Treatment approaches for primary CNS lymphomas.
BACKGROUND
Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) are rare but potentially curable tumours. The overall outcome for PCNSL patients is unsatisfactory and several therapeutic questions remain open. Modest progress in outcome reflects difficulties in conducting randomized trials and scarce molecular and biological knowledge.


METHODS
This review describes conventional and investigational treatments for PCNSL and focuses on the main questions for future clinical trials. PubMed and the authors' own files were utilized for references search. The terms 'PCNSL', 'primary AND CNS lymphoma', and 'CNS AND lymphoma' were used for PubMed queries. All papers published in English before November 2009 were considered.


RESULTS
This review illustrates how the paradigm for PCNSL treatment changed during the 1990s from radiotherapy alone to the establishment of high-dose methotrexate-cytarabine combination as standard approach. We present promising data from Phase II studies and discuss questions for randomized trials. Finally, we offer a 5-year scenario for the management of PCNSL.


CONCLUSIONS
The methotrexate-cytarabine combination should currently be considered as the reference treatment for PCNSL. Well-designed randomized trials and biological studies deriving from the use of novel technologies will be crucial to further improve outcome in these patients.
Carrabba
Matteo G
MG
San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Department of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
Reni
Michele
M
Foppoli
Marco
M
Chiara
Anna
A
Franzin
Alberto
A
Politi
Letterio Salvatore
LS
Villa
Eugenio
E
Ciceri
Fabio
F
Ferreri
Andrés J M
AJ
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
D003561:Cytarabine; D008727:Methotrexate