Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma: clinical and prognostic evaluation of 90 adult patients.
OBJECTIVE
During the last few years, the application of CD30 monoclonal antibodies has led to the identification of a new lymphoma entity, termed anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). This tumor includes four distinct histologic subtypes, among which the Hodgkin's-like/Hodgkin's-related one (ALCL-HL) shares morphologic and phenotypic features with Hodgkin's disease (HD).


METHODS
From September 1988 to October 1993, 90 ALCL patients were treated with third-generation chemotherapy regimens (either vincristine, cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil, cytarabine, doxorubicin, methotrexate with leucovorin, and prednisone [F-MACHOP] or methotrexate with leucovorin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin [MACOP-B]) during the course of an Italian multicentric randomized trial on high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (HG-NHL). In particular, 47 patients had ALCL of the common type (ALCL-CT) and 43 ALCL-HL. Null phenotype was the most common (39.8%), while T-cell, B-cell, and hybrid forms accounted for 35.5%, 22.2%, and 2.5%, respectively.


RESULTS
Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 66 of 90 (73.5%) patients (33 of 47 [70%] with ALCL-CT and 33 of 43 [77%] with ALCL-HL). The majority of the patients in CR (56.5%) were alive and well at a median follow-up time of 38 months; no significant differences were observed between the two histologic groups, with the rate of complete responders being 49% and 65% in ALCL-CT and ALCL-HL, respectively. The probability of relapse-free survival (RFS), projected at 63 months, was 67% for ALCL-CT and 82% for ALCL-HL. The risk of lower CR and RFS rates was associated with the presence of bulky disease, advanced stage, and B symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The data of the present study confirm that ALCL responds to third-generation chemotherapy regimens similarly to other aggressive malignant lymphomas in terms of both CR and RFS rates.
Zinzani
P L
PL
Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli," Bologna, Italy.
Bendandi
M
M
Martelli
M
M
Falini
B
B
Sabattini
E
E
Amadori
S
S
Gherlinzoni
F
F
Martelli
M F
MF
Mandelli
F
F
Tura
S
S
Pileri
S A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003561:Cytarabine; D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate