Alfacalcidol as a modulator of growth of low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Abstract

Ten patients with low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (seven follicular small cleaved and three small lymphocytic) were treated with 1 μg oral alfacalcidol (la-hydroxycholecalciferol) daily. Of the seven patients with lymphomas of follicular small cleaved subtype, one achieved complete and three partial remission, whereas none of three patients with small lymphocytic lymphomas responded. In seven of the 10 patients, l,25(OH)2D3receptors were measured in tissue from lymph nodes, and a positive correlation between the presence and amount of receDtor and response to alfacalcidol was found. These preliminary data suggest that alfacalcidol has appreciable antitumour activity in low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. © 1985, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.