Treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Preliminary results of new therapies in the areas of cytotoxic agents and immunotherapy for advanced indolent lymphomas have been encouraging. Long-term follow-up on high-dose therapy suggests a potential role for this modality in this group of lymphomas. In aggressive lymphomas, CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) continues to hold ground as first-line therapy when compared against other regimens. Several studies reinforce past findings that patients with chemosensitive relapse are better candidates for high-dose therapy. In relapsed or refractory disease, selected compounds appear to have activity as single agents and others have shown activity in combination therapy. Despite high treatment-related mortality rates, allogeneic transplantation in relapsed aggressive lymphoma warrants further investigation. Last, as patients are surviving longer, complications of therapy are having to be addressed.