A comparative study on the combination of radio- and chemotherapies for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

We investigated actual survivals and correlated clinical factors according to some radio- and chemotherapies for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma [NHL], especially some problems in advanced cases. The number of patients with NHL were a total of 105 cases, who were treated in the department of Radiology, Iwate Medical University from 1982. These patients were divided into three groups for subsequent analysis: control group, group A and group B. The control group included 47 cases undergoing nonsystematic therapy before 1984. Group A included 32 cases undergoing chemotherapy with VEPA and radiotherapy. In addition, group B included 26 cases undergoing chemotherapy with CHOP and radiotherapy after 1988. The survival rates for cases of stage I and II were 55%, 75% and 100% in control group, group A and group B, respectively. This result indicates that the survival rate was improved by employing systematic ratio- and chemotherapies. In cases of stage III and IV, the survival rates in group A (45%), and group B (48%) were higher than that in control group (20%). However, no significant difference in improvement of therapeutic results was found between group A and group B in cases of stage IV. The relapse rate tends to decrease according to the method of therapy: 44% in control group, 34% in group A and 28% in group B with some prolongation of each relapse period. These results suggest that a drastic reexamination of therapeutic methods should be made on the choice and necessity for advanced cases, and that radiotherapy with accurate local control should have been examined again for advanced cases. (author)