A Randomized Study of Lamivudine Prophylaxis or Treatment Against Hepatitis B Reactivation in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Patients Carrying Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

• TREATMENT PLANS

1. Systemic chemotherapy with CHOP regimen Schedule and Dose for CHOP Cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 i.v. Day 1 Doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 i.v. Day 1 Vincristine 1.4 mg/m2/d i.v. Day 1 Prednisolone 60 mg/m2/d p.o. Day 1-7 1.1 Courses will be repeated every 21 days. 1.2 For patients with CR, give at least 2 additional courses for a minimum of 6 courses.

1.3 For patients with maximal response as PR or SD, change to second-line chemotherapy. The regimens for second-line chemotherapy are at the discretion of the investigators. Local radiotherapy is allowed for residual localized 1.4 For patients with PD, change to second-line chemotherapy. The regimens of the latter are at the discretion of the investigators.

2.1 Arm I Patients take lamivudine 100 mg P.O. qd, starting from Day 1 of the first course of CHOP, and until 2 months after the completion of chemotherapy. Lamivudine is to be maintained no matter hepatitis occurred or not during chemotherapy. If second-line chemotherapy is used, lamivudine with the same dose and schedule will be continued until 2 months after completion of the second-line chemotherapy.

If third-line chemotherapy is needed, the use of lamivudine will be at the 2.2 Arm II Patients are treated with CHOP alone. If the patients develop clinical hepatitis, as defined in section 7.2, lamivudine 100 mg, P.O., qd., will be given, and continued until hepatitis is resolved. Prophylactic lamivudine is not to be given in subsequent chemotherapy. (Our previous study has indicated that nearly all clinical hepatitis developed in HBV carriers during systemic chemotherapy is caused by HBV reactivation. Therefore, for practical reason, the investigators are not advised to wait for the results of HBV DNA serology examination before starting lamivudine treatment. )