Prognostic and therapeutic value of immunological classification of lymphoma

ABSTRACT

This study included 38 patients of newly diagnosed untreated non Hodgkin's lymphomas, during the period from December 1987 till the end of August 1991. Their ages ranges from 18 to 65 years. 23 were males and 15 were females. Six patients had low grade NHL, 19 intermediate and 13 high grade. Treatment of patients with low grade NHL consisted of COP regimen chemotherapy, while in case of intermediate and high grade COPP or CHOP chemotherapy was given. No significant difference in the response rate was detected between the 3 grades, however, a significant difference was found in the 3-year actuarial survival, with higher survival in the low compared with the intermediate and high grade [p 0.03]. B-cell subtype was the commonest immunological phenotype in these cases [71%], while T-cell and null cells phenotypes represented 26.6% and 2.6% of cases, respectively. There was no significant difference in response rate or actuarial survival between B, T or null cell immunological phenotypes