high dose cytarabine with dexamethasone and cisplatin [DHAP] solve the problem of patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?

ABSTRACT

Between 2001 and 2002, 56 patients with refractory or relapsing non-Hodgkin lymphoma after prior anthracycline based chemotherapy were treated with DHAP [dexamethasone, high dose cytarabine and cisplatin]. After 6 cycles, 28.8% of patients [16/56] achieved complete response, while 58.9% [33/56] attained partial response. The overall survival at 2 years was 25%. Myelosuppression was the major toxicity; 24 patients [42.85%] had grade IV neutropenia and 39 patients [69.64%] had grade III-IV thrombocytopenia, but there was no treatment-related death. DHAP regimen is an effective salvage therapy for the patients with relapsed and refractory NHL, but the response duration time is short and long-term prognosis remains poor; high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation is necessary for improvement in long-term survival