Long-term remission of children with relapsed and secondary anaplastic large cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ALCL) following treatment with pulsed dexamethasone and low dose etoposide.
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) accounts for approximately 15% of childhood NHL. Relapsed ALCL represents a formidable challenge because outcome is poor despite the use of high-dose chemotherapy regimens. We report two patients with relapsed T-type and 0-type ALCL who achieved long-term 3rd and 4th remissions with 4-weekly oral dexamethasone (DEX) and etoposide pulses for 2 years. This regimen also induced and maintained remission in a third patient with Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) with secondary T-type ALCL. These patients demonstrate that low-intensity oral chemotherapy can induce long-term remissions and offer a curative perspective in refractory, relapsed and secondary ALCL.
Stockklausner
Clemens
C
Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Behnisch
Wolfgang
W
Mechtersheimer
Gunhild
G
Möller
Peter
P
Kulozik
Andreas E
AE
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction
D005047:Etoposide; D003907:Dexamethasone