Korean J Hematol.  1998 Aug;33(2):198-205.

Retrospective Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Aggressive Malignant Lymphomas

• Han JY
• Choi BG
• Kim HK
• Lee KS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We analyzed retrospectively the clinical features and treatment-related parameters of the aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) treated with combination chemotherapy containing doxorubicin to determine the prognostic factors for the response to the treatment and overall survival.
METHODS
Adult patients with aggressive NHL who were treated between 1984 to 1993 were evaluated retrospectively for clinical features and treatment-related parameters predictive of the response to the treatment and overall survival, respectively.
RESULTS
At 2 years, relapse-free survival and overall survival were 62.2% and 82.6%, respectively, with a median follow-up time of 23.5 months. Significant independent prognostic factors for overall survival were serum LDH level and the complete response (CR) time-interval. For relapse-free survival, the CR time-interval was a significant independent prognostic factor.
CONCLUSION
The rapid induction of complete response has a significant implication in the prognosis of aggressive NHL. Appropriate selection of treatment according to the CR time-interval as well as the clinical features of aggressive NHL will improve the overall survival in aggressive NHL.

Keyword

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; Prognostic factors; Complete response

MeSH Terms

Adult
Doxorubicin
Drug Therapy, Combination
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lymphoma*
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies*
Doxorubicin