Conditions: B-cell Lymphomas
Keywords: B-cell lymphomas lymphomatous meningitis liposomal cytarabine autologous transplant CNS involvement Secondary CNS lymphomas
Allocation: NA | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 40
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This prospective trial will assess the activity and feasibility of a new high-dose methotrexate-based high-dose sequential chemotherapy combination in patients with B-cell lymphomas and CNS involvement at diagnosis or relapse. Selected drugs, with a well-documented anti-lymphoma activity, will be administered at high doses to increase blood-brain barrier penetration and CNS bioavailability as well as to reduce potential cross-resistance.

Detailed description:
Patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma and involvement of the central nervous system at diagnosis or relapse will be treated with a combination of high-dose methotrexate and high-dose cytarabine, rituximab, and intrathecal depocyte followed by rituximab-high-dose sequential chemotherapy supported by autologous tsem cell transplantation.

Arms:
arm 1: Two courses of methotrexate 3.5 g/mq day 1 and cytarabine 2 g/mq twice a day, for two days, Rituximab 375 mg/mq days 3 \& 11 and Intrathecal liposomal cytarabine 50 mg day 6(Phase I) followed in case of response by cyclophosphamide 7 g/mq plus Rituximab 375 mg/mq and Intrathecal liposomal cytarabine 50 mg Leukapheresis A and cryopreservation (Phase II), Cytarabine 2 g/mq twice a day for 4 days, Rituximab 375 mg/m2 and Reinfusion of stem cells (Phase III), etoposide 2 g/mq, Intrathecal liposomal cytarabine 50 mg (Phase IV) and high-dose Thiotepa-BCNU supported by autologous stem cell transplant (Phase V), and whole-brain radiotherapy in patients who do not achieve a complete remission after chemotherapy (Phase VI)

Interventions: intervention 1: High-dose sequential chemotherapy and autologous transplant
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Two courses of methotrexate 3.5 g/mq day 1 and cytarabine 2 g/mq twice a day, for two days, Rituximab 375 mg/mq days 3 \& 11 and Intrathecal liposomal cytarabine 50 mg day 6(Phase I) followed in case of response by cyclophosphamide 7 g/mq plus Rituximab 375 mg/mq and Intrathecal liposomal cytarabine 50 mg Leukapheresis A and cryopreservation (Phase II), Cytarabine 2 g/mq twice a day for 4 days, Rituximab 375 mg/m2 and Reinfusion of stem cells (Phase III), etoposide 2 g/mq, Intrathecal liposomal cytarabine 50 mg (Phase IV) and high-dose Thiotepa-BCNU supported by autologous stem cell transplant (Phase V), and whole-brain radiotherapy in patients who do not achieve a complete remission after chemotherapy (Phase VI)

Protocol document: