title: Outcome of children with B cell lymphoma in Venezuela with the LMB-89 protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We analyzed the results of the LMB-89 protocol performed in seven centers in Venezuela in 96 children having B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated from 1995 to 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mean age was 7.1 years with 71 (74%) been male. Eighty-two patients (85%) had diffuse small cell lymphoma Burkitt and Burkitt-like, and 14 (15%) had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Initial disease sites included the abdomen in 67%, peripheral nodes in 8%, and mediastinal in 4%. Treatment was directed to risk groups as described for LMB-89 protocol. Group A: seven patients (7%), group B: 80 patients (83%), and group C: nine patients (9%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 35 +/- 31 months. Complete remission (CR) occurred in 70 patients (73%); four patients (6%) had relapse during the first year and ten patients (10%) had progressive disease. Overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) were 85 and 80% at 1 year, and 82 and 75% at 2 years, respectively. The EFS by therapeutic groups at 3 years was A: 100%; B: 76%, and C: 56%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  neutropenia in 75%, thrombocytopenia in 63%, febrile neutropenia in 39%. Viral infections: hepatitis B in 20%, hepatitis C in 2%, and Herpes zoster in 3%. Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) occurred in 9% during induction phase with a high mortality of 44% (urate-oxidase was available only at the end of the study).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high mortality rate during induction phase prohibited a better EFS. Prophylactic use of xantine-oxidase may improve future results. The high incidence of hepatitis B requires a vaccination program.
authors.affiliation: BADAN Transversal 2, Los Cortijos de Lourdes, Edificio Centro Los Cortijos, Caracas, Venezuela. asesoria@badan.org
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acquatella
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Insausti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nouel
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014687:Venezuela; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002955:Leucovorin; D011241:Prednisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008727:Methotrexate