Combination Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy for Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Study 93-10

PURPOSE: Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive primary brain tumor. Cranial irradiation alone rarely results in long-term disease control or prolonged survival. We prospectively studied the use of combination chemotherapy plus cranial irradiation in newly diagnosed patients with PCNSL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 102 newly diagnosed, immunocompetent patients with PCNSL; 98 were assessable. Patients first received five cycles of methotrexate 2.5 g/m(2), vincristine, procarbazine, and intraventricular methotrexate (12 mg). Whole-brain radiotherapy (RT) was administered to a total dose of 45 Gy and all patients received high-dose cytarabine after RT. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of patients with…