Etoposide as a single agent in relapsed advanced lymphomas. A phase II study.

Twenty-three patients with relapsed lymphomas resistant to standard chemotherapy, 13 with Hodgkin's disease and 10 with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, were treated with etoposide 120 mg/m2 i.v. daily for 5 days or orally for 7-10 days, repeated 3-weekly. This is a higher dose than has been used previously to treat these tumours. Objective responses were seen in eight of 13 (61%) patients with Hodgkin's disease (three CR, five PR) and in three of 10 (30%) patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (three PR). The response rates for Hodgkin's disease are higher than those previously reported and are probably due to the greater dose of drug than has been previously employed. The dose-limiting toxicity was haematological, with gastro-intestinal toxicity occurring in the minority of patients only. It is concluded that etoposide has significant activity particularly in Hodgkin's disease. Its use in drug combinations should now be assessed.