Surgical debulking is associated with improved survival in stage I-II diffuse large cell lymphoma

Article Abstract:

Diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) is a cancer of the lymphatic system. The burden or size of the tumor in DLCL influences survival from this disease. Among 147 patients with early DLCL, treated between 1974 and 1984, 10-year survival was 54 percent for 85 patients with "bulky" disease or a large tumor burden, and 76 percent for 62 patients without bulky disease. Fourteen of the patients without bulky disease had greater than 80 percent of their tumor removed by surgery in a procedure referred to as surgical debulking. The surgically treated patients without a large tumor burden were compared with 14 patients with bulky disease, who had similar physical and disease characteristics. Patients in both groups received the anticancer agents cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin, as well as radiation treatment. At 7-year follow-up, the survival rate was 93 percent in the patients who underwent surgical debulking, and 35 percent among the patients with bulky disease who did not have surgery. Surgical debulking was also associated with a decrease in levels of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase, which indicated a better prognosis. These findings suggest that surgical debulking is effective in improving DLCL survival in patients without bulky disease. The role of surgical debulking in treatment of bulky DLCL requires further investigation; the frequency and safety of this procedure must be explored. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Surgery

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Prognostic value of serum B-2 microglobulin in low-grade lymphoma

Article Abstract:

Beta-2 microglobulin (B-2M) is a protein that is found on the surface of most cells in the body. Levels of B-2M can be measured in the blood, and have been found to be increased in patients with many cancers. High levels of B-2M have been associated with poor survival rates in multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow, and in very aggressive lymphomas. A group of 80 patients with low-grade lymphoma were studied to determine if levels of B-2M were also related to their prognosis. High levels of B-2M were found in patients who experienced the greatest number of treatment failures and who had the shortest time to relapse. Blood levels of the enzyme lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) have previously been shown to correlate to severity of disease in lymphoma; this study found that LDH levels corresponded to B-2M levels. Determining levels of B-2M and LDH in low-grade lymphoma patients should prove to be predictive of response to treatment and time to treatment failure. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Serum, Blood serum, Beta globulins

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Prognostic value of serum interleukin-6 in diffuse large-cell lymphoma

Article Abstract:

Elevated blood levels of interleukin-6 appear to indicate a poor prognosis in patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma. Interleukin-6 is a naturally occurring immune system chemical. In a study of 118 lymphoma patients and 45 healthy volunteers (the control group), interleukin-6 levels were higher in the patients than in the control group. High interleukin-6 levels were also associated with lower overall survival rates and lower disease-free survival rates. Measurement of interleukin-6 levels could identify patients most likely to respond to treatment.

Interleukin-6

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