Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with the ESHAP (etoposide, steroid, high-dose Ara-C, and a platinum agent) regimen yielded high efficacy in patients with localized extranodal natural killer (NK)/T lymphoma (ENKTL), nasal type, a recent study published online ahead of print in the European Journal of Cancer has shown.
CCRT has recently been proposed as a treatment modality for patients with ENKTL, nasal type, but specific combinations remain a matter of debate. Therefore, researchers conducted a study in 13 patients with localized ENKTL, nasal type, to assess ESHAP plus radiotherapy.
All patients underwent an induction phase with two cycles of ESHAP chemotherapy plus 40 Gy of radiation administered concurrently. Patients then received two to three cycles of ESHAP consolidation.
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Results showed that the 2-year overall survival rate was 72%, and 92% of patients achieved a complete remission.
In regard to safety, 62% of patients had a reduction in the number of chemotherapy cycles or in the dose of chemotherapy due to hematological adverse events. Moreover, 92% of patients experienced grade 3 to 4 hematological toxicity.
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The most common grade 3 to 4 non-hematological toxicity was mucositis, which occurred in 46% of patients.
The findings suggest that the CCRT with the ESHAP regimen may be effective for patients with localized ENKTL, nasal type, as long as specific toxicities are appropriately managed.
Reference
- Michot J-M, Mazeron R, Danu A, et al. Concurrent etoposide, steroid, high-dose Ara-C and platinum chemotherapy with radiation therapy in localised extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type. E J Cancer. 2015. [epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.07.009.
