Intensive chemotherapy (high-dose CHOP/ESHAP regimen) followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation in previously untreated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze toxicity, response and outcome of a phase II trial with intensive chemotherapy plus autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) for young patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).


METHODS
Forty-one patients [30 males and 11 females, median age 47 years] consecutively diagnosed with PTCL received three courses of high-dose cyclophosphamide 2000 mg/m(2)/day, adriamycin 90 mg/m(2)/day, vincristine and prednisone alternating with three courses of etoposide, cisplatin, cytarabine and prednisone. Responders were submitted to ASCT.


RESULTS
Sixty-eight percent of patients received the planned treatment. After chemotherapy, 20 patients reached complete response (CR), 4 partial response and 17 failed. ASCT was carried out in 17 of 24 candidates due to lack of mobilization (three cases), toxicity (two), early relapse and patient decision (one each). CR rate after treatment was 51%. With a median follow-up of 3.2 years, 5 of 21 CR patients relapsed and 2 died in CR due to secondary neoplasms. Four-year progression-free survival was 30%. Twenty-two patients have died, with a 4-year overall survival of 39%. International Prognostic Index was the main variable predicting survival. No differences were seen among the 24 candidates according to whether or not they underwent ASCT.


CONCLUSIONS
This intensive regimen resulted in moderate CR rate, with manageable toxicity in PTCL. The contribution of ASCT in preventing relapse is debatable. Novel strategies to increase CR warrant investigation.
Mercadal
S
S
Department of Hematology, Hospital Clínic, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
Briones
J
J
Xicoy
B
B
Pedro
C
C
Escoda
L
L
Estany
C
C
Camós
M
M
Colomo
L
L
Espinosa
I
I
Martínez
S
S
Ribera
J M
JM
Martino
R
R
Gutiérrez-García
G
G
Montserrat
E
E
López-Guillermo
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000453:epidemiology; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012074:Remission Induction; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin; D008558:Melphalan; D002330:Carmustine; D011241:Prednisone