Paolo Coser

Massive chemotherapy with non-frozen autologous bone marrow transplantation in 13 cases of refractory Hodgkin's disease

A group of 13 patients with advanced, diffuse Hodgkins disease, poorly responding to the most widely employed primary chemotherapy regimens, were treated with massive chemotherapy (MCH) followed by rescue with non-frozen autologous bone marrow infusion (ABMT). Complete remission (CR) was obtained in 8/13 patients (61.5%) and partial remission in two. Hematopoietic recovery occurred in 12 cases. These preliminary results would seem to indicate that MCH with non-frozen ABMT may be successfully used in patients with resistant or relapsed Hodgkins disease.

Randomized study of chlorambucil (CB) compared to interferon (alfa-2b) combined with CB in low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma : an interim report of a randomized study

Alpha interferon has shown initial promise in the treatment of low-grade non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL), especially with the nodular form of the disease. The present study enrolled 70 NHL patients who received either chlorambucil (CB; 10 mg/day) or CB plus interferon alfa-2b (5 million units (MU)/m2 subcutaneously three times a week). Among 63 evaluable patients, similar response rates (62.1% and 64.7% respectively) were recorded for the treatment arms. In patients receiving no maintenance therapy, those who received interferon alfa-2b during the induction phase showed a favourable trend in terms of incidence of relapse compared to those who had received chlorambucil alone. During maintenance therapy with interferon alfa-2b, no significant differences in the occurrence of relapse have yet been seen compared to patients on no maintenance therapy. A longer observation period is needed to make a definitive conclusion about the usefulness of interferon maintenance therapy and to evaluate further the effects of the combined schedule of chlorambucil and interferon induction on the duration of remission.

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease in a case of persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis

Summary. Persistent polyclonal B‐cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) is a rare haematological disorder. It is characterized by activated and morphologically atypical B lymphocytes and polyclonal IgM production and has been associated with female sex, cigarette smoking, and HLA‐DR7 expression.

The Role of Anthracycline S in the Management of Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

The role of anthracyclines (ANT) in the treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is poorly defined. We reviewed ANT treatment results in adult ALL. Altogether, an early and intensive use of ANT appear to improve both initial response rate and long-term disease-free survival; the new compound idarubicin (IDR) exhibits a consid¬erable antileukaemic activity deserving further evaluation; and the prognosis of CD10+ t(9;22)/BCR-ABL- ALL can be particularly good in relation to an early dose-intensive ANT consolidation program.