title: Prognostic significance of serum lactate dehydrogenase in malignant lymphoma.
abstract: The pretreatment serum lactate dehydrogenase level (LDH) was the single most important prognostic variable in 30 patients with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma treated between January 1973 and January 1977 with a poly-drug chemotherapy program called the cyclophosphamide L2 protocol at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. A highly significant difference was found between the survival patterns of patients with LDH levels of 500 U or less and those with LDH levels greater than 500 U. (Two-year survival rates were 67% and 13%, respectively.) A similar trend was observed for 25 patients with diffuse, poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma treated with the same protocol, although this difference was not statistically significant. (Corresponding two-year survival rates were 74% and 33%, respectively.) The association of LDH level with survival was evident even after adjustment for other factors of potential prognostic significance. Pretreatment serum LDH determinations may provide a useful means of stratifying patient populations when comparing treatment programs for advanced stage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase