title: Primary systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma in a single Korean institution: clinical characteristics and treatment outcome.
abstract: Despite advances in the characterization of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), little data is available on Asian patients. We report here upon single Korean institution's experience regarding the clinical characteristics and outcomes of ALCL. We performed a retrospective study of 32 adults with ALCL. Most of the patients received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Ann Arbor stage III-IV, B symptoms, high-intermediate/ high International Prognostic Index (IPI), and extranodal disease at diagnosis were present in 56%, 44%, 41%, and 63%, respectively. Compared with Western studies, the male/female ratio (4.3) was markedly higher and skin (9%) and bone involvement (9%) were less frequent. The staining results for anaplastic lymphoma kinase were positive in 6 (33%) of 18 cases available. The complete response (CR) rate was 62% (95% CI, 44-80%). With a median follow-up of 51.0 months, 5 yr overall survival was 40+/-11%. The 3 yr relapse-free survival for the 18 patients who achieved CR was 74+/-12%. Age, performance status, lactate dehydrogenase, extranodal disease sites number, and IPI were correlated with treatment response and survival. Our data suggest that Korean ALCL patients appear to have a higher male/female ratio, less frequent skin/bone involvement, and lower CR rate compared with those of Western studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Chongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sook Ryun
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Dong-Wan
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok-Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Tae-You
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yung-Jue
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Noe Kyeong
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Chul Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae Seog
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Heo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D007723:Korea; D017728:Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017730:Ki-1 Antigen