title: High-dose methotrexate for non-AIDS primary central nervous system lymphoma. Report of 13 cases.
abstract: Thirteen patients with primary lymphoma of the central nervous system (CNS) were treated with high-dose intravenous methotrexate (MTX), 3.5 gm/sq m, followed by calcium leucovorin rescue, at 3-week intervals, for three cycles. Eleven patients subsequently received radiation therapy to the whole brain, 30 to 44 Gy. Before radiation therapy, eight patients responded completely and four partially; there was one non-responder. The median Karnofsky score before high-dose MTX therapy was 60 and increased to 90 after treatment. Five of the eight complete responders reached a Karnofsky rating of 100. The three longest responders (one of whom received MTX only) were without recurrence of their disease at 29+, 32, and 32+ months posttherapy. The median response period is 9+ months. The median survival time from the date of the first MTX treatment is 9+ months, and the three longest survival times are 29+, 32+, and 54+ months. All patients received corticosteroids in either unchanging or diminishing dosages during therapy. It is concluded that primary CNS lymphoma is sensitive to high-dose MTX, which provides a safe and easily administered adjuvant to radiation therapy for this neoplasm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gabbai
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Hochberg
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Linggood
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hotleman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
chemical_list: D008727:Methotrexate