[ProMACE-MOPP vs. ProMACE-CytaBOM polychemotherapies in the treatment of large-cell and unclassifiable non-Hodgkin's lymphomas].

: The results of two distinct and successive clinical pilot studies investigating feasibility of aggressive chemotherapy in large cell and unclassified non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are reported. In the first study (1986-87) the ProMACE-MOPP chemotherapy (P-M), a 2nd generation regimen, was administered to 10 patients, whereas in the second study (1987-88) the ProMACE-CytaBOM schedule (P-C), a 3rd generation regimen, was administered to 13 patients. The clinical and prognostic features of the two groups of patients were quite comparable, the only difference being the different follow-up times (median: 43 vs 26 months). The number of complete remissions, freedom from relapse and overall survival were slightly better in the P-M group, with-out a statistically significant difference, despite the longer follow-up time. Hematological toxicity was higher in the P-M study, while gastrointestinal (mucositis, hepatic transitory damage) and neurological toxicity (peripheral neuritis) were somewhat lower. In conclusion, the P-M regimen is worth considering for the treatment of high grade malignant lymphomas, although it was not recently designed and is not widely used at present.