Treatment of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Hungary: 15 years experience with NHL-BFM 90 and 95 protocols

Abstract

Retrospective analysis was performed to assess the survival-rates of children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), treated according to the NHL-BFM (Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster)-90 and -95 protocols between 1990 and 2004 in Hungary, and to compare our data with the international results. Ninety-one patients had non-B-NHL, 108 B-NHL, and 31 ALCL. Complete remission rate was 89%, while 12% relapsed later. The 5-year-overall-survival was 78% and the event-free survival was 75%. These results are lower than those reported by the BFM study group, but comparable from other European centers. In the last 5 years, the results showed 10% improvement and death during induction was reduced from 10 to 3%.