Long-term Outcomes of Patients with Newly Diagnosed NK/T-cell Lymphoma Treated by EPOCH Regimen / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ABSTRACT

[Objective]This study was aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes and toxicity of continuous-infusion EPOCH regimen for NK/T-cell lymphoma(NK/TCL).[Methods]From June 2003 to June 2008,34 patients including 30 nasal NK/TCL (88.2%)and 4 nasal type NK/TCL(11.8%)received doxorubicin,vincfistine,etoposide over 96 hours infusion with bolus eyelophosphamide and oral predinisone(EPOCH)chemotherapy as first-line treatment.Median cycles of EPOCH administered were 2.5(1-6 cycles).Additional involved field radiation therapy(IFRT)was administered to patients with localized nasal focus after chemotherapy.[Results]Among 34 patients,33 were eligible for response evaluation.The response rate(RR)was 60.6% (20/33)with complete remission(CR)rate of 45.5%(15/33).The RR of patients with nasal NK/TCL was 66.7%(20/30)with CR rate of 50%(15/30).Only one of the 3 nasal type NK/TCL patients achieved stable disease(SD),the other 2 had progressive disease(PD)during chemotherapy.After a median follow-up of 22(2-68)months,the estimated 3-year overall survival rate(OS)was 52.2%.For patients with nasal NK/TCL,the estimated median survival time was not reached,the 3-year OS was 59.4%.For patients with nasal type NK/TCL,the estimated median survival time was only 7 months.The CR rate was 75.0% for localized nasal NK/TCL who received initial EPOCH chemotherapy followed IFRT with the 3-year OS of 75.0%.Major adverse effect was myelosuppression.The incidence of grade Ⅲ～Ⅳ neutropenia was 30.9%.No treatment-related mortality occurred.[Conclusions]EPOCH regiment was effective and well tolerant for nasal NK/TCL.Combined EPOCH chemotherapy followed by IFRT produced promising outcome for patients with localized disease.However,patients with nasal type NK/TCL responded poorly and more efficacious treatment strategies are urgently needed.