Comparison between combination chemotherapy and total body irradiation plus combination chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. [Effectiveness and complications]

Thirty-nine untreated patients with either lymphocytic or nodular mixed/nodular histiocytic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, stage II-IV, were randomized to treatment with total body irradiation (TBI), 100 rads in 10 fractions over 12 days, plus combination chemotherapy with either cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (CVP) or cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone (C-MOPP) or to treatment with combination chemotherapy (CVP or C-MOPP) alone. Remission rate and duration were comparable for both treatment groups; thus the use of both treatment modalities ab initio provides no therapeutic advantage.