Gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Research Articles

P139 Favourable therapeutic effect of rituximab in the treatment of patients with advanced gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

P139 Favourable therapeutic effect of rituximab in the treatment of patients with advanced gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Primary Gastrointestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Treatment Outcome

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma is the most common extranodal presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this retrospective study, all cases of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma registered at Kuwait Cancer Control Center between January 1992 and December 2001 were reviewed. Patients were diagnosed through an endoscopic biopsy or exploratory laparotomy. Staging procedures included computed axial tomography scan, bone marrow biopsy, barium and follow-through study, as well as routine chemistry (including lactate dehydrogenase) and hemography. There were 46 patients (30 men and 16 women); ages ranged from 16 to 82 years (median age, 43.6 years). The most common site of involvement was the stomach (70%), and the most common histology was large B cell. At least 50% of cases underwent primary radical surgery, and the majority of patients received subsequent chemotherapy and/or local radiation therapy. Chemotherapy consisted of the CHOP (cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone) regimen for large B-cell histology and CVP (cyclophosphamide/vincristine/prednisone) or oral alkylating agents for low-grade histology. Of this cohort, only 12 cases (26%) have had local or distant relapse. Disease-free survival rates for low-grade and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were 64% and 81%, respectively. Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma is a potentially curable malignancy.

Interleukin 8 and Flt3 ligand as markers of advanced disease in primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Tumor angiogenesis plays a significant role in cancer growth and metastasis. This complex process is influenced by a variety of angiogenic factors. Elevated serum levels or high expression of some of these factors have been shown to correlate with stage and prognosis in certain human malignancies. This has been demonstrated most consistently for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). We tried to establish, whether pre-treatment serum levels of the angiogenic factors VEGF, bFGF, interleukin 8 (IL-8) and Flt3 ligand (Flt3L) correlate with prognostic variables in 30 patients with primary gastro-intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Our results suggest that higher pretreatment serum levels of IL-8 and Flt3L are associated with higher stage (>or= II) and high grade, respectively. Elevated pretreatment serum levels of VEGF and bFGF were not associated with advanced disease characteristics and carried no prognostic information.

Localised extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract: Sheffield Lymphoma Group experience (1989-1998).

Extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the gastrointestinal tract accounts for about one third of all extranodal NHL. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and histopathologic records of 71 patients with stage IE and IIE primary gastrointestinal NHL referred to the Sheffield Lymphoma Group (SLG) from 1989 to 1998. Cross-referencing with the Hospital Histopathology Department database revealed that only two-thirds of all cases were seen by the Group. The most common primary site was the stomach (45 patients, 63% of all cases), followed by the small intestine (16, 23%) and large intestine (9, 13%). The median age of patients was 62 years; the majority of patients presented with stage I (61%) and/or grade (65%) NHL. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas were the largest histologic subtype seen (57%), with 87% of these arising from the stomach; next most frequent was the diffuse large B-cell subtype (21% of all cases) most frequently arising from the intestine (60%). For treatment of gastric MALT lymphoma, a combined approach (surgery followed by chemotherapy, antihelicobacter therapy followed by chemotherapy) was favoured (22 cases). Five-year and 10-year overall survivals were 52% and 45% respectively. Knowledge of the Revised European American Lymphoma classification and the Helicobacter pylori/MALT association has influenced treatment approaches over the 10-year study period. For small intestinal lymphoma, surgery (with or without chemotherapy) gave 5- and 10-year survivals of 60%. Overall survival of patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma managed by the SLG is similar to that reported from other large series.

Primary colonic lymphoma.

The colon is a rare location for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). This study was undertaken to identify risk factors, presentation, treatment, and prognosis for primary colonic lymphoma (PCL) through review of a large tertiary care hospital system experience. A retrospective review of all patients with colonic malignancy and NHL was performed using pathology and cancer registry databases from January 1989 to December 1998. Criteria for inclusion were no evidence of extraperitoneal disease, no leukemic or lymphomatous abnormalities in the blood, and disease confined to the colon. Seven patients met the inclusion criteria (4 male, 3 female; 33-72 years). They represented 1.4% of all NHL, 14% of gastrointestinal NHL and 0.9% of all colonic malignancies diagnosed during this period. Three of the patients had positive serology for human immunodeficiency virus; one was taking steroids chronically for Addison disease. The most common presentation was nonspecific abdominal pain. The lack of specific symptoms delayed diagnosis from 1-12 months. All patients underwent laparotomy with resection. The most common tumor location was the cecum (5/7, 71%). Regional lymph nodes were affected in all but 1 patient. All tumors were B-cell lymphomas (5 small noncleaved cell, 2 large cell). Six of 7 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Of the 6 patients available for follow-up four remain alive (12, 19, 23, and 25 months after diagnosis). In both patients who died the disease recurred diffusely. The colon is a rare location for NHL. Immunosuppression is the most common risk factor. Patients' frequently present with non-specific abdominal pain, this leads to lengthy delays in diagnosis. Most of these tumors are located in the cecal area. Surgery is the most widely utilized form of therapy. Although adjuvant therapy is frequently utilized, its' impact on survival is unclear.

Descriptive epidemiology of gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a population-based registry.

The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), particularly at certain extranodal sites, has been demonstrated to be rising, at least in the USA, more than for any other malignancy. One of the major sites of extranodal NHL is the gastrointestinal tract, though little is known of its epidemiological characteristics. Over an 8-year period (1986 to 1993) 1069 primary gastrointestinal NHL cases were reported to the Leukaemia Research Fund Data Collection Survey which covers many parts of England and Wales. Age-standardized incidence rates of gastrointestinal NHL at all sites (0.58/105 per year), gastric (0.24/105 per year), small bowel (0.17/105 per year) and large bowel (0.06/105 per year) confirmed that the UK has the lowest rates of gastrointestinal NHL in Europe. An excess of males was observed at all ages and for all sites. Time-trend analyses showed annual increases in incidence rates for gastric (6.3%) and small bowel (5.9%) NHL although a concomitant decrease in gastrointestinal NHL of unknown site suggested that at least part of these increases had resulted from more accurate diagnoses. Overall, the incidence of gastrointestinal NHL significantly increased by 2.7% per annum and was limited to the population aged over 50 years in this series. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign

Primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults: a population-based clinical and histopathologic study.

To analyse the clinical course and the histopathology of primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (GI-NHL) in adult patients and to investigate a possible impact of Helicobacter pylori. Retrospective study of all adult patients in Copenhagen county diagnosed during a 6-year period with NHL. A total of 55 patients with GI-NHL diagnosed during the period from 1985 to the end of 1990. Twenty-eight patients had primary lymphoma in the stomach, 14 in the small intestine, 11 in the large intestine and two patients had multifocal involvement. The dominant presenting symptoms were abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhoea, constipation and fatigue. Acute emergency problems such as severe haemorrhage or perforation at initial presentation were unusual. According to the revised European-American lymphoma (REAL) classification, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the most frequent histologic subtype comprising 53% of the cases. Helicobacter pylori infection was documented in 15 of 25 evaluable patients (60%) with gastric lymphomas and was not associated with any specific histological subtype. Endoscopic procedures and barium X-rays were the diagnostic approaches with highest sensitivity. In total, 30 patients (58%) achieved complete remission, 10 (19%) achieved partial remission, and 12 (23%) did not respond to treatment. The overall 5 year survival rate was 0.36 without statistically significant difference between the histological subtypes. Likewise the presence of Helicobacter pylori did not affect survival. Primary GI-NHL is a heterogeneous disease entity with considerable therapeutic controversies. No specific clinical or histological phenotype was associated with the presence of Helicobacter pylori.

Primary gastrointestinal non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults: a population‐based clinical and histopathologic study

Abstract. Hansen PB, Vogt KC, Skov RL, Pedersen‐Bjergaard U, Jacobsen M, Ralfkiaer E (Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark). Primary gastrointestinal non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults: a population‐based clinical and histopathologic study. J Intern Med 1998; 244: 71–8.ObjectivesTo analyse the clinical course and the histopathology of primary gastrointestinal non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (GI‐NHL) in adult patients and to investigate a possible impact of Helicobacter pylori.Design/settingRetrospective study of all adult patients in Copenhagen county diagnosed during a6‐year period with NHL.SubjectsA total of 55 patients with GI‐NHL diagnosed during the period from 1985 to the end of 1990.ResultsTwenty‐eight patients had primary lymphoma in the stomach, 14 in the small intestine, 11 in the large intestine and two patients had multifocal involvement. The dominant presenting symptoms were abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhoea, constipation and fatigue. Acute emergency problems such as severe haemorrhage or perforation at initial presentation were unusual. According to the revised European‐American lymphoma (REAL) classification, diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma was the most frequent histologic subtype comprising 53% of the cases. Helicobacter pylori infection was documented in 15 of 25 evaluable patients (60%) with gastric lymphomas and was not associated with any specific histological subtype. Endoscopic procedures and barium X‐rays were the diagnostic approaches with highest sensitivity. In total, 30 patients (58%) achieved complete remission, 10 (19%) achieved partial remission, and 12 (23%) did not respond to treatment. The overall 5 year survival rate was 0.36 without statistically significant difference between the histological subtypes. Likewise the presence of Helicobacter pylori did not affect survival.ConclusionPrimary GI‐NHL is a heterogeneous disease entity with considerable therapeutic controversies. No specific clinical or histological phenotype was associated with the presence of Helicobacter pylori.

Primary Gastrointestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A Population Based Study in Central Finland in 1975–1993

Gastrointestinal lymphomas have been uncommon, but the frequency of their predisposing conditions is increasing. The objective of the present study is to determine the frequency of gastrointestinal lymphomas in the area of central Finland as well as the influence of clinical features and therapeutical approaches on the survival of these patients. All samples of gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas diagnosed of patients living in the province of central Finland in 1975–1993 were re-examined. In central Finland the mean annual frequency of new gastrointestinal lymphomas was 10/1 000 000 in 1975–1984 and 16.0/1 000 000 in 1985–1993. The total incidence of gastrointestinal lymphomas in Finland adjusted for age to the world standard population was 12.5/1 000 000 in 1992. Two patients with peripheric T-cell lymphoma had a coeliac disease. Other predisposing conditions were not found. The stage of distribution of the lymphoma (p < 0.01) and radicality of the surgery (p < 0.01) were the most influencing factors on the survival of these patients. In conclusion the early distinction of gastrointestinal lymphomas is vital because of an increasing frequency of predisposing factors and a better prognosis due to new combination therapies.

78 P - A retrospective analysis of 34 patients with primary gastrointestinal non-hodgkin's lymphoma

Many factors may influence the evolution and survival in primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. To determine their importance, clinico-pathological and therapeutical aspects were analysed in 34 patients with primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma between Jan 1983 and Dec 1995. Diagnosis was performed with endoscopy-biopsy, surgery or both. Specimens were classified according to the Kiel classification and the MALT concept formulated by Isaacson. Staging was done according to the Ann Arbor staging system modified by Musshoff. Staging and follow-up included bone marrow biopsy, ultrasonography, chest-x-ray, computer tomography, regularly gastroscopy and in two cases lymphography. Therapy included surgery(SUR), chemotherapy(CT) and radiotherapy(XRT) in different combinations, but 19 patients of 34 received all of them. Survival was measured from initial diagnosis to either the end of follow-up or death. The average follow-up was 48 months (range 2–144). 29 of 34 patients(85.2%) obtained a CR, 2 patients(5.8%) achieved a PR. Progression was observed in only 1 patient. There have been 7 relapses: 4 of them died and 3 achieved a CR again. Patients in PR also expired. Overall survival ranged from 6 to 144 months(an average of 50.8) and disease-free survival from 3 to 131 months(an average of 46.9), respectively. The best overall and disease-free survivals were obtained with combination of SUR-CT-XRT followed by SUR-CT and CT-XRT. Outcome of stage IE was more favourable with no influence of histology. It is concluded, that SUR, CT and XRT applied together could prolong overall and disease-free survivals without increased risk of adverse reactions.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract: a population-based analysis of incidence, geographic distribution, clinicopathologic presentation features, and prognosis. Danish Lymphoma Study Group.

To evaluate incidence, time trends, geographic distribution, clinicopathologic presentation features, and prognostic factors for survival and relapse in gastrointestinal (GI) non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Over a 9-year period (1983 to 1991), 2,446 new NHL cases were recorded in a Danish population-based NHL registry (Danish Lymphoma Study Group [LYFO]). Of these, 306 (12.5%) were GI NHL (175 gastric, 109 intestinal, and 22 both sites). LYFO registry data were used for incidence rate (IR) assessment, and time-trend and geographic distribution analysis. Relative risk (RR) values for survival and relapse were identified by multivariate analysis. The mean annual, age-standardized IRs for gastric and intestinal NHL were 0.71/10(5) and 0.48/10(5) per year, respectively. Age-specific IRs for both localizations showed an exponential increase as a function of age. Time-trend analysis for the period 1983 to 1991 showed stable IRs for both localizations. Intestinal NHL was more frequent in males (male-to-female ratio, 2.0 v 1.3), and had a higher occurrence of disseminated disease, constitutional symptoms, high-grade histology, and T-cell phenotype (10% v 2%). Gastric NHL had more low-grade cases (38% v 19%), and almost all were of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type. The cause-specific 5-year survival rate was 63% for gastric NHL and 49% for intestinal NHL. The Musshoff staging system was an excellent discriminator between truly localized (stage I and II1) and disseminated cases (stage II2 to IV), particularly for gastric NHL, for which no survival difference was found between surgically and conservatively stage localized cases. (1) No increase in the incidence of GI NHL was found over a 9-year observation period; (2) nonrandom spatial distribution of new GI NHL cases was observed; (3) factors that significantly increased the risk of death in gastric cases were presence of B symptoms (RR = 3.3), clinical stage is more than II1 (RR = 3.0), age more than 72 years (RR = 2.4), and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (s-LDH) level (RR = 2.0); and factors that increased the risk of death in intestinal cases were presence of B symptoms (RR = 3.2), age more than 58 years (RR = 2.8), and clinical stage more than I (RR = 2.1); (4) factors that significantly increased the risk of relapse in gastric cases were male sex and no radiotherapy in primary treatment; and in intestinal cases were T-cell phenotype and no surgery in primary treatment; (5) surgical staging, as opposed to thorough noninvasive staging, did not improve staging accuracy and final outcome in localized gastric NHL.

Primary colorectal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site of extranodal involvement in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Primary colorectal NHL comprises 13-18% of all gastrointestinal NHL but is not commonly reported as a separate entity. This was a retrospective review of the medical records of 19 patients over a 16-year period to evaluate the clinical features and behavior of colorectal NHL. A pediatric group of seven male patients presented at an early stage with acute symptomatology. The primary tumor was located in the ileocecum in all cases and intussusception was common. An adult group of 12 patients presented at a later stage with chronic symptomatology. Staging study results were positive by bone marrow biopsy in four of 16 patients (25%), by lymph-angiography in six of 11 patients (54.5%), and by gallium scan in eight of 10 patients (80%). Seven patients relapsed a median of 8 months after treatment. Three other patients died during treatment, one died of other causes, and one died without receiving treatment. The remaining seven patients are alive from 41 to 231 months without evidence of disease. Five of these patients are in the pediatric group, where the median survival was > 72 months. The overall median survival was 45 months. Colorectal NHL is a disease that affects both the pediatric and adult population. Although pediatric patients have an excellent prognosis with anticipated long-term survival after treatment, long-term survival can be expected in approximately 50% of adult patients. In both groups of patients, multimodality therapy with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation is the treatment of choice.

Gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

All cases of gastrointestinal (GI) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosed in Finland between 1972 and 1977 were histologically reexamined and immunostained in order to study the value of histological classification. One hundred and eleven cases were found. The crude annual incidence was 0.51/10(5) and the age-adjusted (world standard population) incidence 0.23/10(5). The male-to-female ratio of age-adjusted incidence rates was 2.7. The most common histological type was large B-cell lymphoma comprising 61% of all classifiable cases. Low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma comprised 12%, centrocytic lymphoma 9%, peripheral T-cell lymphoma 9%, Burkitt's lymphoma 7% and large-cell anaplastic lymphoma 3% of the total. In the jejunum, almost one half of the cases were T-cell lymphomas and there were no lymphomas with definite MALT features. Gastric lymphomas had higher survival rates than intestinal lymphomas, B-cell lymphomas slightly higher survival rates than T-cell lymphomas, and low-grade MALT lymphomas higher survival rates than other B-cell lymphomas. The other types of lymphomas differed only slightly from each other in prognosis. The histological grade according to the Working Formulation correlated with survival rates, but a great majority of cases were classified as intermediate grade. Classification of GI lymphomas into the types mentioned above appears to correlate with several clinical and pathological parameters.

Combined modality therapy for primary gastro-intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (GI-NHL)

Combined modality therapy for primary gastro-intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (GI-NHL)

Gastrointestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

The records of 77 patients with gastrointestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (GI-NHL) diagnosed from 1972 to 1988 were reviewed. There were 47 male and 30 female patients, median age 56 years (range 20-82 years). Twenty-four patients had stage I disease at presentation, 25 stage II, 8 stage III and 20 stage IV. The primary site was stomach for 32 patients, small bowel for 30, colon for 10, and 5 patients had multiple areas of involvement. Six patients had low grade histology, 59 intermediate grade and 12 high grade histology. Forty-two stage I and II patients underwent laparotomy; 30 had complete surgical resection, and 42 had chemotherapy. Only 21 stage III and IV patients underwent laparotomy; 15 had bowel resection and 24 had chemotherapy. Forty-one patients had evaluable disease prior to chemotherapy. Fifty-six percent achieved complete remission and 32% partial remission. At a median follow up of 46 months the median survival is 31 months, and predicted 5 and 10 year survivals are 61% and 42% respectively. Survival correlated most strongly with stage of disease at presentation (p = 0.003). Projected 10 year survival for stage I is 84%, stage II 52%, stage III 38% and no stage IV patients are alive at 10 years. Survival was significantly longer for stage I and II patients who underwent complete surgical resection (p = 0.003), but surgery did not alter survival for stage III or IV patients. Sex, the presence of B symptoms, histologic subtype or site of primary GI-NHL did not demonstrate significant correlation with prognosis.

Molecular Genetics of Gastrointestinal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas: Unusual Prevalence and Pattern of c-myc Rearrangements in Aggressive Lymphomas

Thirty-two extranodal lymphomas of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract underwent molecular genetic analysis by Southern blotting using probes for the immunoglobulin genes and the bcl-1, bcl-2, and c-myc loci, commonly involved in lymphomagenesis. No bcl-1 rearrangements were found. There was only one large-cell lymphoma with a bcl-2 rearrangement. A rearrangement of the c-myc gene was found in six of eight Burkittlike lymphomas of the intestine. In five of these six cases, a chromosomal translocation t(8;14) with an unusual breakpoint was demonstrated by comigration of the rearranged c-myc and a rearranged JH sequence. This pattern of rearrangement has not been previously associated with a specific group of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. In contrast to all six low-grade lymphomas, c-myc rearrangements were found in 6 of 12 large-cell or high-grade mucosa-associated lymphomas of the stomach. No comigration of c-myc and immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene sequences were found. We conclude that primary GI lymphomas have different molecular genetic characteristics compared with node-based follicle center-cell lymphoma and as a group are not related to these lymphomas. In addition, the prevalence and patterns of c-myc rearrangements in the gastric large-cell lymphomas and ileocecal Burkittlike lymphomas are noteworthy and suggest a different and distinct pathogenesis for these tumors.

The role of gallium 67 imaging in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of gallium 67 imaging in the detection of gastrointestinal (GI) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and in the assessment of the therapeutic effects, images were reviewed in 24 cases (25 lesions: stomach, 20; ileum, 2; and terminal ileum and or cecum, 3) and were compared using barium studies and, in 16 cases, computerized tomography (CT). In all, 23 (92.0%) of the 25 lesions were detected by 67Ga citrate imaging, the barium studies detected all 25, and CT detected 15 of 16 lesions (93.8%). The two lesions not identified by imaging and the one not found by CT were the smallest of all. In 2 (8.7%) of the 23 lesions positively identified by 67Ga-citrate imaging, both CT and imaging revealed the extent of the tumor more accurately than did the barium studies. In all but one of the patients, a close correlation existed between the imaging results and the therapeutic effects. These data suggest that 67Ga imaging is useful in conjunction with CT and barium studies for the detection of GI NHL and for the assessment of both the spatial extent of disease and the therapeutic effects, although a lack of 67Ga uptake after therapy does not always indicate a good therapeutic effect.

Primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a population-based registry

In a population-based registry of 580 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) 54 patients had a primary gastric lymphoma, 42 an intestinal, 113 a primary extranodal lymphoma localised elsewhere than in the gastrointestinal tract and 371 a primary nodal NHL. Histological specimens were reviewed by a panel of pathologists and classified according to the Kiel classification and the International Working Formulation. The 4-year survival rates for primary gastric, intestinal, other extranodal and nodal NHL ranged from 50 to 60%; the 4-year recurrence-free survival rates were 50%, 35%, 19% and 19%, respectively. Among patients with localised intermediate-grade disease survival for those with gastric NHL was better than for those with intestinal lymphoma. Because it is population-based, our study cohort was not subjected to exclusion due to age, performance scale, etc. and therefore provides a more realistic picture of the occurrence and presentation of as well as prognosis for lymphoma in the population.

Prognostic factors in primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A multivariate analysis, report of 106 cases, and review of the literature.

The authors have reviewed 106 cases of primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (GI-NHL) treated at the Institut Gustave-Roussy (IGR), France, between 1975 and 1986. The occurrence was 55 in the stomach, 26 in the small intestine, ten ileocecal, seven in the large intestine, and eight patients had multiple involvement. Patients were clinically staged according to the Ann Arbor staging system using the modification of Musshoff for Stage IIE. All histologic material of the 106 patients were reviewed and graded according to the Working Formulation (WF) and the Kiel classifications. Most patients received combination chemotherapy as part or all of their primary treatment program (95 patients, 90%). Seventy five patients (71%) had a multimodality treatment. The overall 5-year survival rate was 60%. Sixteen variables were tested by univariate analyses for prognostic influence on survival. Of these, only clinical stage (P less than 0.001), the achievement of initial complete remission (CR) (P less than 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P = 0.01), mesenteric involvement (P = 0.03), and serosal infiltration (P = 0.05) were significant prognostic factors. Important variables were tested by a multivariate analysis using the Cox model taking into account different treatment modalities. Only three variables entered the regression analysis at a significant level: clinical stage (P = 0.02), surgical resection (P = 0.03), and histologic grade (Kiel) (P = 0.04). When the achievement of initial CR was introduced into the model, it was the most significant variable (P less than 0.001) whereas all other variables became nonsignificant except for the histologic grade (Kiel) (P = 0.004). Based on results of the multivariate analyses we propose two prognostic classifications of patients: one at the initial evaluation depending on clinical stage, surgical resectability, and histologic grade (Kiel); the other at the end of primary treatment depending on the achievement or not of CR and the histologic grade.

Chemotherapy following surgery for stages IE and IIE non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract.

Twenty-six patients were treated with chemotherapy following surgery for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (GI-NHL). The median age was 50 years (range, 20 to 76). The primary site included stomach (16 patients), small bowel (seven), large bowel (two), and mesenteric nodes (one). Following surgery, nine patients had macroscopic and four patients had microscopic residual disease, and 13 were felt to have had complete surgical resection. Thirteen patients were stage I and 13 were stage II. Sixteen patients were treated with COPP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone), nine with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), and one with CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone). At a median follow-up of 50 months (8+ to 178+ months) ten of 12 stage I patients and nine of 14 stage II patients remain alive. Of the nine patients with macroscopic residual disease, four died of disease 6.5 to 11.0 months after diagnosis, and five are alive 8+ to 178+ months from diagnosis. Fourteen of the remaining 17 patients who had complete surgical resection are alive without disease. Death in the other three patients was due to multiple abdominal abscesses at 12 months, adenocarcinoma of the colon at 57 months, and dementia and progressive neurologic dysfunction at 65 months. No patient who had complete resection has relapsed or developed systemic disease after chemotherapy. These results suggest that complete surgical resection is an important prognostic factor and that chemotherapy without irradiation in completely resected localized GI-NHL can prevent local and systemic relapse resulting in long-term disease-free survival.