Prognostic factors for therapeutic outcome of diffuse small non-cleaved cell lymphoma in adults

Most reports of prognosis and therapy in diffuse small non-cleaved cell lymphoma (DSNCL), an aggressive high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) which appears to be of two histopathologic subtypes, have included predominantly a pediatric population and very few adults. We studied 20 newly diagnosed, previously untreated adults with DSNCL. Three patients had Ann Arbor Stage I disease, five Stage II, and 12 Stage IV. Bone marrow involvement was present in seven of 20 (35%) patients; no patient had central nervous system involvement at diagnosis. Clonal chromosomal abnormalities were found on cytogenetic analysis of all 12 cases studied. Ten patients had specific recurring translocations, including t(8;14) (q23;q32) (five patients), t(14;18) (q32;q21) (four patients), and t(2;8) (p12;q24) (one patient). Induction chemotherapy with the COMP regimen (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone) or a variant schedule of the same drugs resulted in complete remission for 13 patients (65%), and partial remission for 5 patients (25%). Clinical characteristics predictive of a favorable response to induction therapy included Stage I or II disease, a normal lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and performance status (PS) of 0 or 1. Remission duration ranged from two to 125+ (median 37+) months. Survival ranged from one to 126+ (median 23) months; ten patients (50%) remain alive, nine with no active disease. Factors predictive of longer survival included achievement of a complete remission with induction therapy, a normal LDH, and PS 0 or 1. As in children with DSNCL, long-term disease-free survival may be achieved in adults with combination chemotherapy.