When patients are diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, their doctor develops a treatment plan.  The type of treatment a patient will get depends on the stage of the disease, the patient’s symptoms, the patient’s age and general health, and other factors.¹ Children may receive different types of therapy than adults, and even people that are the same age with the same stage of cancer may get different treatments.

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the most common treatments for advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma, although other types of treatments are being studied.²

What Is Matulane®?

Matulane® (procarbazine hydrochloride) is indicated for use in combination with other anticancer drugs for the treatment of stage III and IV Hodgkin's disease. Matulane® is used as part of the MOPP (nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone) regimen.

Dosage and Administration

The following doses are for administration of the drug as a single agent. When used in combination with other anticancer drugs, the Matulane® dose should be appropriately reduced, eg, in the MOPP regimen, the Matulane® dose is 100 mg/m2 daily for 14 days.

For other combinations see: Treatment Option Overview.

Adults

To minimize the nausea and vomiting experienced by a high percentage of patients beginning Matulane® therapy, single or divided doses of 2 to 4 mg/kg/day for the first week are recommended. Daily dosages should then be maintained at 4 to 6 mg/kg/day until maximum response is obtained or until the white blood cell count falls below 4000/cmm or the platelets fall below 100,000/cmm. When maximum response is obtained, the dose may be maintained at 1 to 2 mg/kg/day. Upon evidence of hematologic or other toxicity (see PRECAUTIONS section of Prescribing Information), the drug should be discontinued until there has been satisfactory recovery. After toxic side effects have subsided, therapy may then be resumed at the discretion of the physician, based on clinical evaluation and appropriate laboratory studies, at a dosage of 1 to 2 mg/kg/day.

Pediatric Patients

Very close clinical monitoring is mandatory. Undue toxicity, evidenced by tremors, coma, and convulsions, has occurred in a few cases. Dosage, therefore, should be individualized. The following dosage schedule is provided as a guideline only.

Fifty (50) mg per square meter of body surface per day is recommended for the first week. Dosage should then be maintained at 100 mg per square meter of body surface per day until maximum response is obtained or until leukopenia or thrombocytopenia occurs. When maximum response is attained, the dose may be maintained at 50 mg per square meter of body surface per day. Upon evidence of hematologic or other toxicity (see PRECAUTIONS section of Prescribing Information), the drug should be discontinued until satisfactory recovery. After toxic side effects have subsided, therapy may then be resumed.

Matulane® (procarbazine hydrochloride) is available as a capsule.

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References:

1. National Cancer Institute. Treatments. In: What you need to know aboutTM: Hodgkin's Disease. Available at: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/hodgkins/page6. Accessed June 21, 2005.
2. National Cancer Institute. Methods of treatment. In: What you need to know aboutTM: Hodgkin's Disease. Available at: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/hodgkins/page9. Accessed June 21.2005.