Faculty Collaboration Database

Natural killer cell lymphoma: report of two pediatric cases, therapeutic options, and review of the literature. Cancer 2001 Feb 15;91(4):642-6

Date

03/10/2001

Pubmed ID

11241229

DOI

10.1002/1097-0142(20010215)91:4<642::aid-cncr1047>3.0.co;2-2

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0035864997 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   31 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas are rapidly fatal malignancies that to the authors' knowledge are rare in children. In the current study, the authors report the cases of two boys with NK cell lymphomas with refractory disease who both were salvaged with high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation and compare these patients with those in the published experience.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify other cases of pediatric patients with NK cell lymphomas, their treatment, and outcome.

RESULTS: One of the patients in the current study developed two recurrences and the other patient experienced early disease progression during front-line treatment. Both then were treated with high dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell rescue. At last follow-up, the patients remained free of disease at 15 months and 16 months, respectively, after transplantation (48 months and 22 months, respectively, from the time of diagnosis). In addition to the 2 patients in the current study, the authors found 13 pediatric patients reported in the literature to date. Of the 7 patients with localized (Stage I-II) disease, 5 patients (71%) were reported to be alive 1-107 months after diagnosis. Of the 6 patients with Stage IV disease, only the 2 patients who received high dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue (33%) were alive at the time of last follow-up (at 30 months and 12 months, respectively). Including the patients reported in the current study, 9 of 15 children with NK cell lymphoma (all stages) (60%) were reported to be alive at the time of last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: Although pediatric NK cell lymphomas rapidly can become fatal, it appears that high dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplantation is effective therapy, especially in patients with advanced or resistant disease. Further follow-up is needed to determine whether this treatment approach will be curative.

Author List

Shaw PH, Cohn SL, Morgan ER, Kovarik P, Haut PR, Kletzel M, Murphy SB

Author

Peter H. Shaw MD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
CD56 Antigen
Child
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Herpesvirus 4, Human
Humans
Killer Cells, Natural
Lymphoma
Male
Salvage Therapy