title: Response to chemotherapy and treating institution predict survival in primary central nervous system lymphoma.
abstract: The majority of the available data on primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) derive from small unicentric or oligocentric studies. In this multicentre study, we evaluated the response, survival and toxicity in PCNSL patients after carmustine, methotrexate 1.5 g/m2, procarbazine and dexamethasone (BMPD) chemotherapy and searched for prognostic factors. Fifty-six patients received the BMPD protocol (dexamethasone was given only in course 1). The overall complete response rate to chemotherapy was 61% (34/56). Ten complete responders received whole-brain irradiation and 24 were not irradiated. Responders to chemotherapy had significantly longer median overall survival than non-responders (18.2 vs. 9.9 months, P = 0.02). Median survival was significantly longer at institutions accruing at least four patients than at those with fewer patients (31.5 vs. 9.5 months, P = 0.03).
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine, Charite Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. agnieszka.korfel@charite.de
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korfel
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nowrousian
authors.forename: Dieter K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hossfeld
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchen
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brücher
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stelljes
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birkmann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peschel
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasold
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Kristoph
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jahnke
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; 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; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011344:Procarbazine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002955:Leucovorin; D002330:Carmustine; D008727:Methotrexate