title: Efficacy of Procarbazine, Lomustine, and Vincristine Chemotherapy for Recurrent Primary Central Nervous System Lymphomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Optimal treatment for recurrent primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) has not been defined yet and there is no general consensus about the salvage chemotherapy after high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX)-based chemotherapy. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) chemotherapy for recurrent PCNSLs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed eight immunocompetent patients (five males/three females, mean age: 56 years) who received salvage PCV chemotherapy (procarbazine 60 mg/m(2), days 8 through 21: CCNU 110 mg/m(2), day 1: vincristine 2 mg, days 8 and 28) for recurrent PCNSL and two patients switched to PCV chemotherapy due to severe adverse effects of HD-MTX chemotherapy. Radiologic responses, survival, and adverse effects were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the eight recurrent PCNSLs, three patients (37.5%) showed radiologic complete response, one patient (12.5%) showed partial response, and four patients (50%) showed progressive disease after PCV chemotherapy. Median progression free survival (PFS) from the first administration of PCV to relapse or last follow-up was 7 months (range 5-32 months) and median overall survival was 8 months (range 2-41 months). The two patients who switched to PCV chemotherapy showed PFS of 9 and 5 months from the beginning of PCV to relapse. The common side effects were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and peripheral neuropathy. There were 4 grade III or IV myelo-suppression, but no fatal complications, including severe hemorrhage or infection, were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salvage PCV chemotherapy has a moderate anti-lymphoma activity for recurrent PCNSLs after the HD-MTX-based chemotherapy with tolerable toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Jai-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Kil
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: Central nervous system; Chemotherapy; Lymphoma; Methotrexate; Salvage therapy