Cancer
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Patients with relapsed or resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) have a poor prognosis and are rarely cured with usual salvage chemotherapy. Intensive treatment with the support of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) may be an effective therapy for these patients. We used a combination of ifosfamide, etoposide, cytarabine, and methotrexate (IVAM) with the intention both to reduce tumor burden and collect PBSC prior to transplantation. ⋯ We conclude that IVAM is an effective salvage chemotherapy for refractory or relapsed NHL and permits PBSC collection in most of these patients.