Practicability and acute haematological toxicity of 2- and 3-weekly CHOP and CHOEP chemotherapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: results from the NHL-B trial of the German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group (DSHNHL).

Background: There is evidence that intensified variants of the classical 3-weekly CHOP-21 chemotherapy [cyclophosphamide (C), doxorubicin (H), vincristine (O), prednisone (P)] may improve treatment outcome in aggressive lymphoma. Three variants using either an addition of etoposide (CHOEP-21: 100 mg/m(2) on days 1-3), the shortening to 2-week intervals using recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF; CHOP-14) or both (CHOEP-14) are currently compared with CHOP-21 in the NHL-B trial of the German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group (DSHNHL). To enable more extensive testing of these schemes we here characterise their practicability regarding schedule adherence, acute haematotoxicity and need for supportive treatment.

Patients And Methods: The trial included patients with normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) aged
Results: The dose adherence in the NHL-B1 trial was excellent. The median relative dose (RD; i.e. actually given compared to planned dose) exceeds 98% for the myelosuppressive drugs in all four regimens. Only /=98%, RD <80 /=97%, RD <80 60 years. Haematopoietic recovery was age- and treatment-related.

Conclusions: CHOP-14 with the addition of rhG-CSF is safe and practicable in a large multicentre setting in patients aged 18-75 years. Despite shorter treatment intervals it can be delivered at the same dose as the classical 3-weekly CHOP with a comparable toxicity profile. The addition of etoposide is feasible and safe for patients 60 years of age the addition of etoposide is associated with marked dose erosion due to increased toxicity. In this age group CHOEP should be used with caution.