High-dose pulse chlorambucil in advanced, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

High-dose pulse chlorambucil was given orally at a dose of 16 mg/m2 daily for 5 consecutive days each month, as reported by Cadman et al. It was used to treat 33 patients with advanced, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. With median follow-up of 4.2+ years, 70% of the patients achieved objective response. Eleven of 24 patients with follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma (FSCL) had pathological complete response; nine of 24 with FSCL and three of seven with small lymphocytic lymphoma had partial response. Median disease-free survival was 28 months. Actuarial survival for all patients was 60% at 5 years from initiation of therapy. Treatment toxicity was minimal. Pulse chlorambucil is an effective and minimally toxic palliative therapy for advanced FSCL.