Oral idarubicin in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Idarubicin (DMDR), a new analogue of daunorubicin, was administered orally once every 3 weeks at the dose of 40 to 45 mg/m² to 20 evaluable patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). Eighty-six percent of patients with favorable histology and 54% with unfavorable histology (intermediate and high grade as IWF) achieved a response with an overall response rate of 65% (two complete and 11 partial responses). Response rates were higher (85%) in previously untreated patients than in those with prior exposure to chemotherapy (29%). Gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicity was generally mild to moderate. No signs or symptoms of cardiotoxicity were recorded. Although the quality of response, as well as the relatively low response rate in previously treated patients and in those with unfavorable histology, makes it unlikely that DMDR can replace standard anthracyclines in NHL, the drug appears attractive in selected instances, such as in elderly patients and in those with slow-growing NHL with favorable histology.