title: Gemcitabine as single agent in pretreated T-cell lymphoma patients: evaluation of the long-term outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral T-cell lymphoma unspecified (PTCLU) and mycosis fungoides (MF) often show resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Gemcitabine should be considered a suitable option. We report the long-term update of 39 pretreated T-cell lymphoma patients treated with gemcitabine.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 1997 to September 2007, 39 pretreated MF and PTCLU patients received gemcitabine. Inclusion criteria were as follows: histologic diagnosis of MF or PTCLU; relapsed/refractory disease; age > or =18 years; and World Health Organization performance status of two or less. Nineteen patients had MF and 20 PTCLU. All patients with MF had a T3-T4, N0, and M0 disease and patients with PTCLU had stage III-IV disease. Gemcitabine was given on days 1, 8, and 15 on a 28-day schedule (1200 mg/m(2)/day) for a total of three to six cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall response rate was 51% (20 of 39 patients); complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were 23% (9 of 39 patients) and 28% (11 of 39 patients), respectively. Patients with MF had a CR rate of 16% and a PR rate of 32% compared with a CR rate of 30% and a PR rate of 25% of PTCLU patients. Among the CR patients, 7 of 9 are in continuous complete response with a variable disease-free interval (15-120 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, gemcitabine proved to be effective in pretreated MF and PTCLU patients, even in the long term.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: pierluigi.zinzani@unibo.it.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zinzani
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stefoni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fina
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derenzini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gandolfi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broccoli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Argnani
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quirini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology 'L. e A. Seràgnoli', University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine