Prophylactic intrathecal methotrexate and hydrocortisone reduces central nervous system recurrence and improves survival in aggressive non-hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) recurrence is almost invariably fatal in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Although some protocols are intended to prevent CNS disease, the value of CNS prophylaxis in patients with aggressive NHL remains to be determined. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 68 adults with NHL who had been treated uniformly with systemic chemotherapy and had attained complete remission (CR) of disease. Patients ranged in age from 15 to 77 years (median, 56 years). Median follow-up after CR was 40 months. After CR was attained, 29 patients (Group A) received CNS prophylaxis consisting of four doses of intrathecal methotrexate 10 mg/m(2) and hydrocortisone 15 mg/m(2) as soon as they could tolerate it. The other 39 patients (Group B) did not receive CNS prophylaxis. RESULTS: Although bulky mass (45% vs. 21%, P = 0.03) was more frequent in Group A than in Group B, none of the patients in Group A experienced CNS recurrence (0%), whereas CNS recurrence occurred in six patients in Group B (15%). This difference was significant (P = 0.03). Multivariate logistic regression analysis for CNS recurrence identified no CNS prophylaxis (P = 0.01) and bone marrow involvement (P = 0.02) as independent predictors. Among patients without CNS disease, systemic recurrence occurred in 5 patients in Group A and in 11 patients in Group B (P = 0.12). The 5-year overall survival rate from CR was 80% in Group A and 58% in Group B (P = 0.05). The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate from CR was 85% in Group A and 51% in Group B (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic intrathecal methotrexate and hydrocortisone injection reduces the incidence of CNS recurrence following CR in patients with aggressive NHL and improves the chance of long-term survival.     

Results of a phase II multicenter trial of pentostatin and rituximab in patients with low grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: an effective and minimally toxic regimen

This study explored the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of pentostatin and rituximab, effective single agents in low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Sixty patients with previously treated low-grade NHL were enrolled. Except for day 1, both drugs were administered weekly for 4 weeks, with week 5 off. During week 1 (day 1) only rituximab was given; subsequent weekly treatments included both drugs. Patients received a minimum of 2 five-week cycles in order to be evaluable for efficacy. Responses were evaluated on week 5 of cycle 2. If partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) responses were noted, 2 additional cycles were administered. Final evaluations were done on week 5 of cycle 4. Of 60 patients, 58.3% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) of 0, and 41.7% had PS of 1; 31.7% and 51.7% had stage III or stage IV disease, respectively. Histology included follicular center, follicular, grade I (45%), II (21.7%), III (1.7%), and small lymphocytic (31.7%). Seventeen patients had prior chemotherapy, but no patients had received prior pentostatin or rituximab. Median age was 60.3 years (range, 32.5-84.7 years). Among 57 evaluable patients, 77% responded (22.3% complete response [CR], 3.5% unconfirmed CR, 35.1% PR, and 10.5% unconfirmed PR); 19.3% had SD, and 8.8% progressive disease (PD). Response rate among previously untreated patients was 83% versus 63% in previously treated patients. Median duration of response was 11 months (range, 2.3-22.2 months); median time to progression was 15 months (range, < 1-25 months). Neutropenia was the only adverse event experienced by >/= 10% of patients. Six deaths were caused by PD, and one death each was caused by acute respiratory distress, possibly related respiratory failure, and cardiac toxicity. These results suggest the combination of pentostatin/rituximab is well tolerated and active in low-grade lymphoma.     

Durable complete responses from therapy with combined epratuzumab and rituximab: final results from an international multicenter, phase 2 study in recurrent, indolent, non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND: In this international, multicenter trial, the authors evaluated rituximab (anti-CD20) plus epratuzumab (anti-CD22) in patients with postchemotherapy relapsed/refractory, indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), including long-term efficacy. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with follicular NHL (FL) (N = 41) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) (N = 7) received intravenous epratuzumab 360 mg/m2 and then intravenous rituximab 375 mg/m2 weekly x4. The regimen was tolerated well. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 41 patients with FL (54%) had an objective response (OR), including 10 (24%) complete responses (CR) (CR/unconfirmed CR [CRu]), whereas 4 of 7 patients with SLL (57%) had ORs, including 3 (43%) with CR/CRu. Rituximab-naive patients (N = 34) had an OR rate of 50% (26% CR/CRu rate), whereas patients who previously responded to rituximab (N = 14) had an OR rate of 64% (29% CR/CRu rate). An OR rate of 85% was observed in patients with FL who had Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) risk scores of 0 or 1 (N = 13), whereas 28 patients with intermediate or high-risk FLIPI scores (> or =2) had an OR rate of 39% (18% CR/CRu rate). In patients with FL, the median response duration was 13.4 months, and that duration increased to 29.1 months for 10 patients who had a CR/CRu, including 4 patients who had durable responses with remissions that continued for >4 years. In patients with SLL, the median response duration was 20 months, including 1 patient who had a response that continued for >3 years. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of epratuzumab and rituximab induced durable responses in patients with recurrent, indolent NHL.     

Mini-beam as salvage chemotherapy for refractory Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Long-term disease-free survival after conventional dose salvage chemotherapy for relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) or Hodgkin's disease (HD) is rare. Intensive chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) is regarded by many as the treatment of choice. For lymphoma, eligibility for transplant is frequently restricted to cases with chemotherapy-sensitive disease or minimal tumour bulk. We evaluated the mini-BEAM regimen as further treatment for patients unresponsive to initial salvage therapy and thus ineligible for ABMT at our centre. Carmustine 60 mg/m(2) I.V. day one, etoposide 75 mg/m(2) I.V. days 2-5, cytosine arabinoside 100 mg/m(2) I.V. q12h days 2-5 and melphalan 30 mg/m(2) day 6 (mini-BEAM) was administered to 24 patients with lymphoma, 22 of whom were refractory to at least first-line salvage chemotherapy. Eleven had HD and 13 NHL. The complete response (CR) rate was 21% and the overall response was 59%. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 48% of treatment episodes. There were two treatment-related deaths. Thirteen patients underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT), 11 received ABMT (8 HD, 3 NHL). Six patients did not achieve remission after transplant but 7 patients remain in continuous CR, with a follow-up of 6-17 months post-transplant. Consequently, 7 of 24 (29%) patients responded to mini-BEAM and many achieve long-term disease-free survival after BMT. Further evaluation of mini-BEAM as a salvage regimen prior to BMT is indicated.     

Phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel in patients with previously treated advanced urothelial cancer.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel in patients with previously treated advanced urothelial cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with urothelial cancer who had received one prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for advanced disease and had evidence of disease progression were eligible for enrollment. Patients received paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) by 1-hour intravenous infusion weekly. A cycle of therapy consisted of four weekly treatments. RESULTS: The study enrolled 31 patients. Mean age was 66 years, and 45% of patients had three or more involved metastatic sites. Only 26% of patients had responded to prior chemotherapy. The median number of cycles delivered was three (range, one to eight) at a mean weekly paclitaxel dose of 79 mg/m(2). Three patients achieved a partial response (10%; 95% confidence interval, 0% to 20%). Median time to progression was 2.2 months, and median overall survival time was 7.2 months. Therapy was well tolerated with minimal hematologic toxicity. Grade 3 nonhematologic toxicities were also uncommon. CONCLUSION: Although the overall response rate to weekly paclitaxel in patients with previously treated advanced urothelial cancer was modest, the chemotherapy-refractory nature of the study population should be considered.     

Phase II study of weekly low-dose paclitaxel for relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a Wisconsin Oncology Network Study

This study was performed to determine the clinical activity and safety of weekly low-dose paclitaxel (90 mg/m2) given as a 1-hour infusion in patients with relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Thirty patients were treated on a phase II protocol conducted at the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center and within the Wisconsin Oncology Network (WON). A cycle of therapy was defined as paclitaxel at 90 mg/m2 weekly for 6 consecutive weeks followed by a 2-week rest period. Cycles were repeated as long as there was no disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In general, the patients were heavily pretreated with a median of 4 prior therapies (range 2-11), and 73% were refractory to the most recent systemic therapy. The median age was 70 (range 44-97). All NHL histological subtypes were eligible. Of the 30 eligible patients enrolled, 26 were evaluable for response and 28 for toxicity. The overall response rate was 23% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.0-43.7%). One patient had a complete response, and 5 patients had partial responses. The median response duration was 3.2 months (range 1.4-11.8 months). The median event-free survival was 1.9 months. The major toxicity was neuropathy. Despite the limited marrow reserve in this patient population, myelosuppression was minimal. Paclitaxel given in this dose and schedule has modest activity in previously treated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The response rate appears similar to other reports using different doses and schedules. Myelosuppression appears less with this schedule than with other schedules.     

改良Hyper—CVAD／MA方案治疗侵袭性淋巴瘤42例

目的评估改良的Hyper-CVAD／MA强化方案治疗侵袭性淋巴瘤患者的有效性和安全性。方法回顾性分析2006年6月至2012年7月收治的42例用改良Hyper-CVAD／MA方案治疗的初治或复治的侵袭性淋巴瘤患者的有效性和安全性。结果19例（45．3％）患者达完全缓解（CR）,13例（31．0％）达部分缓解（PR）,有效率为76．2％（32／42）。1年无病生存（DFS）率和总体生存（OS）率分别为79．2％和83．7％,3年DFS率和OS率分别为65．3％和64．2％。CR率与有无B症状、结外受累、中枢神经系统受累、AnnArbor分期、既往治疗有相关性。主要不良反应包括造血功能受抑、感染、黏膜炎、肝脏、肾脏以及神经系统毒性等。结论改良Hyper—CVAD／MA方案治疗侵袭性淋巴瘤近期疗效满意,治疗相关不良反应可以控制。     

DICE方案治疗复发或耐药中高度恶性非霍奇金淋巴瘤

背景与目的:复发或耐药非霍奇金淋巴瘤(non鄄Hodgkin蒺slymphoma,NHL)目前尚无标准的解救化疗方案,DICE、ESHAP、MINE和EPOCH等常见的解救治疗方案缓解率仅为30%～70%。本文旨在观察DICE方案作为解救化疗方案治疗复发或耐药中高度恶性NHL的疗效和安全性。方法:选取35例复发或耐药的中高度恶性NHL患者,其中T细胞和B细胞NHL分别为14和21例,既往接受过以CHOP或CHOP样方案为主中位6周期(2～12个周期)的化疗,采用DICE方案进行解救治疗。结果:35例患者接受了中位4周期(2～7个周期)的DICE方案化疗,所有患者均可评价疗效和不良反应。总的客观有效率为74.3%,完全缓解率为31.4%;中位缓解时间为4个月(1～30个月),中位至治疗失败时间为7个月(2～34个月),中位生存期为14个月(3～51个月),实际2年生存率为33.3%。T细胞和B细胞NHL的有效率分别为85.7%(12/14)和66.7%(14/21),完全缓解率分别为50.0%(7/14)和19.0%(4/21)(P=0.073)。LDH升高和伴有巨大肿块是影响解救治疗疗效的高危因素(P<0.05),DICE解救疗效是复发耐药患者生存期的独立预后因素(P=0.001)。主要不良反应为骨髓抑制,Ⅲ～Ⅳ度粒细胞和血小板减少的发生率分别为71.4%和8.6%。结论:DICE方案是复发或耐药中高度恶性NHL安全有效的解救治疗方案。LDH升高和伴有巨大     

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Findings for 41 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and/or autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) are reported. Two of the 41 patients were treated with HDC alone without PBSCT. At transplant, 20 patients were in complete remission, while 19 had resistant NHL and had failed to achieve a complete remission (CR) after several courses of conventional chemotherapy. The conditioning regimens used were mainly ACE (cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, etoposide) and MEAC (MCNU, etoposide, cytarabine, cyclophosphamide). The treatment-related mortality rate was 4.9%. Two patients treated with MEAC died from intractable congestive heart failure. Nine of the 19 patients with resistant NHL achieved CR, and at a median follow-up of 26 months (range, 3 to 93 months) the estimated two-year disease-free survival rate for these patients was 44.4%. Four patients in CR at present were in partial remission before HDC and PBSCT. Fifteen of the 20 patients in CR before HDC were transplanted in first CR and 5 in 2nd CR. At a median follow-up of 49 months (range, 3 to 96 months), the estimated 3-year DFS for the group of all patients was 73.7%. Five relapses occurred between 5 and 35 months post-transplantation. In conclusion, HDC and PBSCT as induction therapy was only effective for patients with resistant NHL who responded to conventional chemotherapy, and may improve the survival of patients in CR as consolidation therapy.     

Weekly VAPEC-B chemotherapy for high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Results of treatment in 184 patients

BACKGROUND AND PATIENTS: A weekly schedule of chemotherapy (VAPEC-B) has been used totreat 184 consecutive patients with high grade non-Hodgkin'slymphoma (NHL). Median age for the group was 57 years (range17–84) and 56% had stage IV disease. RESULTS: Following chemotherapy, 114 (62%) patients achieved CR or CR(u),32 (17%) PR and 15 (8%) had not responded or progressed. Responseto VAPEC-B was highly stage dependent with 70% or more of patientswith stages I-III achieving CR or CR(u) but only 50% of thosewith stage IV. Twenty-four (15%) patients died during treatmentwith VAPEC-B and in 13 cases death was due to sepsis. This complicationoccurred mainly in patients with stage IV disease aged 60 yearsor older. After a median follow up period of 4.1 years, theactuarial 4 year survival for 184 patients is 45%, an overallresult heavily influenced by the poor outcome for 103 patientswith stage IV disease (4 year survival of 28%). Patients withearlier stage disease fared correspondingly better (44% forstage III, 68% for stage II and 80% for stage I). CONCLUSIONS: VAPEC-B gives similar results to other chemotherapy regimenscurrently used in the treatment of high grade NHL and has theadvantage of brevity. Caution is advised in patients over theage of 60 especially in the presence of stage IV disease anddose reduction or haemopoietic growth factor support shouldbe considered in these circumstances. high grade NHL, weekly chemotherapy, VAPEC-B     

BACOD方案治疗复发及难治性非霍奇金淋巴瘤的临床研究

 目的　观察BACOD方案治疗复发及难治性非霍奇金淋巴瘤（NHL）的疗效及患者不良反应。方法　65例复发及难治性NHL患者,采用BACOD方案进行化疗,具体为：博莱霉素10 mg／m2,静脉滴注,第2、9天;环磷酰胺750 mg／m2,静脉滴注,第1天;长春地辛3 mg／m2,静脉注射,第1、8天;阿糖胞苷150 mg／m2,静脉滴注,第2天至第5天;地塞米松10 mg／m2,静脉滴注,第1天至第7天,3周为1个疗程。结果　完全缓解18例,部分缓解30例,稳定13例,进展4例,有效率70.8 %。有效患者中位缓解时间 10个月（2～35个月）。1年生存率32.3 %,2年生存率24.6 %。患者主要不良反应为骨髓抑制。结论　BACOD方案可作为复发及难治性NHL的解救方案。     

Phase II study of paclitaxel and estramustine in patients with recurrent and refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of paclitaxel, administered weekly or once every 3 weeks, in combination with oral estramustine phosphate (EMP) in patients with recurrent or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: Between February 1996 and February 2001, 23 patients with recurrent NHL were enrolled onto this Phase II trial. The median age for all patients was 65 years (range, 27-80 years). The initial 12 patients (who received a mean number of 2.4 prior treatments, including 1 patient who received a prior peripheral blood stem cell transplant) received paclitaxel at a dose of 175 mg/m2 given as a 3-hour intravenous infusion every 21 days. The next 11 patients (who received a mean number of 2.8 prior treatments, including 1 patient who received prior peripheral blood stem cell transplant) were registered (1 patient refused treatment) to receive paclitaxel at a dose of 80 mg/m2 as a 1-hour intravenous infusion weekly for 6 weeks of an 8-week cycle. All patients received EMP at a dose of 600 mg/m2 orally per day beginning the day prior to each dose of paclitaxel for a total of 3 days. RESULTS: When paclitaxel was administered every 21 days, 4 partial responses were observed in 12 evaluable patients (33.3%). The median survival was 147 days. The median duration of response was 102 days (range, 42-127 days) and the median time to disease progression was 66 days. Grade 3 and Grade 4 neutropenia (according to the revised version of the Common Toxicity Criteria of the National Cancer Institute) were observed in 5 patients (42%) in this group. In an attempt to reduce the incidence of myelosuppression, paclitaxel dosing was changed to weekly dosing. In the cohort of patients receiving weekly paclitaxel, an objective response was reported to occur in 3 (1 complete response and 2 partial responses) of 11 evaluable patients (27%). The median survival was 132 days (range, 33-462 days). The median duration of response was 64 days and the median time to disease progression was 57 days. There was no significant difference noted between the cohort receiving paclitaxel three times weekly and those receiving paclitaxel weekly with regard to overall survival and time to disease progression (P = 0.7 and P = 0.8, respectively by the log-rank test). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was observed in only 2 of 11 patients (18%) in the weekly paclitaxel group. There were no significant differences noted in terms of thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea, anorexia, or fatigue between the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel given once weekly or three times weekly, in combination with oral EMP, was found to have comparable efficacy in patients with recurrent NHL, with an overall response rate of 30%. The response rate was found to be higher than that reported in prior studies of paclitaxel as a single agent in the treatment of NHL, suggesting that EMP may enhance paclitaxel efficacy in patients with NHL. Hematologic toxicity was diminished when paclitaxel was administered on a weekly schedule. The minimal myelotoxicity of weekly paclitaxel makes this a potentially attractive agent for combination regimens for patients with recurrent/refractory NHL.     

Systemic high-dose ara-C for the treatment of meningeal leukemia in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Considering the good penetration of systemic high-dose ara-C (HDara-C) into the CNS, we used this approach for treating overt meningeal leukemia, either isolated or with concurrent extraneurologic disease, in 15 adults with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), one adult with lymphoid blast crisis of chronic granulocytic leukemia (LBC-CGL), and four adults with poor-prognosis non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Treatment consisted of ara-C, 3 g/m2 every 12 hours by three-hour infusion for eight doses followed by a second course of four doses on day 21. Remitters received consolidation with monthly courses of HDara-C for four doses. Additional systemic multi-drug reinduction therapy and direct CNS treatment with intrathecal methotrexate (IT MTX) and cranial irradiation (CRT) was administered to the three remitters last treated. Thirteen of 20 patients (65%) achieved complete remission (CR): seven of seven patients with isolated meningeal leukemia and six of 13 patients with concurrent CNS and bone marrow disease. Of the remaining seven patients, five had a complete CSF clearing with persistent marrow disease. In all cases there was prompt resolution of neurologic signs and symptoms. The median duration of CR was 5 months (range 2 to 8 months). The most significant toxicity seen was myelosuppression, which was predictable and manageable. Nonhematologic toxicity was generally acceptable and included moderate nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, drug fever, transient liver dysfunction, and dermatitis. No cases of CNS toxicity occurred. There were no treatment-related deaths. Disease-free survival was limited by marrow relapse, either isolated or with concurrent CNS disease. No instances of isolated meningeal relapse occurred. These results obtained in a poor-risk subset of patients indicate that HDara-C is an effective treatment for the induction of remission in ALL and NHL with meningeal leukemia. Therefore, HDara-C should be considered for inclusion in multiagent consolidation programs for patients at high risk for CNS disease.     

Treatment of small cell lung cancer with VP-16, vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide (EVAC), and high-dose chest radiotherapy

Seventy-one previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) received a combination of VP-16, vincristine, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (EVAC) repeated every three weeks. Limited-disease (LD) patients and extensive-disease (ED) patients achieving a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) after four to six cycles of EVAC received 4,000 rads over four weeks whole-brain radiotherapy (RT) and 5,000 rads over five weeks RT to the original pulmonary primary and mediastinum. ED patients with persisting disease outside the chest after six cycles of EVAC continued chemotherapy and did not receive RT. After RT was completed, EVAC was continued for a total treatment duration of 24 months. Of 65 patients evaluable for response 76% (25 of 33) of LD patients and 34% (11 of 32) of ED patients achieved a CR prior to RT; two additional ED patients achieved a CR after RT. Median survival for all 71 patients was 48 weeks (range, one to 207 weeks); median survival for 33 LD patients was 92 weeks and for 38 ED patients it was 36 weeks. Nine of 25 LD patients and 10 of 13 ED patients have relapsed from CR. The EVAC-RT protocol is promising in view of the high CR rate and long remission duration achieved, especially among patients with LD.     

Chemotherapy versus chemoimmunotherapy for small-cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung

Thirty-eight patients with small-cell carcinoma were treated with cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, and VP16-213 + or - MER. Response and survival of the six patients who received radiotherapy prior to entering the study were inferior compared with patients who received chemotherapy alone. Of 32 previously untreated patients, 13 had limited and 19 had extensive disease. Ninety-seven percent of these 32 responded and 63% achieved complete remission (CR). All patients with limited disease had a response and 77% achieved CR. Patients with extensive and limited disease had 91/2 months (range 1-26 months) and 14 months (range 31/2 -42 + months) median survival, respectively. The median survival for all complete responders irrespective of extent of disease was 16 months (range 6 - 42 + months). Three patients with limited disease are disease free more than 34 + months and off all therapy 10 + to 18 + months. Eighteen of 38 patients required antibiotics for fever during neutropenia. Eight patients had MER fevers and nine had serious infections. There were four drug-related deaths. MER therapy did not influence response rate, drug toxicity, or survival, but did add morbidity. This combination chemotherapy alone is an effective treatment for previously untreated small-cell lung cancer patients regardless of extent of disease.     

Patterns of central nervous system recurrence in patients with systemic human immunodeficiency virus-associated non-hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system involvement is a common manifestation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. The purpose of this study was to review the frequency and pattern of neurologic manifestation of lymphoma in a cohort of HIV-infected individuals with systemic NHL. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with HIV-associated systemic NHL received infusional cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and etoposide. Five patients with lymphomatous meningitis at presentation received whole brain radiation therapy plus intrathecal chemotherapy (ITC). Of the remaining 57 patients, prophylactic ITC was recommended only for those patients with lymphomatous bone marrow involvement and/or high grade histology (N = 31). RESULTS: Thirteen patients (21%) had histologically documented (N = 6) or presumed (N = 7) central nervous system involvement, including 7 patients (11%) with meningeal lymphoma discovered either at presentation (N = 5) or soon after diagnosis (N = 2), and 6 patients (10%) with cerebral mass lesions at the time of disease recurrence consistent with parenchymal brain involvement. Five of six parenchymal brain recurrences occurred in the setting of progressive systemic disease. Four of 7 patients (57%) with meningeal lymphoma detected at presentation (N = 5) or within 3 months of presentation (N = 2) responded to therapy and survived >1 year. Of the 26 patients assigned to receive no prophylactic ITC, no patient developed an isolated meningeal recurrence and 1 patient developed an isolated parenchymal brain recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study suggest that in patients with HIV-associated systemic lymphoma, meningeal lymphoma is potentially curable, parenchymal brain recurrence usually occurs in the setting of uncontrolled systemic disease, and prophylactic ITC may not be necessary for patients with intermediate grade histology and uninvolved bone marrow.     

抗CD20单克隆抗体在非霍奇金淋巴瘤治疗中的应用

目的 探讨抗CD20单克隆抗体(美罗华)在非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)治疗中的疗效。方法 应用美罗华联合CHOP方案治疗NHL20例，其中初治18例，难治2例；用于自体造血干细胞移植的体内净化4例；维持治疗5例。结果 诱导组20例中初治者18例，15例患者达到了完全缓解(CR)，3例达到部分缓解(PR)，CR率83％，总有效率100％。难治患者中1例达到PR，1例无疾病进展：未观察到美罗华对采集到的干细胞的质量和数量以及移植后造血恢复有不良影响，4例中2例细胞PCR．免疫球蛋白重排(IgH)检测转阴；维持治疗组中5例全部存活(最长随访33个月)。结论 美罗华联合化疗方案能够提高CD20^ NHL的疗效，有助于清除微小残留病灶，延长NHL的生存期。     

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in AIDS. Results of radiation therapy

Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma is one of the clinical presentations of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Ten patients had biopsy-proven high-grade lymphomas that were confirmed by further staging as limited to the CNS. All ten patients received cranial irradiation (total dose, 2200 to 5000 cGy). Six patients demonstrated complete response (CR) of the intracranial masses at the time of repeat computed tomography (CT) scan, whereas one attained a partial response (PR). Two of the CR patients died of multiple opportunistic infections, two experienced relapse of lymphoma, and died at 7 and 16 months from diagnosis, and two were alive without evidence of disease at 8 and 14 months from diagnosis. The median survival of the whole group was 5.5 months (range, 2 to 16 months). Patients with AIDS-related primary CNS lymphoma may respond to radiation treatment; however, response duration is usually short, and survival is influenced by refractory disease or systemic opportunistic infections.     

Rituximab as first-line and maintenance therapy for patients with indolent non-hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate response to single-agent rituximab in patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and no previous systemic therapy, and the feasibility, toxicity, and efficacy of maintenance rituximab, administered at 6-month intervals, in patients with objective response or stable disease after first-line rituximab therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with indolent NHL (follicular or small lymphocytic subtypes) previously untreated with systemic therapy received rituximab 375 mg/m(2) intravenously weekly for 4 weeks. Patients were restaged at week 6 for response; those with objective response or stable disease received maintenance rituximab courses (identical dose and schedule) at 6-month intervals. Maintenance was continued for a maximum of four rituximab courses or until progression. Between March 1998 and May 1999, 62 patients were entered onto this trial; minimum follow-up was 24 months. RESULTS: Sixty patients (97%) completed the first 4-week course of rituximab and were assessable for response. All have now completed rituximab therapy; 36 (58%) received four courses at 6-month intervals. The objective response rate at 6 weeks was 47%; 45% of patients had stable disease. With continued maintenance, final response rate increased to 73%, with 37% complete responses. Response was similar in patients with follicular versus small lymphocytic subtypes (76% v 70%, respectively). Median actuarial progression-free survival was 34 months. Two patients experienced grade 3/4 toxicity with the first dose; one patient was removed from treatment. No cumulative or additional toxicities were seen with maintenance courses. CONCLUSION: Rituximab is highly active and extremely well tolerated as first-line single-agent therapy for indolent NHL. First-line treatment with scheduled maintenance at 6-month intervals produces high overall and complete response rates and a longer progression-free survival (34 months) than has been reported with a standard 4-week treatment.