Background: Hematologic growth factors may allow dose intensification of chemotherapy, possibly leading to improved treatment results in high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. In the present study, the feasibility of reducing the time intervals between treatment cycles of chemotherapy was examined. Patients and Methods: In 43 patients with high-grade malignant lymphomas, intervals between chemotherapy cycles of the VIM/CHOP regimen were reduced from the original 21 to 17 and even 14 days. r-metHuG-CSF (Filgrastim) doses of 5 μg/kg were administered subcutaneously for 10 or 9 days after each treatment cycle. Results: Time interval reduction as scheduled was achieved in 76% of the cycles. Treatment delays of more than 2 days for medical reasons occurred in only 4% of cycles. Side effects of r-metHuG-CSF treatment were observed in only 11 patients who experienced bone pain, which was severe in 2 patients. Other toxicity was chemotherapy-related and seldom severe. Conclusions: With r-metHuG-CSF (Filgrastim) support, treatment intervals of VIM/CHOP chemotherapy can safely be reduced. Whether this will lead to better treatment results needs further examination.

Keywords:
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, G-CSF, Dose intensity
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© 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel
1994
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