Mitoxantrone, Etoposide, and Prednisolone: A Novel Combination in the Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Lymphoma

In 1990, a study evaluated a new chemotherapy regimen combining mitoxantrone, etoposide, and prednisolone for 18 patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The treatment resulted in a 74% overall response rate, with 41% of patients achieving complete remission and 33% partial remission. Side effects were generally mild, with hematological toxicity being the most common, but it caused few treatment delays. One patient with prior anthracycline treatment developed cardiomyopathy, indicating a need for caution in such cases. The study concluded that this combination is an effective and manageable outpatient treatment option for relapsed and refractory lymphoma.