J Korean Soc Ther Radiol Oncol.  2004 Sep;22(3):177-183.

Sequential Chemoradiotherapy for Stage I/II Nasal Natural Killer/T Cell Lymphoma

• Noh YJ
• Ahn YC
• Kim WS
• Ko YH

Abstract

PURPOSE: Authors would report the results of sequential CHOP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone) and involved field radiotherapy (IFRT) for early stage nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fourteen among 17 patients, who were registered at the Samsung Medical Center tumor registry with stage I and II nasal NKTCL from March 1995 to December 1999 received this treatment protocol. Three to four cycles of CHOP chemotherapy were given at 3 weeks' interval, which was followed by local IFRT including the known tumor extent and the adjacent draining lymphatics.
RESULTS
Favorable responses after chemotherapy (before IFRT) were achievable only in seven patients (5 CR's+2 PR's: 50%), while seven patients showed disease progression. There were six patients with local failures, two with distant relapses, and none with regional lymphatic failure. The actuarial overall survival and progression-free survival at 3 years were 50.0% and 42.9%. All the failures and deaths occurred within 13 months of the treatment start. The factors that correlated with the improved survival were the absence of 'B' symptoms, the favorable response to chemotherapy and overall treatment, and the low risk by international prognostic index on univariate analyses.
CONCLUSION
Compared with the historic treatment results by IFRT either alone or followed by chemotherapy, the current trial failed to demonstrate advantages with respect to the failure pattern and survival. Development of new treatment strategy in combining IFRT and chemotherapy is required for improving outcomes.

Keyword

Lymphoma; Chemotherapy; Radiation therapy

MeSH Terms

Chemoradiotherapy*
Clinical Protocols
Disease Progression
Disease-Free Survival
Doxorubicin
Drug Therapy
Humans
Lymphoma*
Radiotherapy
Recurrence
Vincristine
Doxorubicin
Vincristine