Chemotherapy for T-Cell Lymphoma (part 2 of 3)

By: Anna Brown, Pharm.D.

Chemotherapy Terminology

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are commonly treated with multiple different drugs used in combination called regimens.  Regimens are given on particular days at certain intervals, referred to as cycles.

For example, the “CHOP” regimen consists of 4 drugs named cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone.  In CHOP, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine are all given on one day (Day 1) and prednisone is taken for 5 days in a row (Days 1-5).  This regimen is usually repeated every 3 weeks (21 days) for a determined number of cycles (commonly 4-6 cycles).

Other examples of combination chemotherapy regimens include dose-adjusted EPOCH, HyperCVAD, DHAP, and ICE.

There are times where your physician may consider single agent chemotherapy for treatment.

For example, romidepsin is a chemotherapy agent that is typically given by itself on Days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days, or “weekly for 3 weeks on 1 week off.”

Other examples of single agent chemotherapy include pralatrexate and brentuximab.

Induction chemotherapy, or first-line chemotherapy, is the treatment that your physician believes has the best chances at causing your cancer to go into a remission.

Consolidation therapy is typically given to patients following induction chemotherapy with the goal of sustaining a remission.  In PTCL, patients often undergo consolidation therapy with a stem cell transplant if they are eligible.

Second-line chemotherapy is the treatment that is given when your cancer fails to go into a remission following induction chemotherapy or when your cancer relapses after achieving a remission.  This is sometimes referred to as salvage chemotherapy.

Palliative chemotherapy is when treatment is given to help with some of the symptoms associated with the cancer or to keep the cancer from progressing significantly.  The expectation of this treatment, however, is not a cure.

Your physician will consider the best treatment choice for you based on your particular type of PTCL, what prior treatments you may have received, and your individual health conditions.