Efficacy of a short sandwich protocol, methotrexate, gemcitabine, L-asparaginase and dexamethasone chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy, in localised newly diagnosed NK/T-cell lymphoma: A French retrospective study.
Chaubard S, Marouf A, Lavergne D, Lemonnier F, Rossignol J, Clavert A, Gressin R, Cartron G, Waultier-Rascalou A, Vargaftig J, Salles G, Bachy E, Ghesquières H, Tournilhac O, Chauchet A, Le Gouill S, Damaj G, Fornecker LM, Sibon D, Obéric L, Michot JM, Gaulard P, Hermine O, Couronné L, Jaccard A.
Source :
Br J Haematol
2023 May 1
Pmid / DOI:
36799516
Abstract
Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type is a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma, historically associated with poor prognosis. We report here the results of a retrospective multi-centre study evaluating the efficacy of MGAD (methotrexate, gemcitabine, L-asparaginase and dexamethasone) regimen (two cycles) combined with 'sandwich' radiotherapy in 35 patients with localised newly diagnosed extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Thirty-two patients (91%) reached complete remission. With a long median follow-up of 59.6 months, progression-free and overall survival at 2 and 5 years were 71%, 80% and 53%, 73%, respectively. Around one third of the patients experienced relapse within a median time of 14.5 months. Side-effects were manageable with grades 3-4 cytopenias, mucositis and infection in 50%, 24% and 21% of the cases, respectively. Monitoring of asparaginase activity was performed in 13 patients and showed inactivation of the drug in seven (54%) patients. Our results indicate that a short therapy by sandwich MGAD chemoradiotherapy is a tolerable and effective treatment option in localised newly diagnosed extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma patients.