[Medical management of primary central nervous system lymphoma refractory or resistant to standard of care treatment] [Brain Nerve] Journal article

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma arising in the central nervous system. Combined irradition and methotrexate-based chemotherapy is the standard of care treatment for PCNSL. The median overall survival achieved with this therapy is 25 to 51 months. Failure after first-line treatment has been reported in most patients with PCNSL. Salvage therapy is known to improve outcome, and although many different treatment modes have been attempted the optimal treatment schedule remains to be determined. This review analyses the efficacy of salvage therapy by focusing on data obtained from reports reporting on salvage therapy. Well-designed, randomized trials will help clarify issues such as the best chemotherapy regimen for second-line treatment.

Brain Nerve