Platine and cytarabine-based salvage treatment for primary central nervous system lymphoma

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of two chemotherapy regimens based on platinum and cytarabine in association with etoposide and methylprednisolone (ESHAP) or with dexamethasone (DHAP) with or without Rituximab (± R) in patients with refractory or a relapsed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL). All consecutive patients from two French centers with refractory or relapsed PCNSL treated with ESHAP/DHAP ± R were included. We analyzed the overall response rate (ORR), toxicity and overall survival (OS) after salvage chemotherapy. Intensive chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell rescue (IC + HCR) was offered to patients less than 65 years of age and consisted of high-dose thiotepa, busulfan and cyclophosphamide. These results were compared with two previously reported series of PCNSL patients treated with the CYVE (high-dose cytarabine and etoposide) regimen at relapse. Twenty-two patients received a total of 60 DHAP/ESHAP cycles (median 3; range 1–5). The median age was 59 years. The ORR after salvage chemotherapy was 59%. Toxicity was mainly hematological, 18% of patients showing febrile neutropenia. There was no treatment-related death. ESHAP or DHAP regimens led to similar ORRs compared to the CYVE regimen in relapsed or refractory PCNSL, although they seemed less toxic. The therapeutic results of the ESHAP/DHAP regimens in relapsed or refractory PCNSL were also similar to those for relapsed systemic non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (sNHL). Both chemotherapies, CYVE regimen and ESHAP/DHAP are treatment options to be considered in relapsed or refractory PCNSL, especially when IC + HCR is planned as a consolidation treatment. More efforts are still needed to improve the ORR at relapse.