Clinicopathologic features and responses to radiotherapy of myeloid sarcoma

BACKGROUND: To evaluate clinicopathological features, radiotherapeutic parameters, and their associations with responses to radiotherapy (RT) in patients with myeloid sarcoma (MS). METHODS: We reviewed 20 patients receiving RT for MS lesions (in 43 RT courses) and analyzed the patients’ clinicopathologic features and radiotherapeutic parameters, and their associations with complete responses (CR) to RT using Fisher’s exact test and univariate logistic regression analysis. Generalized Estimating Equation was used to analyze all 43 irradiated lesions and account for the correlations in RT responses among lesions from the same patient. RESULTS: We found that the underlying hematological diseases of the evaluated patients were acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 14 patients (70%), chronic myeloid leukemia in 4 patients (20%), myelodysplastic syndrome with AML transformation in one patient (5%), and de novo MS in one patient (5%). Most patients (55%) received RT for MS at the time of relapse following bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The most common cytogenetic abnormality was t(8;21)(q22;q22). The median RT dose of 20 Gy (range 6–35 Gy), administered in 1.5-3.5 Gy fractions, provided a 63% CR rate. RT dose, sex, cytogenetics, and bone marrow status at the time of RT had no significant effect on CR. Younger age (<50 y, P = 0.06), BMT prior to RT (P = 0.05), and underlying AML (P = 0.05) were marginally associated with higher CR to RT. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that a modest RT dose (20-30 Gy) achieves good local control of MS. Age, previous BMT, and underlying hematologic disease can affect RT response.