CHOP (chemotherapy)

CHOP is the acronym for a chemotherapy regimen used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. CHOP consists of:

• Cyclophosphamide, an alkylating agent which damages DNA by binding to it and causing the formation of cross-links
• Hydroxydaunorubicin (also called doxorubicin or adriamycin), an intercalating agent which damages DNA by inserting itself between DNA bases
• Oncovin (vincristine), which prevents cells from duplicating by binding to the protein tubulin
• Prednisone or Prednisolone, which are corticosteroids.

Sometimes the chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, is added to this treatment regimen to form the R-CHOP regimen.