AEGiS-GMHC: Treatment Briefs: Promising Lymphoma Treatment

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Treatment Briefs: Promising Lymphoma Treatment

Gay Men's Health Crisis "Treatment Issues"; Vol. 8, No. 7 - August 1994
David Gold

MGBG, a product developed by Sterling Winthrop, may show promise as a treatment for AIDS-lymphoma, according to a report at the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in Dallas from May 14 to 17, 1994 (abstract 11). In the study, led by Alexandra Levine, M.D., of the University of Southern California, MGBG was given intravenously (600 mg) on day one, day eight, and then every other week to fifteen patients with relapsed and refractory AIDS lymphoma.

A median of five doses of MGBG was given. Two complete responses and three partial responses were reported. Thus five of fourteen patients (36 percent) saw some response to the drug. The average CD4 count was 90 at the trial's start, and median survival was 4.3 months. MGBG also was associated with some weight gain. Toxicites were "very mild" according to Dr. Levine and included skin flushes during infusions, nausea and vomiting (three cases), and euphoria. Standard chemotherapy for lymphoma is often difficult to tolerate, particularly for those with advanced HIV disease. This small study suggests that MGBG may be of some benefit in treating AIDS-related lymphoma. Larger trials should be started without delay. These studies should consider an arm with a higher dose to see if the response rate can be improved. An expanded access program for those who have failed standard therapy may also be appropriate.

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