Despite recent advances, treatment of patients with aggressive Non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma (NHL2) has yet to be optimally designed. Notwithstanding the contribution of
molecular treatments, intensification of chemotherapeutic regimens may still be beneficial.
Hoping to aid in the design of intensified chemotherapy, we put forward a mathematical
and computational model that analyses the effect of Doxorubicin on NHL over a wide
range of patho-physiological conditions. The model represents tumour growth both in
diffusion-limited settings, that is, in small avascular tumours and tumour cords, and in
perfusion-limited settings, e.g. in well-vascularized tumours. Model simulations indicated
the presence of a critical regimen intensity below which treatment will fall short of tumour
elimination. Taking this critical intensity into account, we compared two regimen
intensification strategies: Dose escalation and regimen densification, i.e. reducing the
inter-dosing interval. In the diffusion-limited setting, dose escalation was somewhat more
efficient than regimen densification. In the perfusion-limited setting, both intensification
strategies yielded similar results. The present study coupled with a realistic myelotoxicity
model may add insight on the optimisation of NHL intensified chemotherapy design.