Nl. Bartlett et al., MACOP-B + - RADIATION-THERAPY FOR DIFFUSE LARGE-CELL LYMPHOMA - ANALYSIS OF THE STANFORD RESULTS ACCORDING TO PROGNOSTIC INDEXES/, Cancer, 71(12), 1993, pp. 4034-4042
Background. The efficacy and toxicity of the MA-COP-B regimen were ass
essed after outstanding results were reported in diffuse large cell ly
mphoma (DLCL) by the Vancouver group. The results are reported accordi
ng to several proposed prognostic indices, including the recent Intern
ational Prognostic Factors (IPF) Project. Methods. Forty-seven patient
s with untreated DLCL received MACOP-B chemotherapy. Thirty patients,
most of whom had bulky disease, also received consolidative radiation
therapy (RT). Patient characteristics include median age of 42 years,
Stage III/IV (57%), bulky or symptomatic Stage II disease (43%), eleva
ted lactic dehydrogenase (81%) and at least one extranodal site (72%).
Results. At a median follow-up of 3.3 years, overall survival was 57%
and freedom from progression (FFP) was 52%. The 3-year FFP data were
related to tumor extent: 74% for limited stage versus 38% for extensiv
e disease. These data correlated well with four prognostic indices rep
orted in the literature. The IPF index accurately identified low-, int
ermediate-, and high-risk subgroups. Conclusions. Patients with limite
d or low-risk DLCL have an excellent prognosis with MACOP-B +/- RT. Th
ese results do not support the use of consolidative high-dose therapy
and bone marrow transplantation in patients with limited disease, even
if bulky or accompanied by an elevated lactic dehydrogenase. Compared
to historical CHOP data, MACOP-B +/- RT does not appear to improve ou
tcome for those patients with poor prognostic features, most of whom w
ill fail. The IPF index is a simple, accurate method of distinguishing
high-risk patients who require new therapeutic initiatives.