Cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum (II),VP 16-213,and Prednisone (Dvp Regimen) in the Treatment of Pretreated Advanced Malignant Lymphomas

Eighteen evaluable patients with advanced malignant lymphoma were treated with a combination of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (50 mg/m² i.v. on day 1), VP 16-213 (100 mg/m² i.v. on days 1, 3, 5), and prednisone (50 mg/m² per os on days 1–5), recycling every 2 weeks. All patients were previously pretreated. There were 3 complete remissions (patients with Hodgkin's disease), and 4 partial remission (2 patients with Hodgkin's and 2 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), for a median duration of 8 weeks. In addition, 2 minor responses (patients with Hodgkin's disease) were observed. Vomiting and myelosuppression were the most prominent toxic effects. In most heavily pretreated patients, myelosuppression was moderate to severe: in these patients and in patients with bone marrow involvement, a schedule interval of 3 weeks should be more appropriate. Nephrotoxicity was minimal. This combination chemotherapy showed some activity in the management of advanced malignant lymphomas; further studies in this area are justified.