Treatment of a clinically determined lower-risk stage III non-lymphoblastic non-hodgkin lymphoma with less intensive therapy does not impact negatively on outcome

Stage III NHL was divided into lower‐risk (LR) or high‐risk (HR) groups. Results of treatment were retrospectively reviewed for patients between 1993 through 2000. An intensive multiagent protocol was used for IIIHR, and a CHOP‐based, milder treatment for IIILR. Most LR therapy was outpatient, while treatment for HR patients was primarily inpatient. Five year EFS and OS for HR (n = 29) and LR (n = 23) groups was 86.2% and 95.6% (P = 0.26), and 93.1% and 100%, respectively (P = 0.4). LR had less toxicity. While these results need prospective confirmation, the data shows that less intensive therapy of a LR group of stage III NHL may not impact negatively on outcome. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.