Is the small non-cleaved-cell lymphoma histologic subtype a poor prognostic factor in adult patients? A case-controlled analysis

Purpose: To study the prognostic significance of the small non-cleaved- cell lymphoma (SNCCL) histologic subtype, we compared the outcome of adult patients with SNCCL with that of patients with aggressive lymphoma other than SNCCL by means of two case-controlled studies. Patients and Methods: We analyzed the results of the doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone (ACVBP) regimen used as a reference scheme in our cooperative study group (Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adult [GELA]) in 52 adult SNCCL patients with no bone marrow (BM) or CNS involvement. Forty- five SNCCL patients younger than 60 years could be compared with two separate case-matched groups of patients with aggressive lymphoma ether than SNCCL undergoing the same therapeutic regimen. In the first case-controlled study, matching ensured identity of each risk factor of the age-adjusted International Index (ie, Ann Arbor stage, performance status, and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] level); in the second study, matching was performed according to the number of presenting risk factors (zero, one, two, or three), regardless of their nature. Results: The 5-year overall survival rates were not significantly different between SNCCL and control patients in both case-controlled studies: 48% versus 51% in the first study, and 48% versus 55% in the second study. Conclusion: These results support the thesis that in patients with no bone marrow or CNS involvement, the SNCCL histologic subtype does not confer a prognosis worse than that of other aggressive lymphoma.