Management of advanced stage intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

The treatment result of 271 cases of advanced stage intermediate grade lymphoma were reviewed. Ninety-four patients received CHOP chemotherapy, 45 BACOP and 17 m-BACOD. The clinical characteristics of the three groups of patients were comparable. Patients receiving CHOP had a complete response (CR) rate of 60 per cent, the disease-free survival of CR patients was 31 per cent at 5 years. The overall survival following CHOP chemotherapy was 38 per cent at 5 years. The use of the BACOP or m-BACOD regime did not appear to improve significantly the prognosis of these patients. Clinical staging, B symptoms, age and serum lactate dehydrogenase level were the most important independent prognostic factors.