Journal List > Korean J Hematol > v.43(3) > 1032775

Yoon, Sohn, Lee, Lim, Kim, Park, Kim, Jang, Kim, Lee, Huh, and Suh: VPDL Chemotherapy for T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (T-LBL) in Adults: Comparison with Upfront Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in a Single Center

Abstract

Background:

Treatment of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) with CHOP or CHOP-like chemotherapy has resulted in poor long-term outcomes. High-dose chemotherapy followed by ASCT has been applied for this dreaded disease. However, the efficacy is still controversial. T-LBL is considered the nodal/extranodal presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Favorable results with VPDL chemotherapy have been reported in the setting of adult lymphoblastic leukemia. We, therefore, treated T-LBL patients with modified VPDL chemotherapy and compared the outcomes with those achieved using upfront ASCT.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 24 T-LBL patients treated either with upfront ASCT (n=11) or VPDL chemotherapy without ASCT (n=13) between January 1996 and October 2005.

Results:

The median follow-up duration for surviving patients was 17 months (range, 5∼109 months). The two-year event-free survival (EFS) rates were 83.1% in the VPDL group and 27.3% in the upfront ASCT group (P=0.008). The two-year overall survival (OS) rates were 83.9% in the VPDL group and 27.3% in the upfront ASCT group (P=0.006).

Conclusion:

This study suggests that VPDL chemotherapy is very effective and may be superior to upfront ASCT in the treatment of T-LBL patients.

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Fig. 1
Probability of overall survival in 13 patients treated with VPDL chemotherapy (solid line) and 11 patients with ASCT (dashed line).
kjh-43-138f1.tif
Fig. 2
Probability of event free survival in 13 patients treated with VPDL chemotherapy (solid line) and 11 patients with ASCT (dashed line).
kjh-43-138f2.tif
Table 1.
Prior chemotherapy regimens in the ASCT arm
  No. of patients (n=11) Percent
First-line chemotherapy
  VPDL∗ 5 45.5%
  CODOX-M/IVAC 5 45.5%
  Vanderbilt 1 9.1%
Second-line chemotherapy
  CODOX-M/IVAC 3 27.3%
  DHAP 1 9.1%
  CVPD 1 9.1%
  ESHAP 1 9.1%
  Vanderbilt 1 9.1%
  None 4 36.0%

∗Patients who underwent VPDL induction treatment (See Table 2). Abbreviations: CODOX-M, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, cytarabine and methotrexate (iv and intrathecal);CVPD, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, dexamethasone, and doxorubicin; DHAP, cytarabine, cisplatin, and dexamethasone;ESHAP, etoposide methylprednisolone, cytarabine, and cisplatin; IVAC, ifosfamide, etoposide, cytarabin, and methotrexate (intrathecal); Vanderbilt, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, vincristine, bleomycin, methotrexate, and prednisolone;VPDL, vincristine, prednisolone, daunorubicin, and L-asparaginase.

Table 2.
Drugs used in the VPDL protocol
Drugs Dosage Route Day Comments
Induction
  Daunorubicin 45mg/m2 IVP D1-3  
  Vincristine 2mg IVP D1,8,15,22  
  Prednisolone 60mg/m2 PO D1-28  
  L-asparaginase 4,000units/m2 IM D17-28  
Consolidation A (cycles 1, 3, 5 and 7)
  Daunorubicin 50mg/m2 IVP D1,2  
  Vincristine 2mg IVP D1,8  
  Prednisolone 60mg/m2 PO D1-14  
  L-asparaginase 12,000units/m2 IM D2,4,7,9,11,14  
Consolidation B (cycles 2, 4, 6 and 8)
  VP16 75mg/m2 IV D1,4,8,11  
  Ara-C 300mg/m2 CIV D1,4,8,11  
Consolidation C (cycle 9) MTX
  MTX 690mg/m2 CIV D1 Infusion for 48 hr
  Leucovorin 15mg/m2 IVP D3-5 Q6 hrs for 12 dose After MTX induction

Abbreviations: IVP, intravenous push; PO, per os; IM, intramuscular injection; CIV, continuous intravenous injection.

Table 3.
Characteristics of all patients at presentation
  VPDL (n=13) ASCT (n=11) P-value
Age ≤30 years 7 7 0.697
  >30 years 6 4  
Sex Male 12 9 0.576
  Female 1 2  
Stage I, II 4 2 0.649
  III, IV 9 9  
B symptom No 7 9 0.211
  Yes 6 2  
ECOG 0∼1 11 10 1.0
  2∼4 2 1  
LDH Normal 6 4 0.697
  Above norma 7 7  
Extranodal 0∼1 10 8 0.537
  involvement >1 3 3  
Mediastinal No 3 3 1.0
  involvement Yes 10 8  
Bone marrow No 7 6 0.973
  involvement Yes 6 5  
Age-adjusted IPI L/LI 6 3 0.423
  HI/H 7 8  

Abbreviations: L, low; LI, low intermediate; HI, high intermediate; H high.

Table 4.
Patient outcomes after VPDL or ASCT
  VPDL (n=13) ASCT (n=11) P-value
Response 0.695
  CR 9 (69.2%) 6 (54.5%)  
  PR 2 (15.4%) 2 (18.2%)  
  PD 2 (15.4%) 2 (18.2%)  
  NA - 1 (9.1%)∗  
Status 0.006
  Alive 10 (76.9%) 3 (27.3%)  
  Dead 2 (15.4%) 8 (72.7%)  
  Lost to follow up 1 (7.7%) -  
Cause of death 0.625
  Disease progression 1 (7.7%) 3 (37.5%)  
  Infection 1 (7.7%) 3 (37.5%)  
  Other - 2 (25.0%)  

∗Patient died before response assessment.

One patient expired from GVHD after salvage allo-SCT and the other from VOD.

Abbreviations: CR, complete response; PR, partial response;PD, progressive disease; NA, not available.

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