title: Chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy in limited-stage diffuse aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study 1484.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare low-dose (30 Gy) radiotherapy (RT) with observation (OBS) in limited-stage aggressive lymphoma patients achieving complete remission (CR) after chemotherapy, and to measure conversion from partial response (PR) to CR with high-dose (40 Gy) RT.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1984 to 1992, stage I (with risk factors) and II adults with diffuse aggressive lymphoma in CR after eight cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) were randomly assigned to 30 Gy involved-field RT or OBS. PR patients received 40 Gy RT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 172 CR patients, the 6-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 73% for low-dose RT versus 56% for OBS (two-sided P = .05). Failure-free survival (two-sided P = .06), and time to progression (two-sided P = .06) also favored RT. Intent-to-treat analyses yielded similar results. No survival differences were observed. Three RT versus 15 OBS patients relapsed in initial disease sites. At 6 years, failure-free survival was 63% in PR patients; conversion to CR did not significantly influence clinical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients in CR after CHOP, low-dose RT prolonged DFS and provided local control, but no survival benefit was observed. The majority of PR patients were event-free at 6 years despite residual radiographic abnormalities. Future efforts should be directed toward improved imaging and more effective systemic therapies.
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, 875 Blake Wilbur Dr, Suite 2338, Stanford, CA 94305-5821, USA. sandra.horning@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Horning
authors.forename: Edie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: KyungMann
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Earle
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Habermann
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Glick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone