[Survival outcomes of T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a report of 111 cases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a group of heterogeneous malignancies with poor prognosis, and without ideal therapeutic regimen. This study was to summarize clinical and pathologic features of T-cell NHL.

METHODS

Records of 111 patients with T-cell NHL, treated from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 2001 in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were classified according to WHO classification criteria.

RESULTS

Median age of the whole group was 37 years (ranged 7-77 years). Of the 111 patients, 82 were men, 29 were women;45 (40.5%) were treated with chemoradiotherapy, 62 (55.8%) were treated with chemotherapy alone, and 4 (3.6%) were treated with radiotherapy alone. The 3-year survival rate of the whole group was 45% with a median follow-up of 28 months. The 3-year survival rates of chemoradiotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy groups were 56%, 38%, and 25%, respectively. Among all histological type subgroups, the prognosis of NK/T-cell lymphoma was the worst with the 3-year survival rate of only 25%u the 3-year survival rate was 40% in unspecified peripheral T-cell lymphoma group,and 85% in angioimmunoblast T-cell lymphoma group. International prognostic index was a significant factor for predicting overall survival. The 3-year survival rates of low risk,low-intermediate risk,intermediate-high risk, and high risk groups were 60%, 30%, 10%, and 0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Present treatment modalities for T-cell NHL patients, especially the high risk patients, can't achieve satisfactory outcomes. New treatment modality for these patients needs to be explored.