title: Chemotherapy as first treatment for primary malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system preliminary data.
abstract: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system (NHL-CNS) is thought to account for about 1% of primary brain tumours. Radiation therapy has mainly been applied to treat cerebral lymphoma, but the low cure rate and the lack of enduring response have stimulated the search for alternatives. With the aim of postponing radiotherapy as long as possible, we tested the efficacy of a M-BACOD schedule administered immediately after histological diagnosis in 14 patients. After two M-BACOD courses 10 (71%) patients displayed an objective response (i.e. were apparently tumour-free when examined by CT). In 6 (60%) M-BACOD-responsive patients, radiotherapy was delayed for 5 months (without recurrences after a follow-up ranging from 9 to 18 months). Moreover, in 3 M-BACOD-responsive patients, no recurrence took place (even without radiotherapy) after a follow-up of 6-12 months. We conclude that radiation can be postponed after chemotherapy or delayed until tumor recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico, C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boiardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmaggi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allegranza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Broggi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002955:Leucovorin; D008727:Methotrexate