• CHOP—cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin , vincristine and prednisone—is also commonly used.
These agents are given by vein during the first day of each monthly cycle. During the first month of
therapy, spinal taps are repeated once a week for four weeks. Specific chemotherapy drugs such as cytosine
arabinoside (Ara-C) or methotrexate are injected directly into the spinal fluid to prevent relapse in this site.
Radiation If the brain is involved by lymphoma, radiation therapy will also be given. But for all
practical purposes, there is no such thing as localizing AIDS-related lymphoma. All patients must receive multi-agent chemotherapy in order to achieve cure. Local radiation therapy alone is not expected to be effective in the long run.
