ABSTRACT
To clarify the clinical characteristics of large noncleaved lymphoma (LNC-FCC; intermediate grade, large cell, noncleaved, Working formulation), 53 patients were studied. Thirty-one were male and 22 female. Median age was 54 years. Initial symptoms included lymphadenopathy (40%), pain (34%), and B symptoms (21%). Stage I disease was present in 6, Stage II in 9, Stage III in 14, and Stage IV in 24 (72% Stage III or IV). Gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement was present in 13. Central nervous system (CNS) disease was present at diagnosis in two patients, occurred during therapy in two, and was the sole site of relapse in two. Bone marrow involvement was found in 7 of 50 patients (14%). Complete remission was attained in 60% of all patients. Twenty-nine Stage III and IV patients received intensive multiagent chemotherapy; complete remission (CR) was attained in 69%. In contrast, zero of nine patients with Stage III or IV disease who did not receive an anthracycline-containing regimen, attained CR. Median survival for the entire group was 25 months. It was concluded that, in our patients with LNC-FCC, GI involvement was prominent (25%) and CNS disease was not uncommon (11%). Long-term disease-free survival may be achieved in patients with more advanced disease after the administration of anthracycline-containing combination chemotherapy.
Subject(s)
Lymphoma, Follicular/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Blood Proteins/analysis , Bone Marrow Diseases/etiology , Brain Diseases/etiology , Female , Gastrointestinal Diseases/etiology , Humans , Leukocyte Count , Lymphoma, Follicular/drug therapy , Lymphoma, Follicular/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm StagingABSTRACT
Eighteen patients with advanced and heavily pretreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with etoposide (VP-16). Of 16 patients evaluable for response, two (13%) achieved partial response lasting 3 to 4 months, and five (31%) achieved stable disease status lasting 2 to 7 months. One patient achieved a partial response in regional lymph nodes and the primary site, while a second patient achieved a partial response of a regional lymph node recurrence. Toxicity was significant but acceptable, consisting mainly of leukopenia and alopecia. Thrombocytopenia and mild nausea were also seen. VP-16 demonstrated modest activity in this disease and might be considered for further trials.
