Sphingosomal vincristine in CHOP is a promising new treatment for elderly, as well as poor prognosis patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL): Follow-up results of a phase II study

Abstract

8080 Background: Individuals older than 60 years have a worse prognosis than younger patients with aggressive NHL. Vincristine is active in malignant lymphomas. Sphingosomal vincristine (SV) was well tolerated with 45% ORR in multiply relapsed aggressive NHL (ASH Abst. 412, 1999). Based on these data, a phase II study of CHOP with or without rituximab, and substituting SV for free vincristine, was undertaken in patients with previously untreated aggressive NHL. Methods: Patients were treated with standard dose CHOP that included SV 2.0 mg/m2 without dose capping ± rituximab 375 mg/m2, given every 21 days for 6 to 8 courses (ASH abst. 338, 2002). Results: Of 73 patients enrolled on study, 68 were evaluable for response. Median age was 63 (range 22–80), 37 pts (54%) were > 60. Overall, 24 pts (23 elderly) had an IPI score ≥ 3. Patients received a median of 6 study treatments (range 1–8). ORR was 92.6% (63/68 pts) with 55 pts achieving CR (80.1%), 7 CRu (10.3%), and 1 PR (1.5%). 3 pts had PD (4.4%) and 2 wer...