The management of adult aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, an aplastic large cell lymphoma, and different peripheral T-cell lymphomas. An international prognostic index has been developed including age, serum LDH , performance status, and extranodal involvement. For localized aggressive lymphoma, the preferred treatment is 3-4 CHOP and radiation therapy, with a cure rate of 70-80%. For disseminated aggressive lymphoma, current regimen s have a cure rate of less than 40%. Innovative strategies, including dose escalation, autologus stem cell support, new drugs, and immunotherapy are b eing explored to improve these results. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland L td. All rights reserved.