mitoxantrone + cyclophosphamide + vincristine + prednisolone

MCOP is a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone. It was developed and evaluated in clinical trials, notably by the Cancer Research Campaign Clinical Trials Centre, as an alternative to the standard CHOP regimen (which contains doxorubicin) for elderly patients (aged 65 and over) with intermediate or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The substitution of doxorubicin with mitoxantrone, an anthracenedione, was intended to maintain therapeutic efficacy while potentially reducing the risk of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, a significant concern in older populations. Mitoxantrone functions as a DNA intercalator and a type II topoisomerase inhibitor. Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent that forms DNA cross-links, vincristine is a vinca alkaloid that inhibits microtubule assembly to disrupt mitosis, and prednisolone is a corticosteroid that exerts lympholytic effects through glucocorticoid receptor activation.

Other names

MCOP regimenmitoxantrone-Cancer Research Campaign Clinical Trials Centre-non-Hodgkin's lymphomamitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone