The treatment of stage III – IV non-Hodgkin'S lymphoma of “favorable” histologic type. A randomized comparison of whole body irradiation, combination chemotherapy, and single agent chemotherapy
Twelve patients with lymphocytic lymphoma (L.L.), and 9 patients with histiocytic lymphoma (H.L.), stage III and IV, were treated as outpatients with combination chemotherapy including six courses of cyclophosphamide (Endoxan), Methotrexate, and vincristine (M.E.V. regimen). Marrow depression and side-effects were moderate. In the 12 patients with L.L., there were 6 complete remissions (C.R.), 3 incomplete remission (I.R.), and 3 partial failures (P.F.). In the 9 patients with H.L., there were 7 C.R., 1 I.R. and 1 P.F. Median survival from the end of the therapy is 7 + mos. for the L.L. patients, and 10 + mos. for H.L. patients, all patients being alive but one.
Abstract
Aim of the study
to evaluate the role of PET/CT in initial diagnosis and staging of lymphoma, and to determine the predictive value of 18F-FDG PET by monitoring the early response and final response after completion of chemotherapy in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Patient and Methods
our prospective study included 25 patients with pathologically confirmed nonHodgkin Lymphoma diffuse large B cell lymphoma selected from Department of Radiology at Ain Shams University Hospital from January 2019 to March 2020. The patients included in this study performed the followings: Initial PET/CT for staging, interim PET/CT and end of the treatment PET/CT. We performed low dose non enhanced CT scan first, then a whole body PET study followed by diagnostic enhanced whole body CT scan. The whole study took approximately 20-30 minutes.
Results
PET/CT has greater sensitivity 100% and specificity 68.8% than CT alone for detecting sites of nodal and extra-nodal involvement and for assessment of therapeutic response in non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Conclusion
PET / CT is an accurate method for evaluating tumor viability in the post-therapy setting of Non-Hodgkin lymphomas. PET / CT has a significant advantage for the diagnosis of diffusely infiltrating organs without mass lesions or contrast enhancement compared to contrast enhanced CT.
Data from four clinical trials conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) were used to investigate the importance of bone marrow involvement as a prognostic factor in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A total of 502 patients, 275 with nodular, poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (NLPD) and 227 with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma (DHL) or diffuse mixed-cell lymphoma (DML), were included in this analysis. Patients were separated into four categories: stage III, stage IV with bone marrow involvement (stage IV-M), stage IV without marrow involvement (stage IV-O), and stage IV with bone marrow and other organ involvement (stage IV-OM). Among the DHL and DML patients, the incidence of marrow involvement was 23%. However, stage IV-M patients had a prognosis that is similar to stage IV-O and stage IV-OM and worse than stage III patients. In contrast, the incidence of involvement with NLPD was 59% and patients with stage IV-M had a survival not different than stage III and not worse than stage IV-O and stage IV-OM. The results suggest that the current emphasis on bone marrow biopsy(s) as a routine diagnostic staging procedure for patients with NHL should be reevaluated. The necessity for this procedure in stage III patients with NLPD is not apparent from our data. One can still justify a bone marrow biopsy in stage I and II patients and can confirm the complete clinical response when all nodes have regressed in more advanced disease.
Purpose To evaluate efficacy and safety of iodine-131 (131I) –rituximab chimeric anti-CD20 antibody radioimmunotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Patients and Methods After a standard loading dose of rituximab 375 mg/m2, individualized dosimetry was performed by whole-body gamma imaging of a tracer activity of 131I-rituximab followed by administration of a therapeutic activity of 131I-rituximab to deliver an estimated whole-body radiation absorbed dose of 0.75 Gy. Results Ninety-one patients were entered onto the trial: 78 patients (86%) had follicular lymphoma, six patients (7%) had mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue/marginal zone lymphoma, and seven patients (8%) had small lymphocytic lymphoma. The objective overall response rate (ORR) was 76%, with 53% attaining a complete response (CR) or CR unconfirmed (CRu). Median duration of response for patients achieving CR/CRu was 20 v 7 months for those with a partial response (P = .0121). Median progression-free survival for the entire cohort was 13 months, with 14% remaining relapse free beyond 4 years. Median follow-up was 23 months, with a 4-year actuarial survival rate of 59% ± 10%. Toxicity was principally hematologic; grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 4% and neutropenia occurred in 16% of patients, with nadirs at 6 to 7 weeks after treatment. Conclusion 131I-rituximab radioimmunotherapy of relapsed or refractory indolent NHL achieves high ORR and CR rates with minimal toxicity.
Comparison of combined and single-agent chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of favourable histological type.