RESUMO
Rituximab with anthracycline-based combination frontline chemoimmunotherapy can cure 50-60% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, studies on the outcomes of patients with DLBCL who experience partial response (PR), stable or progressive disease in response to frontline rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (RCHOP) therapy are limited, as are data on the outcomes of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with primary refractory DLBCL who demonstrate chemosensitivity to salvage chemotherapy (SC). We assessed the latter among 184 patients, 144 of whom started SC, with 84 responding and 72 receiving HDC-ASCT. The 5-year survival rate was 58.9%; the median overall survival (OS) was not reached. The difference in response to SC (partial response versus complete response) was significant, with higher 2- and 5-year OS rates in patients with CR (78.1% and 74.9%, respectively) than in those with PR (55.3% and 47%, respectively). The median OS for the whole group was 15 months and particularly patients who had progressive disease after frontline R-CHOP had dismal outcomes. Our study suggests that in patients with primary refractory DLBCL without initial progressive disease after frontline R-CHOP, the depth of response to SC before HDC-ASCT is predictive of relapse.
RESUMO
Background Gastric cancer (GC) carries a poor survival outcome despite the availability of many therapeutic agents active in treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the survival outcomes of metastatic GC treatment from a single center in Saudi Arabia and identify possible prognostic factors. Methodology Data on patients diagnosed with metastatic GC between December 2009 and November 2013 were collected and analyzed. Results During this period, 41 patients were diagnosed with a median age at diagnosis of 52 years, and 56.1% of patients were males. Only four (9.2%) patients had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression. Overall, 83% were treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 4.1 and 15.4 months, respectively. Female sex was an independent prognostic factor for better PFS and OS. Normal lymphocyte count was associated with improved PFS. Conclusions Our study highlights poor outcomes in patients with metastatic GC and the need for further research in this field.
RESUMO
Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma (PHE) also known as epithelioid sarcoma-like hemangioendothelioma (ES-H) is a vascular lesion of intermediate grade biologically behaving between benign hemangioma and malignant angiosarcoma. We present a 35-year-old male with an unremarkable medical history, who was referred to a sarcoma clinic complaining of right heel pain with equinus deformity and a mass in his right lower limb for 6 months. Biopsy was performed and reported as Pseudomyogenic Hemangioendothelioma. The patient was started on pazopanib with a favorable clinical and radiological response. Long-term follow-up is still needed, however further studies are vital to clarify the role of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor therapy.