IS THE SMALL NON-CLEAVED-CELL LYMPHOMA HISTOLOGIC SUBTYPE A POOR PROGNOSTIC FACTOR IN ADULT PATIENTS - A CASE-CONTROLLED ANALYSIS

Purpose: To study the prognostic significance of the small non-cleaved -cell lymphoma (SNCCL) histologic subtype, we compared the outcome of adult patients with SNCCL with that of patients with aggressive lympho ma other than SNCCL by means of two case-controlled studies. Patients and Methods: We analyzed the results of the doxorubicin, cyclophospham ide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone (ACVBP) regimen used as a re ference scheme in our cooperative study group (Groupe d'Etude des Lymp homes de l'Adult [GELA]) in 52 adult SNCCL patients with no bone marro w (BM) or CNS involvement. Forty-five SNCCL patients younger than 60 y ears could be compared with two separate case-matched groups of patien ts with aggressive lymphoma other than SNCCL undergoing the same thera peutic regimen, In the first case-controlled study, matching ensured i dentity of each risk factor of the age-adjusted international Index (i e, Ann Arbor stage, performance status, and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH ] level); in the second study, matching was performed according to the number of presenting risk factors (zero, one, two, or three), regardl ess of their nature. Results: The 5-year overall survival rates were n ot significantly different between SNCCL and control patients in both case-controlled studies: 48% versus 51% in the first study, and 48% ve rsus 55% in the second study. Conclusion: These results support the th esis that in patients with no bone marrow or CNS involvement, the SNCC L histologic subtype does not confer a prognosis worse than that of ot her aggressive lymphoma. (C) 1996 by American Society of Clinical Onco logy.