Combination chemotherapy with bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, prednisone and etretinate (BCPE) in advanced mycosis fungoides: a six-year experience

Abstract

A six-year experience in 20 patients with advanced mycosis fungoides treated with combination chemotherapy with bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, prednisone and etretinate (BCPE) in advanced mycosis fungoides showed initial complete remissions in 16 patients (85%). The initial complete remissions lasted in average 8 months. A second complete remission was obtained in seven patients. The overall survival after 2 years was 50% and 30% after 4 years. At the time of the investigation six patients are alive, three in complete remission and three in partial remission. Two patients are in partial remission after 6 years, one of these had additional therapy with alfa-interferon. Patients entering the study until 1982 also received transfer factor, an immune stimulating agent. Since in 1982 a double-blind study revealed no differences between patients given the active--and patients given the inactive medication, no new patients since then had transfer factor. BCPE compares favourable with other chemotherapeutic regimes. The data presented seem to justify the use of retinoids as a part of combination chemotherapy in mycosis fungoides.