Intensive combination chemotherapy (TTL-I protocol) of large cell and immunoblastic lymphomas--long-term observation.

Fifty patients with advanced (Stage III and IV) large cell and immunoblastic lymphoma were treated with eight 4-week courses of chemotherapy. The first two identical A courses were composed of high dose cyclophosphamide, vincristine, 5-day administration of bleomycin, 2-week prednisone, and methotrexate with calcium leucovorin. The next two "B" courses were composed of vincristine, 3-day administration of doxorubicin together with bleomycin, and prednisone. The next two "C" courses were composed of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, bleomycin, prednisone, methotrexate, and calcium leucovorin. The last two "D" courses were the same as "B" courses. CNS prophylaxis was done with intrathecal methotrexate. Fourty-two patients (84%) achieved complete remission, 7 patients entered partial remission, and 1 patient failed to respond. The median survival of all groups was 80 + months (range 2-181 + months). Nine patients relapsed (21%), and seven patients died in complete remission, three of them died of toxicity. The most frequent toxicity was myelosuppression, mostly leukopenia, frequently followed by infection, sometimes severe. Neurotoxicity and stomatitis were frequent, but usually not severe. Two patients developed secondary malignancies. Most of the patients (54%) are alive without evidence of disease at present.