Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related lymphoma: simultaneous treatment with combined cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy and highly active antiretroviral therapy is safe and improves survival--results of the German Multicenter Trial.
BACKGROUND
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved the survival of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related lymphoma (ARL). The German ARL Study Group investigated whether HAART administered concomitantly with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) chemotherapy compromised the course of immune parameters during and after chemotherapy and exerted a positive effect on remission and survival.


METHODS
From 1997 to 2001, 72 patients with ARL were stratified prospectively into a standard-risk group (n = 48 patients) and a high-risk group (n = 24 patients) with either 0-1 or 2-3 of the following risk factors: CD4 < 50/microL, prior opportunistic infection, and/or a World Health Organization performance status > or = 3. Patients in the high-risk group received > or =75% of the CHOP regimen.


RESULTS
In the standard-risk group (CD4 = 223/muL; age-adjusted International Prognostic Index [aaIPI], 38% > or = 2), the complete remission (CR) rate was 79%, and median survival was not reached after a median 47 months of follow-up. CD4 counts did not change from baseline to 4 weeks after the end of chemotherapy (206/microL). In the high-risk group (CD4 = 34/muL; aaIPI, 88% > or = 2), the CR rate was 29%, and the median survival was 7.2 months (3 patients survived for > 3 yrs). Toxicity was moderate: Leukopenia Grade 3 or 4 occurred in 100 of 249 chemotherapy cycles (40%) in the standard-risk group and in 70 of 102 cycles (69%) in the high-risk group.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the aaIPI, the survival of patients in the standard-risk group was very similar to that achieved by nonhuman immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who had aggressive lymphomas. Concurrent CHOP plus HAART can be administered in an outpatient setting. Thus, the authors recommend using this modality as first-line therapy for patients with ARL.
Weiss
Rudolf
R
Private Practice for Hematology, Oncology and Infectious Diseases, Bremen, Germany.
Mitrou
Paris
P
Arasteh
Keikawus
K
Schuermann
Dirk
D
Hentrich
Marcus
M
Duehrsen
Ulrich
U
Sudeck
Hinrich
H
Schmidt-Wolf
Ingo G H
IG
Anagnostopoulos
Ioannis
I
Huhn
Dieter
D
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone