[Comparison of two multi-drug chemotherapy regimens based on mitoxantrone and epirubicin in 44 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

From June 1987 to June 1989, a comparative study was carried out in 44 NON = Hodgkin's lymphoma patients to-evaluate the effect and side effects of two multi-drug chemotherapy regimens: Group A (cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, vincristine, prednisone) and Group B (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vincristine, prednisone). The response rate was 86% in Group A (22 patients) and was 82% in Group B (22 patients). By the end of August, 1989, 12 patients in Group A were still alive with a median survival of 16 (5-24) months while 18 patients in Group B were living with a median survival of 15 (4-24) months. The side effects were tolerable in both groups. From the authors' data, mitoxantrone is considered as effective as epirubicin for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.