Showing papers by "Monica Bellei published in 2007"
TL;DR: This study provides a comprehensive description of both the epidemiological and clinical features of PL cases in Modena and the data reflect the major advances in the curability of some histological subtypes of this disease.
Abstract: We conducted a population-based study of peripheral lymphomas (PL) that had been diagnosed between 1997 and 2003 in the province of Modena, Italy, with the aim of providing updated incidence, clinical and survival data for these cancers. We evaluated the incidence patterns and time trends of 1582 cases of PL that had been reclassified according to the WHO classification of hematological malignancies. Data regarding clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome were also collected for each case. The World Age-Standardized Rate (ASR) was calculated as 13.4, 2.2 and 3.4 per 100,000 people for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), T-cell NHL and Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL), respectively, with an increase of 1.62% per year during the study period. The lymphoma subtype showing the highest incidence was found to be diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with an ASR of 4.8. Compared with reports from other western countries, our series is characterized by a higher incidence of HL and indolent B-NHL in general, and of CLL/SLL (ASR = 3.3) and marginal zone NHL (ASR = 1.5), in particular, and also by a lower incidence of FL (ASR = 2). After a median follow-up of 54 months, the 5-year relative survival for the whole series was found to be 70% with a statistically significant improvement for cases diagnosed during 2002-2003 (from 66 to 74%; p = 0.03). Survival improvement within the study period was also evident for patients with DLBCL, HL and T-NHL. Our study provides a comprehensive description of both the epidemiological and clinical features of PL cases in Modena and our data also reflect the major advances in the curability of some histological subtypes of this disease. The usefulness of a population-based approach to better characterizing different lymphoma subtypes is also demonstrated.
48 citations
TL;DR: The results demonstrate that in patients treated in the pre-rituximabera, β2M level was an independent prognostic marker in addition to FLIPI score, and it is suggested thatβ2M be routinely assessed and tested in future prognostic studies of FL patients treated with combination chemotherapy and anti-CD20 agents.
Abstract: Background and Objectives Although serum β2 microglobulin (β2 M) is an easy parameter to measure, and over-expressed in a large number of lymphoproliferative diseases, its prognostic value has been largely underestimated. The present study examined the influence of β2M levels on overall survival (OS) of patients with follicular lymphoma (FL).
Design and Methods The prognostic role of β2M was evaluated in 236 patients with FL identified from the databases of the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dei Linfomi (GISL) and treated with anthracycline-based regimens from 1993 to 2003.
Results Elevated serum β2M levels were found in 82 patients (35%). According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, elevated β2M levels were associated with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ( p =0.021), age ( p =0.029), and number of involved nodal areas ( p <0.001). The percentage of elevated β2M levels increased progressively with increasing FLIPI scores (17%, 38%, and 63% in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively). Five-year OS was 61% (95% CI, 47–73%) and 89% (95% CI, 82–93%) for patients with elevated vs normal β2M levels respectively ( p <0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that β2M level had an independent and stable prognostic value (HR=3.0; 95%CI, 1.6–5.7). In a multivariate analysis the impact of β2M level on survival was independent of FLIPI score, with a HR of 2.94 (95% CI, 1.54–5.62).
Interpretation and Conclusions Our results demonstrate that in patients treated in the pre-rituximabera, β2M level was an independent prognostic marker in addition to FLIPI score. We thus suggest that β2M be routinely assessed and tested in future prognostic studies of FL patients treated with combination chemotherapy and anti-CD20 agents.
40 citations
TL;DR: Compared in HL elderly patients the reduced intensity VEBEMP schedule to the ABVD conventional one showed good results in terms of efficacy and tolerance in a phase II multi-centre study and significant differences at diagnosis were not seen.
10 citations
TL;DR: The role of rituximab and its impact on the predictive value of FLIPI in the group of 1,093 patients diagnosed with FL between January 2003 and May 2005 and registered by 69 European and American Institutions in the F2-study is looked for.
Abstract: 8008 Background: The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) has become a widely accepted tool for risk assessement of FL. However, the recent shift to upfront immuno-chemotherapy (ICHT) requires confirmation studies of FLIPI discriminant power to ensure that the advent of Anti-CD20 MoAb did not modify its predictive value. Methods: We looked for the role of rituximab and its impact on the predictive value of FLIPI in the group of 1,093 patients diagnosed with FL between January 2003 and May 2005 and registered by 69 European and American Institutions in the F2-study. We identified 827 patients = 18 years of age and treated with systemic therapy. For the purposes of the present examination the prognosis was investigated in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and the impact of rituximab explored by Cox analysis. Results: Patients characteristics are as follows: median age 57 yrs (21–93), male 50.1%, advanced stage 77.2%, elevated LDH 22.3%. To date central pathology review has been ...
6 citations