Treatment with rituximab, dexamethasone, high-dose cytarabine, and oxaliplatin (R-DHAOx) produces a strong long-term antitumor effect in previously treated patients with follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Background: We explored the addition of rituximab to high-dose cytarabine (ara-C), oxaliplatin (L-OHP), and dexamethasone [R-DHAOx], in resistant and relapsed patients with CD20-positive follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Methods: Twenty-two patients were included; they were treated previously with one to five chemotherapy regimens, including 13 patients who had also received rituximab. R-DHAOx consisted of rituximab, 375mg/m(2), day 1; dexamethasone, 40mg/d, days one to four; L-OHP, 130mg/m(2), day 1; and ara-C, 2000mg/m(2) every 12 h, day 2.

Dexamethasone, high-dose cytarabine, and oxaliplatin (DHAOx) as salvage treatment for patients with initially refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Background: Dexamethasone. cytarabine (ara-C), and cisplatin (DHAP) can be used effectively to treat patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We hypothesized that substitution of cisplatin by oxaliplatin (L-OHP) could result in less toxicity and greater efficacy.

Real-time quantitation of bcr-abl transcripts in haematological malignancies.

We have applied an automated real-time quantitative PCR assay using a double-labeled fluorogenic probe to detect t(9;22)-positive cells in haematological malignancies. The results are expressed as the ratio of chimeric bcr-abl transcripts on abl transcripts. Highly reproducible results were obtained for t(9;22)-positive K562 RNA.

Occurrence of gammopathies and lymphoproliferative disorders in liver transplant recipients randomized to tacrolimus (FK506)- or cyclosporine-based immunosuppression.

Lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) are a serious side effect of immunosuppression after liver transplantation, and the introduction on the market of a new immunosuppressive drug has been associated with an increased risk of these disorders. To compare the effect of cyclosporine A (CSA) and FK506 in a clinical setting, the incidence of monoclonal or oligoclonal gammopathies known to often precede the appearance of LPDs was evaluated. A total of 88 adult patients was analyzed, 46 were prospectively randomized to CSA and 42 to FK506 for immunosuppression.