The use of anthracyclines in the treatment of endemic Burkitt lymphoma. (28th November 2016) - Molyneux, Elizabeth
Summary: 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.