogenase was 383 IU/L. Extranodal disease, lymphomatous marrow involvement, and lymphomatous meningitis were present at diagnosis in 90%, 33%, and 10% of patients, respectively. Complete response (CR) occurred in 13 patients (62%, 95% confidence intervals 41%, 81%) and partial response occurred in five patients (24%). The estimated median survival of the study group was 18.0 months. Hematologic toxicity required dose reduction for 47% of cycles and for 79% of patients who received at least two cycles. The mean dose intensity for C, D, and E were 73%, 70%, and 73% of the intended dose intensity, respectively. Opportunistic infection included oral/esophageal candidiasis (N = 7), herpes labialis (N = 3), pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (N = 1), candidemia (N = 1), pneumonitis (N = 1), and disseminated aspergillosis than resulted in a single treatment-related death (5%). Treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the CD4+ lymphocytes, as well as total lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and CD8+ lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)