Long term outcome of patients with localized aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with PROMECE-CYTABOM plus involved-field radiation therapy: a study by the Gruppo Italiano Studio Linfomi.

We conducted a retrospective analysis on 168 adult patients with newly diagnosed, limited-stage (I and II) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated from 1988 to 2004 with PROMECE-CYTABOM (P-C) plus involved-field radiation therapy (IF-RT). At the end of P-C, the overall response rate was 92%. Radiotherapy (RT) was delivered to 84% of cases. With a median follow-up of 95 months, overall survival (OS), relapse free survival (RFS), and failure free survival at 5 and 10 years was 84% and 77%, 81% and 75%, 71% and 67%, respectively. Age (>60 years, p = 0.002), serum albumin (<3.5 g/dL; p = 0.015), and RT (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of OS. For patients in complete remission the administration of RT didn't improve both RFS and OS. This study confirms that patients with localized aggressive lymphoma have a high chance of cure with anthracycline containing regimens. Though the regimen used to treat these patients does not contain rituximab, results are considered excellent both in terms of efficacy and safety.