Prognostic impact of completion of initial high-dose methotrexate therapy on primary central nervous system lymphoma: a single institution experience.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This retrospective single-center study assessed the feasibility, outcomes, and side-effects of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) plus procarbazine in the treatment of immunocompetent patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).

METHODS:

Ninety-one patients diagnosed with PCNSL between January 2001 and December 2011 were treated with HD-MTX plus procarbazine. To reduce neurotoxicity in patients aged ≥60 years, only those not responding to chemotherapy and patients with relapse underwent whole-brain irradiation.

RESULTS:

All 91 consecutive patients were scheduled to receive HD-MTX. Their median age was 66 years (range 32-88 years) and their median Karnofsky performance score was 40 (range 20-100). While 56 patients (61.5 %) completed 3 cycles of HD-MTX chemotherapy and 48 (52.7 %) showed a complete response, treatment was stopped in 11 patients (12.1 %) due to toxicity. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 40.6 and 11.7 months, respectively. Overall survival was significantly improved in patients who completed 3 cycles of chemotherapy compared with those did not (56.4 vs 24.0 months; p = 0.013 by univariate and p = 0.022 by multivariate analysis).

CONCLUSIONS:

Initial treatment with HD-MTX plus procarbazine was effective in patients with PCNSL. Completion of 3 cycles of HD-MTX chemotherapy was a significant independent prognostic factor for patient survival.

• Authors: Keishi Makino, Hideo Nakamura, Taku-ichiro Hide, Jun-ichiro Kuroda, Shigetoshi Yano, Jun-ichi Kuratsu
• Journal: International journal of clinical oncology (Int J Clin Oncol) Vol. 20 Issue 1 Pg. 29-34 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 1437-7772 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 24722885 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Procarbazine
• Methotrexate

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (administration & dosage)
• Central Nervous System Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphoma (drug therapy)
• Male
• Methotrexate (administration & dosage)
• Middle Aged
• Procarbazine (administration & dosage)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome