Definition

An abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination used to treat some types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Hyper-CVAD includes the drugs cyclophosphamide, vincristine sulfate, doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin), and dexamethasone. It also includes the drugs methotrexate and cytarabine. It is given as hyperfractionated therapy, in which the total dose of the drugs is divided into small doses and given more than once a day. Also called hyper-CVAD regimen.