Evaluation of the LSA2L2 protocol for treatment of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A report from the Polish Children's Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group.

From 1979 to 1982, 97 previously untreated children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with the LSA2L2 protocol proposed by Wollner. Staging was done according to the criteria proposed by Wollner and re-staged according to Murphy's criteria. Each patient, regardless of clinical stage and histologic group, was given the same chemotherapy. A total of 28 nonrandomized patients received either cranial irradiation or intermediate-dose intravenous methotrexate as CNS prophylaxis. The complete remission rate was 72.6%. The 3-year actuarial estimate of survival was 73% and the disease-free survival rate was 62% for all responders, and was influenced by stage and main clinical features present at the time of initial presentation. The overall survival rate at 3 years is 52%. Of 26 children who failed to achieve complete remission, 21 had presented with disseminated disease. Also, 20/67 patients who entered remission have suffered relapses: four in the bone marrow, seven in the CNS, and nine with local relapses. Only one of 28 children who received CNS prophylaxis developed CNS disease as the site of first relapse, whereas six of those who received only intrathecal chemotherapy did so. This study confirms the improved outlook in comparison with a historical group for children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by the use of an intensive multiple-drug regimen and CNS prophylaxis.