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Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Regimen Library

LYM Relapsed - DHAP [dexamethasone, high dose cytarabine and cISplatin]

Treatment Overview

This regimen contains a medicine where one or more biosimilars may exist. Any biosimilars used have been reviewed by the regulator (Medsafe) and relevant specialists were consulted nationally. Where regulators, in consultation with relevant specialists, have agreed that there are no clinically significant differences in either safety or effectiveness between a biosimilar and originator product, these drugs may be used interchangeably.

Cycles 1 to 4 - 21 days

Cycle length:
21

cytarabine: Consider dose reduction of cytarabine to 1000 mg/m2 in patients over 70 years.


If for stem cell harvest, mobilise as per institutional practice.

Cycle details

Cycles 1 to 4 - 21 days

Medication Dose Route Days Max Duration
dexamethasone * 40 mg flat dosing Once daily oral administration 1 to 4
magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 10 mmol intravenous 1 60 minutes
cISplatin * 100 mg/m² intravenous 1 24 hours Min: 24 hours
sodium chloride 0.9 % intravenous 2 60 minutes
cytarabine * 2000 mg/m² Twice daily intravenous 2 3 hours
prednisolone acetate 1% (10 mg/mL) eye drops * 1 Drop Every four hours application to the eye 2, 3, 4
pegFILGRASTIM 6 mg subcutaneous injection 4

cytarabine: Consider dose reduction of cytarabine to 1000 mg/m2 in patients over 70 years.


If for stem cell harvest, mobilise as per institutional practice.

Full details

Cycles 1 to 4 - 21 days

Day: 1

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
dexamethasone * 40 mg flat dosing Once daily oral administration
Instructions:

Take in the morning with food.

magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 10 mmol intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
In 1000 mL of sodium chloride 0.9%, prior to cISplatin infusion.
cISplatin * 100 mg/m² intravenous 24 hours Min: 24 hours
Instructions:

In 1000 mL of sodium chloride 0.9% administered by continuous infusion over 24 hours.

  • Hydration (which may include mannitol) in addition to that specified is recommended as per institutional practice; an individualised approach may be needed.
  • Ensure patient has passed urine as per institutional policy.
  • Hypersensitivity risk increases with number of cycles of cISplatin.

Day: 2

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
dexamethasone * 40 mg flat dosing Once daily oral administration
Instructions:

Take in the morning with food.

sodium chloride 0.9 % intravenous 60 minutes
Quantity:1000 mL
Instructions:

After cISplatin infusion.

cytarabine * 2000 mg/m² Twice daily intravenous 3 hours
Instructions:

Every 12 hours for 2 doses on day 2.

Consider dose reduction to 1000 mg/m2 in patients over 70 years.

prednisolone acetate 1% (10 mg/mL) eye drops * 1 Drop Every four hours application to the eye
Instructions:

Instil ONE drop into each eye every FOUR hours on days 2 to 4.

Day: 3

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
dexamethasone * 40 mg flat dosing Once daily oral administration
Instructions:

Take in the morning with food.

prednisolone acetate 1% (10 mg/mL) eye drops * 1 Drop Every four hours application to the eye
Instructions:

Instil ONE drop into each eye every FOUR hours on days 2 to 4.

Day: 4

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
dexamethasone * 40 mg flat dosing Once daily oral administration
Instructions:

Take in the morning with food.

prednisolone acetate 1% (10 mg/mL) eye drops * 1 Drop Every four hours application to the eye
Instructions:

Instil ONE drop into each eye every FOUR hours on days 2 to 4.

pegFILGRASTIM 6 mg subcutaneous injection

Supportive Care Factors

Factor Value
Antiviral prophylaxis for herpes virus: Routine antiviral prophylaxis may be considered
Emetogenicity: High
Gastroprotection: Gastroprotection may be considered
Growth factor support: Recommended for primary prophylaxis
Hydration: Routine hydration recommended
Irradiated blood components: Variable
Ocular toxicity risk: High - administer corticosteroid eyedrops to minimise corneal toxicity
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis: Routine antibiotic prophylaxis recommended
Tumour lysis syndrome prophylaxis: Tumour lysis syndrome prophylaxis is recommended

Antiviral prophylaxis for hepatitis B virus: Guidance is limited to high-risk anti-cancer medicines. Clinicians will need to assess individual patient risk for other anti-cancer medicines.

Irradiated blood components: Required for Hodgkin lymphoma patients at all stages of disease and therapy. Continue indefinitely.

Tumour lysis syndrome prophylaxis: Recommended for cycle 1 and consider for subsequent cycles.

References

Velasquez, W. S., F. Cabanillas, P. Salvador, et al. 1988. "Effective salvage therapy for lymphoma with cisplatin in combination with high-dose Ara-C and dexamethasone (DHAP)." Blood. 71(1):117-122., PMID: 3334893

Philip, T., C. Guglielmi, A. Hagenbeek, et al. 1995. "Autologous bone marrow transplantation as compared with salvage chemotherapy in relapses of chemotherapy-sensitive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma." N.Engl.J Med. 333(23):1540-1545., PMID: 7477169

Guglielmi, C., F. Gomez, T. Philip, et al. 1998. "Time to relapse has prognostic value in patients with aggressive lymphoma enrolled onto the Parma trial." J Clin Oncol 16(10):3264-3269., PMID: 9779700

Josting, A., C. Rudolph, M. Reiser, et al. 2002. "Time-intensified dexamethasone/cisplatin/cytarabine: an effective salvage therapy with low toxicity in patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin's disease." Ann Oncol 13(10):1628-1635., PMID: 12377653

Sasse, S., M. Alram, H. Muller, et al. 2016. "Prognostic relevance of DHAP dose-density in relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma: an analysis of the German Hodgkin-Study Group." Leuk Lymphoma 57(5):1067-1073. , PMID: 26693800

Tixier, F., F. Ranchon, A. Iltis, et al. 2016. "Comparative toxicities of 3 platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens in relapsed/refractory lymphoma patients." Hematol Oncol. , PMID: 27377614

Boulanger J, Boursiquot JN, Cournoyer G, et al. Management of hypersensitivity to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy: cepo review and clinical recommendations. Curr Oncol. 2014;21(4):e630-e641., PMID: 25089112

Castells, M.C., Matulonis, U.A., and Horton, TM. Infusion reactions to systemic chemotherapy. Savarese DMF and Feldweg AM, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/infusion-reactions-to-systemic-chemotherapy (Accessed 26 March 2021).

New Zealand Blood Service Transfusion Medicine Handbook Third Edition, 2016 https://www.nzblood.co.nz/assets/Transfusion-Medicine/PDFs/111G122.pdf (accessed 16 June 2022).

* The medicines, doses, combinations, and schedule in this treatment regimen have been carefully reviewed against international best practice guidelines by specialists in medical oncology around New Zealand and this advice has been accepted for publication by Te Aho o Te Kahu (the Cancer Control Agency). Sometimes medicines that are used in routine clinical practice have not been through a formal review process by the NZ Medicines Regulator Medsafe and are therefore considered unapproved or off-label. These medicines are legally able to be prescribed through sections 25 and 29 of the Medicines Act and by obtaining informed consent from patients. All treatment regimens listed on this website have been through robust peer review and are considered an accepted standard of care, whether prescribed through sections 25 or 29 or carrying formal Medsafe Approval.

s29: This symbol indicates that some formulations of the associated medicine are legally only able to be prescribed under section 29 of the Medicines Act. You can see which formulations are section 29 by hovering over the s29 symbol. You can access full medication details from the New Zealand Formulary by clicking on the medication name. Each clinician retains full responsibility for ensuring they have complied with all relevant obligations and requirements of section 29 including obtaining informed patient consent prior to prescribing the applicable medicine.