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The use of anthracyclines in the treatment of endemic Burkitt lymphoma
Author(s) -
Molyneux Elizabeth,
Schwalbe Ed,
Chagaluka George,
Banda Kondwani,
Israels Trijn,
Depani Sarita,
MittermayerVassallo Kirstin,
Windebank Kevin,
Mvula Jessie,
Njiram'madzi Jenala,
O'Brien Stephen,
Carey Peter,
Bailey Simon
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.14440
Subject(s) - medicine , stage (stratigraphy) , lymphoma , cyclophosphamide , malignancy , disease , chemotherapy , doxorubicin , gastroenterology , oncology , paleontology , biology
Summary Burkitt lymphoma is the most common malignancy in children in Malawi, the world's poorest country, where there is a long history of treating this disease using a 28‐day cyclophosphamide‐based protocol. Stage III / IV disease has had poor outcomes. In an attempt to improve the outcome for higher stage disease, anthracyclines were added to the existing protocol. The disease‐free ( DFS ) and overall survival ( OS ) of 58 children with cytologically confirmed Burkitt lymphoma admitted during 2012–2014 and treated using this protocol were calculated. Six (10%) children had stage I disease, ten (17%) stage II and 42 stage III or IV (73%). Overall 12‐month DFS ( OS ) was 68·5% (72·9%); for stage I disease 100% (100%), stage II 56·2% (60%), stage III / IV 66·3% (72·2%). The DFS was significantly improved from the previous protocol ( P = 8 × 10 −4 ). The addition of doxorubicin to stage III and IV disease resulted in a markedly improved DFS . Anthracyclines are deliverable in resource‐poor settings and possibly improve the survival of children with Burkitt lymphoma.