Cytarabine Addition Boosts Lymphoma Treatment Outcomes

July 23, 2012

FEATURED SEARCH TERM: cytarabine and lymphoma

Treating mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in younger patients is a challenge, but the combination of cytarabine (Cytosar) and rituximab(Drug information on rituximab) (Rituxan) may be up to the task. In a phase II trial, the two drugs were used as induction regimen before autologous stem cell transplantation in patients (median age 57) with stage III-IV MCL. In this French study, the drug pairing improved survival while keeping adverse events low.

RESULT: CHOP and DHAP plus rituximab followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL): a phase II study from the GELA
Blood | Jun 20, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $35)

High-dose chemotherapy conditioning with autologous stem cell transplantation demonstrated considerable efficacy and modest toxicity in chemosensitive, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a study from Korea. The authors used a novel regimen of mitoxantrone(Drug information on mitoxantrone) (Novantrone), etoposide(Drug information on etoposide) (Vepesid), cytarabine(Drug information on cytarabine), and melphalan(Drug information on melphalan) (Alkeran), garnering an impressive response rate of nearly 80%.

RESULT: Mitoxantrone, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (NEAM) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with chemosensitive aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma
American Journal of Hematology (PubMed) | May 1, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $35)

46-Year-Old CML Patient Develops Painful Ulceration
Ted Rosen, MD , September 10, 2012

A hematologically stable CML patient developed a solitary, exquisitely painful ulceration, 7 cm × 5 cm, located on the mid-medial foreleg. There was never any evidence of venous insufficiency. The patient denied the possibility of a spider bite. What is the likely cause of this lesion?

Cytarabine Addition Boosts Lymphoma Treatment Outcomes

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