Characteristics and outcome of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms: Report from the Italian network on secondary leukemias.

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) are a complication of cytotoxic treatment for primary tumors and autoimmune diseases. We report data on 277 t-MN patients, recruited between 1999 and 2013 by the Italian Network on Secondary Leukemias (104 retrospectively and 173 prospectively registered). Median age at t-MN diagnosis was 64 years (range, 21-87). Most frequent primary malignancies (PMs) were lymphoproliferative diseases and breast cancer. One hundred and thirty-three patients had received chemotherapy (CHT), 43 patients radiotherapy (RT), and 101 patients combined CHT/RT for PM. Median time between cytotoxic treatment and t-MN was 5.7 years, with t-MN following RT alone associated with significantly longer latency, compared to CHT or combined CHT/RT (mean, 11.2 vs. 7.1 years, P = 0.0005). The addition of topoisomerase-II inhibitors to alkylating agents was associated with shorter latency compared to alkylating agents alone (median, 6 vs. 8.4 years, P = 0.02). Median survival was 14.6 months from t-MN diagnosis, and was significantly longer in patients treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Significant factors for survival at the multivariable analysis included age, adverse karyotype, and degree of anemia. Our data underline the prognostic importance of karyotype and age in t-MN, similar to de novo acute myeloid leukemia. Treatment approaches should not preclude the use of conventional treatments for younger t-MN patients, including allogeneic stem cell transplantation as potentially curative approach.

Conservative management in primary genital lymphomas: the role of chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The female genital lymphomas are an extremely rare disease accounting for less than 0.5% of gynecological cancers and for 1.5% of all NHL. Because of their low incidence there is no widely accepted consensus on its treatment. Literature data support a radiotherapy-based treatment in case of primary genital lymphomas stages I-II. The role of chemotherapy as neoadjuvant or exclusive treatment is still to be defined. METHODS: From 1984 to 2003, the treatments in our institution of 19 patients with genital lymphoma were reviewed. Nine women presented with cervical, 3 with vaginal, 1 with cervical-vaginal, 2 with vulvar and 4 with ovarian lymphoma. Seven were staged IE, nine IIE, one IIIE and two IVE. As a whole, chemotherapy was used in 18/19 cases: chemotherapy was proposed as first line treatment in 12 cases, while surgery in 7 (followed by chemotherapy in 6 cases). RESULTS: Primary chemotherapy alone obtained a complete response (CR) in 9/12 patients; pathological complete response (pCR) was confirmed in 3 operated patients out of 9. Partial response (PR) was observed in 3, requiring radiotherapy. Chemotherapy obtained CR after incomplete surgical debulking in 3 out of 4 cases. Two patients relapsed in the group treated with chemotherapy alone. Both have been salvaged by further chemotherapy. Only one patient deceased due to her tumor after surgery and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The use of exclusive chemotherapy obtained promising results not only as regards survival rates but also for reducing the need of radiotherapy. A conservative management based on exclusive chemotherapy in primary genital lymphoma stages I-II may be attempted in selected patients desiring pregnancy.