The potential palliative role and possible immune modulatory effects of low-dose total body irradiation in relapsed or chemo-resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
In a group of 35 patients with relapsed and/or chemo-resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), low-dose total body irradiation (LTBI) (+involved-field radiotherapy to bulky sites) achieved a complete remission rate of 29%, 2-years progression-free survival of 32% and a median progression-free survival of 12 months. The 2-year survival was 42% and the median survival was 17 months. Immuno-staining and flow cytometry of peripheral blood in 14 patients showed that LTBI leads to a significant increase in the percentage of CD4+ cells with a consequent significant increase in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. High lymphocytic percent and a high percentage of CD4+ cells before LTBI were significantly correlated with longer response duration and overall survival. These data may suggest that the palliative potential of LTBI should be investigated as an alternative to chemotherapy in NHL patients. The pre-treatment percentage of lymphocytes and CD4+ cells may be used as predictors for response to LTBI.
Radiotherapy Department, The National Cancer Institute, Fom-Elkhalig, Cairo, Egypt.
Akmal
A
Safwat
Yasser
Y
Bayoumy
Nahla
N
El-Sharkawy
Khaled
K
Shaaban
Osman
O
Mansour
Azza
A
Kamel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation