Alfacalcidol is a nontoxic, effective treatment of follicular small-cleaved cell lymphoma

Br J Cancer. 1991 Mar;63(3):463-5. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1991.108.

Abstract

Thirty-four patients with progressive low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with 1 microgram oral alfacalcidol daily. Complete response was seen in four patients and a partial response in four patients with an overall response rate of 24%. Median duration of response was 14 months. Disease stabilised in ten other patients (29%) and 16 patients (47%) had tumour progression. In the sub-group of patients with follicular, small-cleaved cell-lymphoma the overall response to treatment was 29%. Apart from one patient who had a mild transitory elevation of serum calcium there was no recorded toxicity from alfacidol. These results indicate that alfacalcidol has significant antitumour activity in patients with low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the follicular, small-cleaved cell type.

MeSH terms

  • Calcitriol / physiology
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxycholecalciferols / adverse effects
  • Hydroxycholecalciferols / therapeutic use*
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / drug therapy*
  • Male

Substances

  • Hydroxycholecalciferols
  • Calcitriol
  • Calcium
  • alfacalcidol