RESUMEN
The study included 40 patients with intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, randomly divided into: group 1: [20 patients] received combination of MACOP-B without [group IA, 9 patients] and with GM-CSF, Molgramostim [group IB, 11 patients] group II: [20 patients] received CHOP regimen. CR was higher in group I compared to group II [70% vs 30%], and in subgroup IB compared to subgroup IA [81.8% vs 55.5%], with no statistically significant difference. The average percentage projected dose intensity was 0.75 in Group IA, and 0.6 in Group II Group IA had treatment delays and received a lower dose intensity than group IB [relative DI = 0.8]. The overall actuarial survival rates in groups IA, IB and II patients were 58%, 72% and 68.8%, respectively. Myelosuppression was higher in group IA than in group IB. Leucopenia < 2000/c.mm was encountered in four occasions in group IA, while none of the patients in group IB developed leucopenia < 2000/c.mm. A trend towards improved CR rate, disease-free and overall survival with increasing dose intensity was observed. MACOP-B seems to be an effective regimen in intermediate and high grade NHL. The use of GM-CSF produced improvement in the hematological toxicity of MACOP-B and better adherence to treatment schedule with improvement of dose intensity. Dose intensity had a potential prognostic impact on response and survival