Treatment of advanced stage diffuse, small non-cleaved cell lymphoma in childhood: further experience with total therapy B.
Prior to the development of intensive treatments for patients with advanced stage B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL), the prognosis for such patients was dismal. A minority of patients attained long-term, disease-free survival. Since 1981, we have treated 28 children with advanced stage B-NHL with an intensive chemotherapeutic protocol, Total Therapy B. This regimen employs cycles of fractionated high-dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine alternating with sequential infusions of high-dose methotrexate and escalating doses of cytarabine, in addition to intensive intrathecal therapy. The planned duration of therapy is approximately 6 months. Two patients had B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 26 had stage III B-NHL; none had CNS involvement. The median age was 7 years. All 28 patients achieved complete remission (CR). Both patients with B-ALL and 21 of 26 with stage III B-NHL remain in CR, with a median follow-up of 51 months. Treatment failures included 3 patients with recurrent or progressive disease, 1 toxic death in CR, and 1 patient who developed a secondary mediastinal T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma 4 1/2 years after the diagnosis of B-NHL. The 2- and 5-year event-free survival rates were 85.7 +/- 6.6% (SE) and 79.6 +/- 8.5%, respectively. Total Therapy B is a highly effective therapy for children with advanced stage B-NHL without CNS involvement.
Griffin
T C
TC
Cook-Ft. Worth Children's Medical Center, Texas 76104.
Bowman
W P
WP
Winick
N J
NJ
Buchanan
G R
GR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate