Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy plays a role in the treatment of nearly all lymphoma patients and has achieved remarkable results, even in late stages. It uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Such drugs are called cytotoxic drugs. Chemotherapy is referred to as systemic therapy because the drugs travel throughout the bloodstream to the entire body.

Chemotherapy may also be used along with radiation.

Chemotherapy Administration

A chemotherapy cycle is usually 21 - 28 days. Patients take the drugs for a few days, then have a period of rest. The drugs may be taken by mouth or given by injection. Chemotherapy is injected into the spinal fluid if the cancer has spread to the brain. This is called intrathecal chemotherapy. Intrathecal chemotherapy is also used as a preventive measure in patients at high risk for central nervous system involvement. Chemotherapy may be administered at a medical center or in a doctor's office. Some patients receiving chemotherapy need to remain in the hospital for several days so the effects of the drug can be monitored.

Effective Regimens and Drugs

CHOP. The current standard chemotherapy regimen for NHL is CHOP. CHOP is a combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin), vincristine (Oncovin), and prednisone. It is proving to be particularly effective for many stages of lymphoma when used in combination with rituximab (Rituxan), a monoclonal antibody. (See Biologic Therapy section of this report.) Some studies of this combination in low-grade lymphomas have reported response rates of 70 - 100%.

CVP. This stands for cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone. It is another common chemotherapy regimen for non-Hodgkinâ ' s lymphoma. It is also used in combination with rituximab.

Fludarabine. Fludarabine (Fludara) is a type of drug called a nucleoside analogue. It is one of the most active drugs for treating low-grade lymphomas. Fludarabine is often used in a chemotherapy regimen called FND (fludarabine, mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone). Other fludarabine regimens for follicular and low-grade lymphomas are FAD (fludarabine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone) and FMD (fludarabine, mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone). Fludarabine is also being studied in combination with rituximab.

Etoposide. Etoposide is another cancer drug that is sometimes used in a regimen called EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin.) EPOCH may be used in combination with rituximab.

Side Effects and Complications

Side effects and complications of any chemotherapeutic regimen are common. They are more severe with higher doses. Side effects may increase over the course of treatment. Radiation treatment may worsen chemotherapy side effects.

Common Side Effects. Common side effects include:

• Nausea and vomiting -- Drugs known as serotonin antagonists, such as ondansetron (Zofran) or granisteron (Kyril), can relieve these side effects.
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss
• Weight loss
• Depression

These side effects are nearly always temporary. Most patients are able to continue with normal activities for all but perhaps a few days a month.

Serious Side Effects. Serious chemotherapy side effects can also occur and may vary depending on the specific drugs used. They include:

• Neutropenia is a severe drop in white blood cells. Neutropenia increases the chance for infection from suppression of the immune system and is a potentially life-threatening condition. Drugs known as granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) are used to help boost white blood cell count. These drugs, which include filgrastim (Neupogen) and pegfilgrastim (Neulasta), can help lessen the risk for neutropenia occurrence and, if neutropenia does occur, to reduce its length and severity. Patients should also use lifestyle precautions to prevent infection. (See Transplantation section of this report.)
• Anemia is a lack of red blood cells. Erythropoietin stimulates red blood cell (hemoglobin) production and can help reduce or prevent this side effect. It is available as epoetin alfa (Epogen, Procrit) and darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp). In patients with cancer, these drugs should be used to treat only anemia associated with chemotherapy and to increase hemoglobin levels to no more than 12 g/dL. Treatment should stop as soon as chemotherapy is complete. These drugs may not be safe or appropriate for all patients.
• Liver and kidney damage
• Abnormal blood clotting (thrombocytopenia)
• Allergic reaction

Long-Term Complications.

• Fatigue and Somatic Symptoms. Chemotherapy has been associated with long-term somatic symptoms, which are general conditions, such as fatigue and aches and pains that have no apparent physical basis. Fatigue is especially common after chemotherapy and can even last for years.
• The most serious long-term complications from chemotherapy are secondary cancers, particularly in people over age 40.
• Infertility is a risk, particularly with the use of cyclophosphamide.
• Some patients get osteoporosis (bone thinning) and damage in bone cells.
• Regimens containing certain drugs, particularly doxorubicin or mitoxantrone, increase the risk for future heart failure.

In general, these serious late side effects are dependent on the cumulative drug dose and rate of administration.