Primary central nervous system lymphoma in an Asian population: a 15-year experience.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to characterize primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) among Asian patients and to determine their outcomes with different therapeutic modalities.


METHODS
Between 1990 and 2005, 37 patients with PCNSL were analyzed within 5 different treatment groups: radiotherapy alone (arm A), combined chemoradiation (arm B), chemotherapy alone with methotrexate (MTX) > or = 1 g/m2 (arm C), miscellaneous therapy (arm D), and best supportive care (arm E).


RESULTS
The median age at presentation was 59 years, and the majority of patients were male (68%). All patients had aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The number of patients in arms A to E were 6, 16, 3, 8 and 4, respectively. The overall median survival was 7.4 months, 54.1 months, not reached, 8.9 months and 0.9 months, respectively. Use of MTX 1-2.5 g/m2 per cycle and an ECOG performance status of 0-2 were each associated with improved survival on univariate analysis (p = 0.022 and p = 0.049, respectively). Compared to radiotherapy alone, use of combined chemo-radiation was associated with a trend towards improved overall median survival (7.4 vs. 54.1 months, p = 0.058).


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in our Asian patients were comparable to those reported in Western series. Use of MTX 1-2.5 g/m2 per cycle and an ECOG performance status of 0-2 were associated with improved survival.
Quek
Richard
R
Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
Ty
Albert
A
Lim
Soon Thye
ST
See
Siew-Ju
SJ
Wong
Meng Cheong
MC
Yap
Swee Peng
SP
Sng
Ivy
I
Hee
Siew Wan
SW
Tao
Miriam
M
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome