title: A focus on pharmacotherapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma.
abstract: The prognosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is still poor compared to other diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. High-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy plays a central role in the management of PCNSL; however, the optimal regimen has not been established thus far. Consolidating whole-brain radiotherapy is currently not routinely being performed at most centers due to lack of survival advantage in a randomized Phase III trial and increased risk of cognitive impairment. Promising results with the combination of high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy with the CD20 antibody rituximab and consolidating the primary chemotherapy by other non-cross-resistant conventional chemotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation have been reported in non-comparative studies. Results of well-designed randomized trials must be awaited to better define the optimal management of PCNSL.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charite University Medicine Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korfel
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: blood-brain barrier; chemotherapy; high-dose methotrexate; primary CNS lymphoma; rituximab