Burkitt's lymphoma: a clinical study of 110 patients.
One hundred and ten previously untreated patients with Burkitt's lymphoma were studied prospectively over a period ranging from over 1 year to 5 years. Of 103 patients who were treated with cyclophosphamide as a single agent, 79 (77%) achieved complete remission. Vincristine plus methotrexate or cytosine arabinoside induced complete remissions in only two of 24 patients who failed to respond to cyclophosphamide. Fifty-two percent of patients who entered complete remission subsequently relapsed with tumor. Relapse was significantly higher in patients who presented with disseminated disease (Stage III-IV) than in patients with localized disease (Stage I-II). Patients who relapsed early (remission duration  less than 12 weeks) had a significantly worse prognosis than patients who relapsed late (remission duration greater than 12 weeks). Actuarial calculated 2- and 4-year survival for all patients was 44% and 38%, respectively. Factors that adversely affected survival were primary resistance to cyclophosphamide, early tumor relapse, central nervous system disease, and involvement of abdominal organs.
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate