Clinical Gastroenterology Vol.16 No.5(6)

Theme Chemotherapy for Gastrointestinal Malignancy
Title Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy for Primary Gastrointestinal Malignant Lymphoma
Publish Date 2001/05
Author Takashi Saotome Hematology-Oncology Division, Chiba Cancer Center
Author Toshiyuki Takagi Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Chiba Cancer Center
[ Summary ] For decades, surgical resection has been the center piece of treatment for primary gastrointestinal (GI) malignant lymphoma. Recently, the relationship be tween gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and Helicobacter pylori infection has been revealed and eradication of H. pylori, using a combination antimicrobial therapies is now considered as the first-line therapy for gastric MALT lymphomas. Furthermore, some clinical trials have suggested that using primary chemotherapy and radiotherapy without surgery, can produce outcomes similar to those obtained with surgery and adjuvant treatment of localized gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. For small-bowel lymphomas, surgery, followed by intensive chemotherapy, has improved the prognosis, as in our study. However, a number of clinical studies for multiple lymphomatous polyposis have been performed, without any optimal treatment having been established. Appropriate selection of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is important in treatment of GI lymphoma and further development of treatment is expected in the future.
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