Radiation Therapy and High-Dose Corticosteroids in Treating Older Patients With Primary CNS Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Summary

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining radiation therapy with a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone, may be an effective treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of radiation therapy and high-dose dexamethasone in treating older patients with primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Timeline

Start

1998-03

Primary completion

2003-06

Completion

2003-06

Outcome

Missed primary endpoint

paper Interim analysis revealed a 6-month survival of 33%, resulting in closure of the trial. PMID 16863926 ↗

paper Toxicity, OS, and event-free survival (EFS) were similar to those in patients more than 70 years of age who received CHOP-WBRT. PMID 16863926 ↗

Publications

• Background O'Neill BP, Habermann TM, Witzig TE, Rodriguez M. Prevention of recurrence and prolonged survival in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients treated with adjuvant high-dose methylprednisolone. Med Oncol. 1999 Sep;16(3):211-5. doi: 10.1007/BF02906134.
• Results Laack NN, Ballman KV, Brown PB, O'Neill BP; North Central Cancer Treatment Group. Whole-brain radiotherapy and high-dose methylprednisolone for elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma: Results of North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) 96-73-51. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006 Aug 1;65(5):1429-39. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2006.03.061.
• Results Laack NN, Ballman KV, Brown PD, et al.: Toxicity of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) for elderly patients (70 years of age and older) with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL): results of North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) 967351. [Abstract] Neuro-Oncology 6 (4): RT-11, 361, 2004.

Drugs

Evaluation	Drug	Modality	Dose	Route
Subject	Dexamethasone	Small molecule	—	Intravenous

Indications