Treatment

• Most patients present with advanced disease (less than 10% of patients present with stage I/II).
• Early-stage patients, treated with radiation, may expect approximately a five-year relapse-free survival of 60% to 80% (total five-year survival is about 100%)
• Spontaneous remissions of > one-year may occur in about 20% of patients.
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Very sensitive to monotherapy and combination chemotherapy.
• Complete response rate (previously untreated patient population) to single alkylating drug, such cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) or chlorambucil: 30% to 60%.
  • Median duration of remission: about two years
• More aggressive drug treatment: more rapid and higher complete remission percentages -- not clearly changing overall survival of patients
• Following relapse, most patients are successfully retreated -- increased difficulty in achieving third and subsequent remissions (duration of these remissions are typically shorter)
• Combination chemotherapy may improve survival of patients with follicular center lymphoma (grade II)
  • cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
  • vincristine (Oncovin)
  • prednisone
  • procarbazine (Matulane)