Chemotherapy regimen explained

A chemotherapy regimen is a regimen for chemotherapy, defining the drugs to be used, their dosage, the frequency and duration of treatments, and other considerations. In modern oncology, many regimens combine several chemotherapy drugs in combination chemotherapy. The majority of drugs used in cancer chemotherapy are cytostatic, many via cytotoxicity.

A fundamental philosophy of medical oncology, including combination chemotherapy, is that different drugs work through different mechanisms, and that the results of using multiple drugs will be synergistic to some extent. Because they have different dose-limiting adverse effects, they can be given together at full doses in chemotherapy regimens.[1]

The first successful combination chemotherapy was MOPP, introduced in 1963 for lymphomas.

The term "induction regimen" refers to a chemotherapy regimen used for the initial treatment of a disease. A "maintenance regimen" refers to the ongoing use of chemotherapy to reduce the chances of a cancer recurring or to prevent an existing cancer from continuing to grow.[2]

Nomenclature

Chemotherapy regimens are often identified by acronyms, identifying the agents used in the drug combination. However, the letters used are not consistent across regimens, and in some cases - for example, "BEACOPP" - the same letter combination is used to represent two different treatments.[3]

There is no widely accepted naming convention or standard for the nomenclature of chemotherapy regimens. For example, either generic or brand names may be used for acronyms. This page merely lists commonly used conventions.

List of chemotherapy regimen acronyms

Name Components Example of uses, and other notes
7+3, also known as DA or DAC in case of daunorubicin, or IA or IAC in case of idarubicin use7 days of Ara-C (cytarabine) plus 3 days of an anthracycline antibiotic, either daunorubicin (DA or DAC variant) or idarubicin (IA or IAC variant)Acute myelogenous leukemia, excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia
ABVDdoxorubicin (Adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazineHodgkin's lymphoma
ACdoxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamidebreast cancer
BACODbleomycin, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, vincristine (Oncovin), dexamethasoneNon-Hodgkin lymphomas
BEACOPPbleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, vincristine (Oncovin), procarbazine, prednisoneHodgkin's lymphoma
BEPbleomycin, etoposide, platinum agenttesticular cancer, germ cell tumors
CAcyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin) (same as AC)breast cancer
CAFcyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), fluorouracil (5-FU)breast cancer
CAPOX or XELOXcapecitabine and oxaliplatincolorectal cancer
CAVcyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), vincristinelung cancer
CBVcyclophosphamide, BCNU (carmustine), VP-16 (etoposide)lymphoma
CHOEPcyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin (doxorubicin), etoposide, vincristine (Oncovin), prednisoneNon-Hodgkin lymphomas
CEPPcyclophosphamide, etoposide, procarbazine, prednisoneNon-Hodgkin Lymphomas
ChlVPP/EVAchlorambucil, vincristine (Oncovin), procarbazine, prednisone, etoposide, vinblastine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin)Hodgkin's lymphoma
CHOPcyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin (doxorubicin), vincristine (Oncovin), prednisonenon-Hodgkin lymphoma
CHOP-R or R-CHOPCHOP + rituximabB cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
ClaPDclarithromycin, pomalidomide, dexamethasonemultiple myeloma
CMFcyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil (5-FU)breast cancer
CMVcisplatin, methotrexate, vinblastinetransitional bladder carcinoma
COP or CVPcyclophosphamide, Oncovin (vincristine), prednisonenon-Hodgkin lymphoma in patients with history of cardiovascular disease
COPPcyclophosphamide, Oncovin (vincristine), procarbazine, prednisoneHodgkin's lymphoma
CT or TCdocetaxel (Taxotere), cyclophosphamidebreast cancer
CTDcyclophosphamide, thalidomide, dexamethasoneAL amyloidosis
CVAD and Hyper-CVADcyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), dexamethasoneaggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, some forms of leukemia
CVEcarboplatin, vincristine, etoposideretinoblastoma
CYBORDcyclophosphamide, bortezomib, dexamethasonemultiple myeloma, AL amyloidosis
DA or DACdaunorubicin x 3 days plus ara-C (cytarabine) x 7 days, a variant of 7+3 regimenAcute myeloid leukemia, excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia
DATdaunorubicin, cytarabine (ara-C), tioguanineAcute myeloid leukemia
DCEPdexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, platinum agentrelapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
DHAPdexamethasone (a steroid hormone), cytarabine (ara-C), platinum agentNon-Hodgkin lymphomas
DHAP-R or R-DHAPdexamethasone (a steroid hormone), cytarabine (ara-C), platinum agent plus rituximabNon-Hodgkin lymphomas
DICEdexamethasone, ifosfamide, cisplatin, etoposide (VP-16)aggressive relapsed lymphomas, progressive neuroblastoma
DT-PACEdexamethasone, thalidomide, platinum agent, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, etoposidemultiple myeloma
ECepirubicin, cyclophosphamidebreast cancer
ECF (MAGIC)epirubicin, cisplatin, fluorouracil (5-FU)gastric cancer and cancer of the esophagogastric junction (Siewert classification III)
EOXepirubicin, oxaliplatin, capecitabineesophageal Cancer, gastric Cancer
EPetoposide, platinum agenttesticular cancer, germ cell tumors
EPOCHetoposide, prednisone, vincristine (Oncovin), cyclophosphamide, and hydroxydaunorubicinNon-Hodgkin lymphomas
EPOCH-R or R-EPOCHetoposide, prednisone, vincristine (Oncovin), cyclophosphamide, and hydroxydaunorubicin plus rituximabB cell Non-Hodgkin lymphomas
ESHAPetoposide, methylprednisolone (a steroid hormone), cytarabine (ara-C), platinum agentNon-Hodgkin lymphoma
ESHAP-R or R-ESHAPetoposide, methylprednisolone (a steroid hormone), cytarabine (ara-C), platinum agent plus rituximabNon-Hodgkin lymphoma
FAMfluorouracil, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), mitomycingastric cancer
FAMTXfluorouracil, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), methotrexategastric cancer
FCM or FMCfludarabine, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantroneB cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
FCM-R or R-FCM or R-FMC or FMC-Rfludarabine, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone plus rituximabB cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
FCRfludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximabB cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
FMfludarabine, mitoxantroneB cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
FM-R or R-FM or RFM or FMRfludarabine, mitoxantrone, and rituximabB cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
FECfluorouracil (5-FU), epirubicin, cyclophosphamidebreast cancer
FEC-Tfluorouracil (5-FU), epirubicin, cyclophosphamide together, followed by docetaxel (Taxotere) breast cancer
FL (also known as Mayo)fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (folinic acid)colorectal cancer
FLAGfludarabine, cytarabine, G-CSFrelapsed or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia
FLAG-Ida or FLAG-IDA or IDA-FLAG or Ida-FLAGfludarabine, cytarabine, idarubicin, G-CSFrelapsed or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia
FLAG-Mito or FLAG-MITO or Mito-FLAG or MITO-FLAG or FLANGmitoxantrone, fludarabine, cytarabine, G-CSFrelapsed or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia
FLAMSAfludarabine, cytarabine, amsacrinemyelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia
FLAMSA-BU or FLAMSA-Bufludarabine, cytarabine, amsacrine, busulfanmyelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia
FLAMSA-MEL or FLAMSA-Melfludarabine, cytarabine, amsacrine, melphalanmyelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia
FLOTfluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (folinic acid), oxaliplatin, docetaxelesophageal cancer, gastric cancer
FOLFIRIfluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (folinic acid), irinotecancolorectal cancer
FOLFIRINOXfluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (folinic acid), irinotecan, oxaliplatinpancreatic cancer
FOLFOXfluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (folinic acid), oxaliplatincolorectal cancer
GCgemcitabine, cisplatin gemcitabine, dexamethasone, and cisplatinbladder cancer
GDPgemcitabine, dexamethasone, cisplatinNon-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphoma
GemOx or GEMOXgemcitabine, oxaliplatinNon-Hodgkin lymphomas
GVDgemcitabine, vinorelbine, pegylated liposomal doxorubicinHodgkin lymphoma
GemOx-R or GEMOX-R or R-GemOx or R-GEMOXgemcitabine, oxaliplatin, rituximabNon-Hodgkin lymphomas
IA or IACidarubicin x 3 days plus Ara-C (cytarabine) x 7 days, a variant of classical 7+3 regimenAcute myelogenous leukemia, excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia
ICEifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposide (VP-16)aggressive lymphomas, progressive neuroblastoma
ICE-R or R-ICE or RICEICE + rituximabhigh-risk progressive or recurrent lymphomas
IFLirinotecan, leucovorin (folinic acid), fluorouracilcolorectal cancer
IVAifosfamide, vincristine, actinomycin Drhabdomyosarcoma
MAP or MAPIEDoxorubicin (Adriamycin), Cisplatin, Methotrexate, Ifosfamide (Ifex), Etoposide (Vepesid)Bone cancer, Osteosarcoma
m-BACODmethotrexate, bleomycin, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, vincristine (Oncovin), dexamethasonenon-Hodgkin lymphoma
MACOP-Bmethotrexate, leucovorin (folinic acid), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, vincristine (Oncovin), prednisone, bleomycinnon-Hodgkin lymphoma
MAIDmesna, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, dacarbazinesoft-tissue sarcoma
MINEmesna, ifosfamide, novantrone, etoposideNon-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphoma in relapse or refractory cases
MINE-R or R-MINEmesna, ifosfamide, novantrone, etoposide plus rituximabNon-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphoma in relapse or refractory cases
MMMmitomycin, methotrexate, mitoxantronebreast cancer
MOPPmechlorethamine, vincristine (Oncovin), procarbazine, prednisoneHodgkin's lymphoma
MVACmethotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cisplatinadvanced bladder cancer[4]
MVPmitomycin, vindesine, cisplatinlung cancer and mesothelioma
NPcisplatin, vinorelbinenon-small cell lung carcinoma
PACEplatinum agent, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, etoposide
PCVProcarbazine, CCNU (lomustine), vincristinebrain tumors
PEBcisplatin, etoposide, bleomycinnon-seminomatous germ cell tumors
PEIcisplatin, etoposide, ifosfamidesmall-cell lung carcinoma
platin + taxane[5] cisplatin/carboplatin, paclitaxel/docetaxelovarian cancer
POMP6-mercaptopurine (Purinethol), vincristine (Oncovin), methotrexate, and prednisoneacute adult leukemia[6]
ProMACE-MOPPmethotrexate, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, etoposide + MOPPnon-Hodgkin lymphoma
ProMACE-CytaBOMprednisone, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, etoposide, cytarabine, bleomycin, vincristine (Oncovin), methotrexate, leucovorinnon-Hodgkin lymphoma
RdClenalidomide (Revlimid), dexamethasone, cyclophosphamideAL amyloidosis
R-Bendarituximab + bendamustinefollicular lymphoma and MALT lymphoma[7]
R-DHAP or DHAP-Rrituximab + DHAP; that is, rituximab, dexamethasone (a steroid hormone), cytarabine (ara-C), platinum agentrelapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma
R-FCM or FCM-Rrituximab + FCM; that is, rituximab, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, mitoxantroneB cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma
R-ICE or ICE-R or RICErituximab + ICE; that is, rituximab, ifosfamide, carboplatin, etoposidehigh-risk progressive or recurrent lymphomas
RVDlenalidomide (Revlimid), bortezomib, dexamethasone
Stanford Vdoxorubicin (Adriamycin), mechlorethamine, bleomycin, vinblastine, vincristine, etoposide, prednisoneHodgkin lymphoma
TAC or ACTdocetaxel (Taxotere) or paclitaxel (Taxol), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamidebreast cancer ("TAC" can also refer to tetracaine-adrenaline-cocaine, used as local anesthetic)
TADtioguanine, cytarabine (ara-C), daunorubicinacute myeloid leukemia
TC or CTdocetaxel (Taxotere), cyclophosphamidebreast cancer
TCHdocetaxel (Taxotere), carboplatin, trastuzumab (Herceptin)breast cancer with positive HER2/neu receptor
TCHPdocetaxel (Taxotere), carboplatin, trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab (Perjeta)breast cancer with positive HER2/neu receptor
Thal/Dexthalidomide, dexamethasonemultiple myeloma
TIPpaclitaxel (Taxol), ifosfamide, platinum agent cisplatin (Platinol)testicular cancer, germ cell tumors in salvage therapy
vincristine, actinomycinWilms' tumor[8]
vincristine, actinomycin, doxorubicin (Adriamycin)Wilms' tumor
VABCDvinblastine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), bleomycin, lomustine (CeeNU), dacarbazineMOPP refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma
VACvincristine, actinomycin, cyclophosphamiderhabdomyosarcoma
VADvincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), dexamethasonemultiple myeloma
VAMPone of 3 combinations of vincristine and othersHodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma
vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), etoposide, cyclophosphamideWilms' tumor
VAPEC-Bvincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), prednisone, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, bleomycinHodgkin's lymphoma
VDC-IEvincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, etoposideEwing's sarcoma
VD-PACEbortezomib, dexamethasone plus platinum agent, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, etoposidemultiple myeloma
VIFUPvinorelbine, cisplatin, fluorouracillocally advanced/metastatic breast cancer
VIPvinblastine, ifosfamide, platinum agent, (etoposide (VP-16) may substitute for vinblastine, making a regimen sometimes referred to as VIP-16)[9] [10] testicular cancer, germ cell tumors
VTD-PACEbortezomib (Velcade), thalidomide, dexamethasone plus platinum agent, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, etoposidemultiple myeloma
V-DCEPbortezomib (Velcade), dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, platinum agentrelapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Mayer RJ . Targeted therapy for advanced colorectal cancer—more is not always better . N Engl J Med . 360 . 6 . 623–5 . February 2009 . 19196680 . 10.1056/NEJMe0809343 . letter commenting on the Clinical trial: Tol J, Koopman M, Cats A, Rodenburg CJ, Creemers GJ, Schrama JG, Erdkamp FL, Vos AH, van Groeningen CJ, Sinnige HA, Richel DJ, Voest EE, Dijkstra JR, Vink-Börger ME, Antonini NF, Mol L, van Krieken JH, Dalesio O, Punt CJ . Chemotherapy, bevacizumab, and cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer . N Engl J Med . 360 . 6 . 563–72 . February 2009 . 19196673 . 10.1056/NEJMoa0808268 . 2066/79995 . free .
  2. http://www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/cancernet-feature-articles/treatments-tests-and-procedures/explaining-maintenance-therapy Cancer.net - Explaining Maintenance Therapy
  3. http://hemonc.org/wiki/Hodgkin_lymphoma BEACOPP chemotherapy regimen
  4. Web site: MVAC Still the 'Best Treatment' for Advanced Bladder Cancer Patients. 1999 . 2010-11-18 . 2012-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120109174736/http://www.cancernetwork.com/bladder-cancer/content/article/10165/71963 . dead .
  5. Web site: Ovarian Cancer Chemotherapy: Know Your Treatment Options.
  6. 10.1002/1097-0142(197307)32:1<69::AID-CNCR2820320109>3.0.CO;2-0 . 4515259 . 32 . 1 . POMP combination chemotherapy of adult acute leukemia . 1973 . Cancer . 69–75 . Rodriguez Victorio. free .
  7. Kiesewetter B, Mayerhoefer ME, Lukas J, Zielinski CC, Müllauer L, Raderer M . Rituximab plus bendamustine is active in pretreated patients with extragastric marginal zone B cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) . Ann. Hematol. . 93 . 2 . 249–53 . 2014 . 23925930 . 10.1007/s00277-013-1865-3 . 12851937 .
  8. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/wilms/HealthProfessional/Page5 Treatment of Wilms Tumor
  9. El Weshi. A. Memon. M. Raja. M. Bazarbashi. S. Rahal. M. El Foudeh. M. Pai. C. Allam. A. El Hassan. I. Ezzat. A. VIP (etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin) in adult patients with recurrent or refractory Ewing sarcoma family of tumors.. American Journal of Clinical Oncology. October 2004. 27. 5. 529–34. 15596925. 10.1097/01.coc.0000135815.94162.83. 6362786.
  10. Kosmidis. P. Mylonakis. N. Fountzilas. G. Pavlidis. N. Samantas. E. Karabelis. A. Kattis. K. Skarlos. D. A prospective randomized phase III study in non-small-cell lung cancer comparing cisplatin, ifosfamide, vinblastine (VIP) versus cisplatin, ifosfamide and etoposide (VIP-16). Hellenic Co-Operative Oncology Group.. Annals of Oncology. July 1996. 7. 5. 517–20. 8839908. 10.1093/oxfordjournals.annonc.a010642. free.