Klin Onkol 2012; 25(3): 206-211. DOI: 10.14735/amko2012206.
Summary
Background: Angioimmunoblastic T-lymphoma (AITL) is a poor prognosis malignancy. Because of relatively rare incidence and lack of publications in Czech, we decided to share our experience. Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of newly diagnosed AITL patients treated at our institution between 1/2000–12/2010. Results: Twelve patients with median age of 64 (43–82) years were analysed. Two patients over 80 years were treated with corticosteroids. Ten patients were treated with 6 cycles of CHOP-21 chemotherapy resulting in: 2/10 (20%) stable disease, 5/10 (50%) partial remission and 3/10 (30%) complete remission. The median EFS and OS of chemotherapy-treated patients were 8 and 10 months, resp. The EFS and OS were both significantly longer in patients who achieved complete remission within the first line of CHOP or autologous stem cells transplantation therapy: 43 vs 6 (p = 0.0052) and 46 vs 6 months (p = 0.0023), respectively. It was not possible to perform autologous transplantation in 4/7 (57%) patients in need for further reduction of the disease because of poor performance status or early progression of lymphoma and death during salvage chemotherapy. Conclusion: AITL is a poor prognosis malignancy with a very high risk of early relapse after CHOP induction chemotherapy. In fit patients, autologous transplantation should be performed immediately after induction chemotherapy; information about availability of stem cells donor, both in the family or any available register, should be found during the induction treatment.
