Treatment results of radiotherapy following CHOP or R-CHOP in limited-stage head-and-neck diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a single institutional experience

PURPOSE: This study evaluated outcomes of radiotherapy (RT) after chemotherapy in limited-stage head-and-neck diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients who were treated for limited-stage head-and-neck DLBCL with CHOP (n = 43) or R-CHOP (n = 37), were analyzed. After chemotherapy, RT was administered to the extended field (n = 60) or the involved field (n = 16), or the involved site (n = 4). The median dose of RT ranged from 36 Gy in case of those with a complete response, to 45–60 Gy in those with a partial response. RESULTS: In all patients, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 83.9% and 80.1%, respectively. In comparison with the CHOP regimen, the R-CHOP regimen showed a better 5-year DFS (86.5% vs. 73.9%, p = 0.027) and a lower rate of treatment failures (25.6% vs. 8.1%, p = 0.040). The volume (p = 0.047) and dose of RT (p < 0.001) were significantly reduced in patients treated with R-CHOP compared to that in those treated with CHOP. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of RT after chemotherapy with R-CHOP were better than those of CHOP regimen for limited-stage head-and-neck DLBCL. In patients treated with R-CHOP, a reduced RT dose and volume might be feasible without increasing treatment failures.