Salvage therapy with gemcitabine, ifosfamide, dexamethasone, and oxaliplatin (GIDOX) for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a consortium for improving survival of lymphoma (CISL) trial.

BACKGROUND

We investigated response rates to and toxicities of gemcitabine, ifosfamide, dexamethasone, and oxaliplatin (GIDOX) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Patients with recurrent or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or mantle cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were eligible for enrollment in this study. Treatment consisted of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) on Days 1 and 8, ifosfamide 2,000 mg/m(2) i.v. on Day 1, dexamethasone 40 mg orally on Days 1-4, and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2) i.v. on Day 2, every 21 days. The primary goal of treatment was to establish a response rate after three cycles. Afterwards, patients could proceed to high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (HDC-ASCT) or receive up to six treatment cycles.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven eligible patients were evaluated for toxicity and response. The median age of the patients was 54 years (range, 18-75 years), and most had DLBCL. After three cycles, there were four CR (15%) and 10 PR (37%) for an overall response rate (RR) of 52%. Among a total of 88 GIDOX cycles, grade 3 and 4 neutropenia occurred in 33% and 16% of the cycles, respectively. Likewise, grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 14% and 16% of the cycles, respectively. Two patients (2%) experienced febrile neutropenia, while seven patients (26%) proceeded to HDC-ASCT.

CONCLUSIONS

GIDOX is an active salvage regimen for aggressive B-cell NHL and can be tolerated by patients with acceptable toxicity.