Systemic polychemotherapy in the treatment of primary cutaneous lymphomas: a clinical follow-up study of 81 patients treated with COP or CHOP

The efficacy of systemic polychemotherapy in the treatment of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCL) or T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) is still controversial. A series of 81 patients (46 primary CBCL and 35 CTCL) were treated with COP or CHOP regimens. In primary CBCL, the overall objective response rate (RR) was 98%, with an 89% CR rate and a 33% relapse-rate. Five-year disease-free survival was 70%, 5-year survival 97%. Patients with leg or widespread lesions showed a higher relapse-rate (55% vs 26%) than those with trunk or head lesions. The overall objective RR was 40% in CTCL patients, with a 23% CR rate; median response duration was 5.7 months, median survival 19 months. The results confirm both the good prognosis of primary CBCL and the efficacy of polychemotherapy. CHOP regimen is to be preferred to COP in as much as it reduces relapse rates. Conversely, there are no indications for the use of COP/CHOP regimens as first-line chemotherapy in CTCL patients.