PLoS ONE (Jan 2016)

CHOP Chemotherapy for Aggressive Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with and without HIV in the Antiretroviral Therapy Era in Malawi.

  • Satish Gopal,
  • Yuri Fedoriw,
  • Bongani Kaimila,
  • Nathan D Montgomery,
  • Edwards Kasonkanji,
  • Agnes Moses,
  • Richard Nyasosela,
  • Suzgo Mzumara,
  • Carlos Varela,
  • Maria Chikasema,
  • Victor Makwakwa,
  • Salama Itimu,
  • Tamiwe Tomoka,
  • Steve Kamiza,
  • Bal M Dhungel,
  • Fred Chimzimu,
  • Coxcilly Kampani,
  • Robert Krysiak,
  • Kristy L Richards,
  • Thomas C Shea,
  • N George Liomba

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150445
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 3
p. e0150445

Abstract

Read online

There are no prospective studies of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) treated with CHOP in sub-Saharan Africa. We enrolled adults with aggressive NHL in Malawi between June 2013 and May 2015. Chemotherapy and supportive care were standardized, and HIV+ patients received antiretroviral therapy (ART). Thirty-seven of 58 patients (64%) were HIV+. Median age was 47 years (IQR 39-56), and 35 (60%) were male. Thirty-five patients (60%) had stage III/IV, 43 (74%) B symptoms, and 28 (48%) performance status ≥ 2. B-cell NHL predominated among HIV+ patients, and all T-cell NHL occurred among HIV- individuals. Thirty-one HIV+ patients (84%) were on ART for a median 9.9 months (IQR 1.1-31.7) before NHL diagnosis, median CD4 was 121 cells/μL (IQR 61-244), and 43% had suppressed HIV RNA. HIV+ patients received a similar number of CHOP cycles compared to HIV- patients, but more frequently developed grade 3/4 neutropenia (84% vs 31%, p = 0.001), resulting in modestly lower cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin doses with longer intervals between cycles. Twelve-month overall survival (OS) was 45% (95% CI 31-57%). T-cell NHL (HR 3.90, p = 0.017), hemoglobin (HR 0.82 per g/dL, p = 0.017), albumin (HR 0.57 per g/dL, p = 0.019), and IPI (HR 2.02 per unit, p<0.001) were associated with mortality. HIV was not associated with mortality, and findings were similar among patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Twenty-three deaths were from NHL (12 HIV+, 11 HIV-), and 12 from CHOP (9 HIV+, 3 HIV-). CHOP can be safe, effective, and feasible for aggressive NHL in Malawi with and without HIV.