Journal of Hematology & Thromboembolic Diseases
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-8790
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2329-8790
+44 1478 350008
Márcio Tavares, Ana Margarida Simas, Carla Castro, Ana Espírito Santo, Nélson Domingues, Isabel Oliveira, Ângelo Martins, IlÃdia Moreira, Luísa Viterbo, Ângelo Oliveira, Rui Henrique, Sérgio Chacim and José Mário Mariz
Background: Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a distinct clinicopathologic entity from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The optimal first-line therapy for PMBCL is subject of ongoing debate with no accepted standard of care.
Patients and Methods: We searched retrospectively for adult patients with newly diagnosed PMBCL treated at our department between 2002 and 2014. Clinical, management and follow-up data were collected. Staging and response assessment of patients included PET and/or CT scan.
Results: Twenty-nine patients with PMBCL (17 female and 12 male) were included. The median age at diagnosis was 36 years (18-79 years). Eighteen (62.1%) and 20 (69%) patients had limited-stage and bulky disease, respectively. All patients were treated with rituximab-based combination chemotherapy; 21 patients underwent consolidation radiotherapy. Seven patients (24.1%) were transplanted (six in first remission and the remaining in second remission). At the end of frontline therapy, 28 patients had responded (27 complete response and 1 partial response) and one patient showed progressive disease. Febrile neutropenia was the most frequent acute adverse event and three patients developed late toxicity. The median follow-up was 51,5 months. The 5-year overall progression-free survival was 83.8%. Four patients died, half of which died within the first year after diagnosis.
Conclusion: Our study shows favorable prognosis of patients with PMBCL treated with rituximab-based chemotherapy and consolidation radiotherapy or autologous stem-cell transplant. While consolidation therapy continues to be commonly used, its role has become increasingly controversial.