Prognostic Factors of Nasal NK/T Cell Lymphoma

Abstract

Background and Objectives : Nasal natural killer T (NK/T) cell lymphomas are relatively common in Asia, but the prognostic factors are not well known. The purpose of this research was therefore to evaluate those prognostic factors.

Subjects and Method : We reviewed and analyzed the medical records of 68 patients diagnosed as nasal NK/T cell lymphomas between 1984 and 2003 at Ajou University Hospital and at Yonsei University Hospital. Prognostic factors that include age, B symptoms, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) performance status, international prognostic indices (IPI), treatment modality, and Ann Arbor tumor stages were analyzed using the methods of univariate and multivariate statistics.

Results : The five-year overall survival rate was 43%. By univariate analysis, we found ECOG performance status, Ann Arbor tumor stages, B symptoms, and IPI to be significant prognostic factors of nasal NK/T cell lymphoma. The multivariate analysis showed that ECOG performance status and B symptoms were significant.

Conclusion : ECOG performance status, Ann Arbor tumor stages, B symptoms, and IPI could all be prognostic factors of the nasal NK/T cell lymphoma. Among these factors, ECOG performance status and B symptoms may be regarded more useful in diagnosis of the disease than others.