Abstract
Abstract 2824
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in general has been treated 6 or 8 cycles chemotherapy. Not a few patients have had adverse events during chemotherapy and stopped treatment because of treatment related toxicities. Favorable results were reported from NHL-BFM 90 trial on childhood and adolescents B-cell NHL with short intensive therapy courses depending on stage and tumor mass. Treatment was stratified into 3 risk groups and patients with initial complete resection received 2 therapy courses. We aimed to investigate effectiveness of short course chemotherapy for localized DLBCL after complete resection in adults.
The records of Asan Medical Center registry for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were reviewed. Between March 2002 and March 2009, 18 patients were enrolled with DLBCL of stage I or II and complete resection before initial chemotherapy. All patients received 3 to 4 courses of rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy (R-CHOP) or CHOP without radiotherapy. Retrospective analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was performed.
The study cohort of 18 patients showed median age of 53.5 years (range 18–69 years) at diagnosis. Ten patients were males. The Ann Arbor stage was I in 14 patients, II in 4 patients. All patients of stage II had gastrointestinal lymphoma with regional lymph node involvement. Only 2 patients had B symptom. All patients were stratified into low-risk group according to international prognostic index (IPI). Most of patients (88.9%) had 3 cycles chemotherapy and 2 patients with 4 cycles. Fifteen patients were treated with R-CHOP and the others with CHOP. The median follow-up time was 27.5 months (range 6.1–100 months). The 2-year DFS was 100% and the 2-year OS was 100% in study cohort.
It has been reported that 4-year OS of DLBCL was 86% in low risk group (0-1 IPI factor) treated with R-CHOP. Favorable result with short course chemotherapy showed in our study despite short follow-up time. On the result, we suggest reduced treatment for localized DLBCL after complete resection. However, prospective study is warranted to investigate effectiveness.
No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Author notes
Asterisk with author names denotes non-ASH members.
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