U. Kaiser et al., Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma protocols in the treatment of patients with Burkitt's lymphoma and lymphoblastic lymphoma: A report on 58 patients, LEUK LYMPH, 36(1-2), 1999, pp. 101-108
Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) and Burkitt's lymphoma belong to the very aggr
essive lymphomas requiring intensive therapy. We retrospectively analyzed 2
9 patients with Burkitt's lymphoma and 29 patients with LBL who received in
duction therapy with a CHOP-Like lymphoma protocol. Patients with Burkitt's
lymphoma (with a median age of 54.5 years) have a CR rate of 72% and a lym
phoma free long-time survival of 55%. The International Prognostic Index wa
s the most valuable prognostic factor for survival. Patients with LBL with
a median age of 45 years had a CR rate of 55% and a lymphoma-free survival
of 38%. Stage was the most predictive prognostic factor.
Our data suggest that for older patients (>50) treatment with lymphoma prot
ocols may yield response rates that are comparable to the results of patien
ts with disseminated diffuse large cell lymphoma. Younger patients with ris
k factors should be treated with more intensive therapy Like ALL-protocols.
The role of auto-transplantation after high dose therapy (HDT) however as
part of primary treatment still needs to be evaluated in clinical trials. O
ne of four patients with LBL who received HDT and one of four patients with
Burkitt's lymphoma who received HDT achieved long-term remission.