[First experience with the modified program NHL-BFM-90 application in adult patients with primary diffuse large...

To assess efficacy of a modified program NHL-BFM-90 in adult patients with primary diffuse large B-cell gastric lymphosarcoms (PDLBGL) with unfavourable prognosis.

Modified courses of NHL-BFM-90 were conducted in 5 patients aged 27-67 years from January 2004 to September 2005. Four patients received chemotherapy of the first line, in one patient block therapy followed monotherapy with chlorambucil and a CHOEP course. All the patients were in a severe clinical condition and had several initial factors of unfavourable prognosis: size of the tumor more than 10 cm; stage IE and more advanced; B-symptoms; proliferative activity above 70%. The program NHL-BFM-90 was modified because of the patients' age. Chemotherapy was conducted according to the middle arm of the original program NHL-BFM-90, but methotrexate was introduced in a dose 1 g/m2 for 12 hours, while leukovorin was given 18 hours after the start of methotrexate injection. In two cases the blocks were enhanced with rituximab, 2 patients had doxorubicin in block A, in one case block C was enhanced with methotrexate. A total of 23 modified blocks NHL-BFM-90 were performed: one patient was given 6 blocks, two patients--5, one patient--4 blocks and one patient--3 blocks.

Four patients after block 2 and one patient after block 3 of polychemotherapy NHL-BFM-90 achieved remission of the disease of 6 to 22 months duration which still continues. Infectious complications related to hematological toxicity arose more frequently at the latest courses of chemotherapy.

Treatment according to the modified program NHL-BFM-90 in adult patients with PDLBGL and unfavourable prognosis is highly effective. For a mean follow-up of 10.2 months no recurrences occurred. The number of courses can be reduced to decrease accumulated hematological toxicity and in case of rapid achievement of remission.