Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the CNS treated with CHOD/BVAM or BVAM chemotherapy before radiotherapy: long-term survival and prognostic factors.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term survival and prognostic factors associated with the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and dexamethasone (CHOD)/carmustine, vincristine, methotrexate, and cytarabine (BVAM) and BVAM chemotherapy regimens followed by cranial radiotherapy in the treatment of primary central nervous system (CNS) non-Hodgkin lymphoma.


METHODS
Since 1986, high-dose methotrexate (1.5 g/m(2)), cytarabine, vincristine, and carmustine have been used in the BVAM chemotherapy regimen for primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with one cycle of CHOD given before BVAM in patients <or=70 years of age from 1990 onward.


RESULTS
The median age for the 77 patients treated was 60 years and the median follow-up of surviving patients was 3 years (range, 1.4-15.2 years). The complete response rate after chemotherapy was 62% and after additional radiotherapy was 73%. Multivariate analysis of overall survival showed age (p = 0.004), performance status (p = 0.007), and number of tumors (unifocal disease vs. multifocal disease; p = 0.005) to be statistically significant prognostic factors. Survival decreased with increasing age and performance status score. Using a prediction score giving 1 point for each adverse prognostic factor (age >or=60 years, performance status >or=2, and multifocal and/or meningeal disease [advanced stage]), a score of 0 (8 patients) was associated with a median survival of 55 months, a score of 1 (29 patients) of 41 months, a score of 2 (28 patients) of 32 months, and a score of 3 (12 patients) a median survival of 1 month (p <0.001). The actuarial overall survival for the 35 patients aged <60 years was 32.4% (95% confidence interval, 14.1-50.8%) at 10 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The Nottingham/Barcelona prediction score, which is similar to the International Prognostic Index, may be useful in comparing survival with different regimens studied in Phase II trials. Patients with primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma aged <60 years treated with CHOD/BVAM or BVAM followed by radiotherapy have a similar long-term survival to that of patients with large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at other extranodal sites.
Bessell
Eric M
EM
Department of Clinical Oncology, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham City, United Kingdom. ebessell@ncht.trent.nhs.uk
Graus
Francesc
F
Lopez-Guillermo
Armando
A
Lewis
Sarah A
SA
Villa
Salvador
S
Verger
Eugenia
E
Petit
Josep
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002330:Carmustine; D008727:Methotrexate