Response Rate After Modified Regime DHAP and Toxicity with Refractory and Relapsed Disease in Lymphoma Patients

Abstract

Objective: To assess the response rate and toxicity of a modified regimen DHAP (dexamethasone, cytarabine,
and cisplatin) and to compare treatment response and toxicity profile with disease status in patients with
refractory and relapsed lymphoma who presented to a public hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.
Study Design: A cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Oncology Department of Jinnah Postgraduate
Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2021 to October 2022.
Methods: Modified DHAP was used to treat all individuals with lymphoma who had refractory disease or had
relapse. The modified DHAP treatment includes intravenous infusions of dexamethasone 40 mg every 15
2 minutes on days 1 through 4, cisplatin 25 mg every 3 hours on days 1 through 4, and cytarabine 2x0.5 g/m every hour on days 1 through 4. Cycles were repeated every three weeks. Following each cycle, toxicity was evaluated using WHO criteria. A CT scan and a physical examination were used to assess the therapy response.
Results: The median age was 41, ranging from 20 to 74 years. Most of the patients were males (73.9%). Of 92
patients, 32 had refractory disease, and 60 had relapse. Twenty-nine patients had a complete response, 45
patients had a partial response, and the overall response rate of modified DHAP was 80.4%. The most frequent
toxicity of modified DHAP was pancytopenia (46.7%), followed by febrile neutropenia (14.1%), respectively.
Mortality occurred in 4 patients (13%). Febrile neutropenia was reported more in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
patients than in Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, with a p-value=0.014.
Conclusion: Modified DHAP has a better overall response rate and manageable toxicity profile in patients with
refractory or relapsed lymphoma.

How to cite this: Kumari R, Haider G, Abro N, Shah A, Sarim T, Abid K. Response Rate After Modified Regime DHAP and Toxicity with Refractory and Relapsed Disease in Lymphoma Patients. Life and Science. 2023; 4(4): 469-475. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.348