The use of anthracyclines in the treatment of endemic Burkitt lymphoma

Molyneux, Elizabeth, Schwalbe, Ed, Chagaluka, George, Banda, Kondwani, Israels, Trijn, Depani, Sarita, Mittermayer-Vassallo, Kirstin, Windebank, Kevin, Mvula, Jessie, Njiram'madzi, Jenala, O'Brien, Stephen, Carey, Peter and Bailey, Simon (2017) The use of anthracyclines in the treatment of endemic Burkitt lymphoma. British Journal of Haematology, 177 (6). pp. 984-990. ISSN 0007-1048

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Abstract

Burkitt lymphoma is the most common malignancy in children in Malawi, the world's poorest country, where there is a long history of treating this disease using a 28-day cyclophosphamide-based protocol. Stage III/IV disease has had poor outcomes. In an attempt to improve the outcome for higher stage disease, anthracyclines were added to the existing protocol. The disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of 58 children with cytologically confirmed Burkitt lymphoma admitted during 2012–2014 and treated using this protocol were calculated. Six (10%) children had stage I disease, ten (17%) stage II and 42 stage III or IV (73%). Overall 12-month DFS (OS) was 68·5% (72·9%); for stage I disease 100% (100%), stage II 56·2% (60%), stage III/IV 66·3% (72·2%). The DFS was significantly improved from the previous protocol (P = 8 × 10−4). The addition of doxorubicin to stage III and IV disease resulted in a markedly improved DFS. Anthracyclines are deliverable in resource-poor settings and possibly improve the survival of children with Burkitt lymphoma.

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