One of the trials targets lymphoma and multiple myeloma patients who require platelet transfusion support due to the effects of chemotherapy. The other trial is for intermediate or high grade non-Hodgkin s lymphoma patients in first relapse who are receiving DHAP chemotherapy. In both arms of the study, the drugs will be given every three weeks for three courses as long as there is no disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. A recent clinical trial testing ICE as a preparatory regimen for stem cell transplantation has shown that the regimen is active and fairly well tolerated. The most common toxicity reported was thrombocytopenia, or lowered platelet counts.
Platelets are the blood's main clotting agent.
This study is trying to determine the effects of the addition of Rituximab to the ICE regimen. A multicenter Phase III trials is underway for stage II bulky, III or IV, previously untreated diffuse large B-cell NHL patients. Patients will be randomized to receive 8 treatments of Rituxan and CHOP or 8 treatments of CHOP alone. Vaccine Therapy for Untreated Aggressive B-cell Lymphoma February, 2000. A Phase II clinical trial is currently being conducted at Stanford University and the University of Nebraska for patients who have a diagnosis of follicular large, mantle cell, diffuse mixed, diffuse large or immunoblastic non-Hodgkin s lymphoma.