Objective  This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of GDP chemotherapy for nonspecific peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) compared with the CHOP regimen.

  Methods  Between January 2008 and December 2011, 14 nonspecific PTCL patients were treated with the GDP regimen and 15 were treated with the CHOP regimen. The curative effects and the adverse reactions were analyzed and compared between the two groups by χ² text and Log-Rank test.

  Results  The overall response (OR) rate was 78.57 % among the patients in the GDP group and 60 % in Objectives: the CHOP group. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups (P < 0. 05). The progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 9.79 months in the GDP group and 4.2 months in the CHOP group. The overall survival (OS) was 17.36 months in the GDP group and 17.27 months in the CHOP group. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups (P < 0. 05). The main side effect was bone marrow depression, and grade 3 or grade 4 hematologic toxicity occurred in 18.42% of the patients in the GDP group and 33.33 % of those in the CHOP group.

  Conclusion  GDP regimen is more effective for nonspecific peripheral T-cell lymphoma than the CHOP regimens. Although the hematological toxicity of GDP regimen is serious, the regimen is expected to be the first-line treatment for PTCL.