title: Long-term follow-up of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation and response-adapted whole-brain radiotherapy for newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma: results of the multicenter Ostdeutsche Studiengruppe Hamatologie und Onkologie OSHO-53 phase II study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously reported the results of a phase II study for patients with newly diagnosed primary central nervous system lymphoma treated with autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation (aPBSCT) and response-adapted whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Now, we update the initial results.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1999 to 2004, 23 patients received high-dose methotrexate. In case of at least partial remission, high-dose busulfan/thiotepa (HD-BuTT) followed by aPBSCT was carried out. Patients refractory to induction or without complete remission after HD-BuTT received WBRT. Eight patients still alive in 2011 were contacted and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of eight patients still alive, median follow-up is 116.9 months. Only one of nine irradiated patients is still alive with a severe neurologic deficit. In seven of eight patients treated with HD-BuTT, health condition and quality of life are excellent. MMSE and QLQ-C30 showed remarkably good results in patients who did not receive WBRT. All of them have a Karnofsky score of 90%-100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Follow-up shows an overall survival of 35%. In six of seven patients where WBRT could be avoided, no long-term neurotoxicity has been observed and all patients have an excellent quality of life.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine C, Haematology and Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany. kiefer@uni-greifswald.de
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kiefer
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Hirt
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Späth
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Schüler
authors: H K
authors: HK
authors: Al-Ali
authors: H-H
authors: HH
authors: Wolf
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Herbst
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Maschmeyer
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Helke
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Kessler
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Niederwieser
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Busemann
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Schroeder
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Vogelgesang
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kirsch
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Montemurro
authors: W H
authors: WH
authors: Krüger
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Dölken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D008727:Methotrexate