Infusion of etoposide and vincristine in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Infusion of etoposide has previously been evaluated in phase I trials. Vincristine (VCR) given by infusion has been shown in a phase II trial to be active in some cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma despite prior exposure to bolus VCR. Infusion of etoposide and the combination of VCR infusion with etoposide (given either as an infusion or bolus) were evaluated in 24 patients with previously treated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Five-day infusions of etoposide alone (n = 10), both etoposide and VCR (n = 9), or VCR with bolus etoposide (n = 5) were evaluated. Partial responses were observed in 0, 2 (22%), and 1 (20%) of the patients, respectively. Myelosuppression was the principal toxicity with the 5-day infusions of etoposide alone and with the double infusion combination, but was mild in the VCR infusion coupled with etoposide bolus. Non-hematologic toxicity was mild to moderate in each. For patients with refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the infusion of etoposide with or without VCR infusion appeared to offer no advantage over bolus administration of etoposide or infusion of VCR alone.