Association of L-asparaginase-Methotrexate-Dexamethasone for Nasal and Nasal-type Natural Killer (NK)-T-cell Lymphoma

Summary

Nasal/nasal type NK-T-cell lymphoma is a rare and severe type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) more frequent in Asia than in western countries. When localised, radiotherapy seems to be the best treatment. When radiotherapy cannot be used because of dissemination or relapse, chemotherapy protocols used for other types of NHL give poor results and survival is poor. Recently papers from China and Japan reported the efficacy of a drug: l-asparaginase, usually used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In vitro a selective apoptosis of NK-cell tumours by l-asparaginase was shown on tumour cell lines and samples. The investigators propose a phase II protocol for patients with refractory or relapsing nasal/nasal type NK-T-cell lymphoma using a regimen combining l-asparaginase, methotrexate and dexamethasone. Biological studies will be conducted trying to find factors which could predict responses to this chemotherapy. Since january 2009, the study concerns all patients with nasal/nasal type NK-T-cell lymphoma who have not received asparaginase before.

Timeline

Start

2006-02

Primary completion

2012-06

Completion

2012-06

Publications

• Jaccard A, Gachard N, Marin B, Rogez S, Audrain M, Suarez F, Tilly H, Morschhauser F, Thieblemont C, Ysebaert L, Devidas A, Petit B, de Leval L, Gaulard P, Feuillard J, Bordessoule D, Hermine O; GELA and GOELAMS Intergroup. Efficacy of L-asparaginase with methotrexate and dexamethasone (AspaMetDex regimen) in patients with refractory or relapsing extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, a phase 2 study. Blood. 2011 Feb 10;117(6):1834-9. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-09-307454. Epub 2010 Dec 1.

Drugs

Indications