High Dose, Short Duration Combination Chemotherapy (MEGA III) for Patients with High Grade Poor Prognosis Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma—A Phase I/II Study

Abstract

16 patients with histologically high grade poor prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with high-dose, short duration combination chemotherapy (MEGA III). 14 patients had de novo disease and 2 patients primary refractory lymphoma. The 2 patients with primary refractory disease both died, 1 of disease progression and 1 of toxicity of the regimen. However, the complete response rate observed among the 14 de novo patients was nearly 85%. With a maximum follow-up period of 20 months, 2 patients have relapsed, one after 6 months and another after 7 months respectively. Toxicities were common and mainly related to mucositis and pancytopenia. The use of haemopoietic growth factors in these patients to shorten the periods of pancytopenia may reduce the mortality and morbidity of this regimen and should be explored.

Key Words:

• High grade
• NHL
• MEGA III