Palliative Chemotherapy in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Abstract
Goals of Work: There is a need for an effective and nontoxic chemotherapy for palliative indication in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) patients who relapse after conventional or high-dose chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of peroral chemotherapy in the palliative treatment of NHL patients. Patients and Methods: Seventeen NHL patients were treated with peroral trofosfamide (Ixoten®) with an initial dose of 50 mg three times daily. The median age of the patients was 62 years (range: 45-78). Most of the patients had received multiple courses of combination chemotherapy. Main Results: The overall response rate (complete remission and partial remission) was 53% (95% confidence interval 29-77), and median response duration was 7 months. Cross-resistance was not observed between trofosfamide and chlorambucil. Grade 1-3 hematological toxicity occurred in 16 patients. Other side effects, including mild or moderate nausea, neurotoxicity, alopecia and fatigue, did not require dose adjustments. No fatal complications occurred. Conclusion: Trofosfamide as a palliative regimen is feasible and effective in NHL patients even following previous heavy treatment.