ABSTRACT

Peripheral T-cell lymhomas (PTCLs) represent a heterogeous group of diseases, with poor long-term outcomes excluding ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

We represent data of our retrospective analysis of 62 consecutive PTCL cases diagnosed since 2002. Median observation time was 16 months.

The overall response rate to first line treatment was 53 percent. Data related to median progression- free survival and overall survival times could not be obtained for ALK+ALCL group whereas median progression- free survival and overall survival times for ALK-negative ALCL group were 1 and 18 months, respectively. Disease progression was frequently observed histologically in ALK-negative group. For ALKnegative ALCL, advanced stage disease was defined as the presence of serum albumin <3.4 g/dl, serum total protein ≤6.2 g/dl, high serum LDH, and serum ferritin >200 ng/ml, presence of B symptoms, and extranodal involvement of more than one site. Risk factors associated with death were serum albumin <3.4 g/dl, serum total protein ≤6.2 g/dl, serum ferritin over 200 ng/ml, and bone marrow involvement at the time of diagnosis. During follow-up 39 patients (64%) died. Most common reasons were progressive disease and infections. Four patients developed secondary malignancies.

Our study is a reflection of the ‘real-life’. Three patients died due to disease progression shortly after diagnosis without providing treatment due to aggressiveness of the disease. Alternatives to CHOP-based chemotherapies should be found for the ALK + non-anaplastic large cell lymphoma group.

Keywords: T cell lymphoma, Anaplastic lymphoma kinase, ALK positive, ALK negative