ACVBP versus CHOP plus radiotherapy for localized aggressive lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
Chemoradiotherapy is standard treatment for localized aggressive lymphoma. To determine the optimal therapy for nonelderly persons with low-risk localized lymphoma, we conducted a randomized trial comparing chemoradiotherapy with chemotherapy alone.


METHODS
Previously untreated patients less than 61 years old with localized stage I or II aggressive lymphoma and no adverse prognostic factors according to the International Prognostic Index were randomly assigned to three cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) plus involved-field radiotherapy (329 patients) or chemotherapy alone with dose-intensified doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone (ACVBP) plus sequential consolidation (318 patients).


RESULTS
With a median follow-up of 7.7 years, event-free and overall survival rates were significantly higher in the group given chemotherapy alone than in the group given CHOP plus radiotherapy (P<0.001 and P=0.001, respectively). The five-year estimates of event-free survival were 82 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 78 to 87 percent) for patients receiving chemotherapy alone and 74 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 69 to 78 percent) for those receiving chemoradiotherapy. The respective five-year estimates of overall survival were 90 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 87 to 93 percent) and 81 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 77 to 86 percent). In a multivariate analysis, event-free and overall survival rates were affected by treatment group, independently of tumor stage and the presence or absence of bulky disease.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients under 61 years of age, chemotherapy with three cycles of ACVBP followed by sequential consolidation is superior to three cycles of CHOP plus radiotherapy for the treatment of low-risk localized lymphoma.
Reyes
Félix
F
Hôpital Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Créteil, France. felix.reyes@hmn.ap-hop-paris.fr
Lepage
Eric
E
Ganem
Gérard
G
Molina
Thierry J
TJ
Brice
Pauline
P
Coiffier
Bertrand
B
Morel
Pierre
P
Ferme
Christophe
C
Bosly
Andre
A
Lederlin
Pierre
P
Laurent
Guy
G
Tilly
Hervé
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014751:Vindesine; D011241:Prednisone