ABSTRACT
Background: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is the commonest tumour among Nigerian children. It is reported to be highly responsive to readily available cytotoxic drugs; yet, the outcome of therapy remains abysmal.Objectives: To review the epidemiology of BL in terms of risk factors, age incidence, regional distribution, disease sub-types, examine the available treatment regimens locally and internationally and report on the outcome of treatment in Nigeria under different conditions.Methods: A comprehensive literature review on the epidemiology of BL was undertaken and results of publications and clinical trials of BL were evaluated.Results: Three major sub-types of Burkitt lymphoma are recognised in the world literature; the classic endemic BL (eBL) in sub-Saharan Africa, EBV-independent sporadic BL (sBL) found in population outside the endemic areas and the HIV-related BL (HIV-BL), which is found in regions with high incidence of HIV infection. All the sub-types have common cytogenetic abnormalities: t (8, 14), t (8, 22), and t (2, 8). The COM regimen incorporating cyclophosphamide, oncovin and methotrexate (with the intrathecal cytarabine and methotrexate), was found to be very effective for eBL. Treatment outcome was dismal for the self-financed patients treated with COM regimen between 1986 and 2000 (Group A) compared to the internationally sponsored patients treated between 2000 and 2014 (Group B). While 16.8% of Group A patients had no chemotherapy, 9.8% were lost to toxic deaths and 88% defaulted; most of the patients in group B had full chemotherapy; the Event-Free Survival (EFS) rates at 12 and 24 months were 58.3% and 53.4%, respectively
Subject(s)
Burkitt Lymphoma , Cyclophosphamide , Methotrexate , Neoplasms , Nigeria , VincristineABSTRACT
De janvier 1994 a decembre 1998; 27 malades ages de 19 a 65 ans; et atteints de sarcome de kaposi associe au sida ont ete traites dans le Service de Medecine et Carcinologie du CHU de Brazzaville. Le traitement ainsi administre; etait constitue de l'association vincristine-bleomycine. En dehors de la confirmation microscopique du diagnostic et d'un bilan prealable d'extension; les malades devaient avoir un indice superieur ou egal a 50 pour cent. Nous avons enregistre un taux de reponse objective de 59;5 pour cent avec une duree de 9 mois