Clinical outcomes of radiation therapy for early-stage gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

AIM:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of radiation therapy(RT)for early-stage gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma(MALToma).METHODS:The records of 64 patients treated between 1998 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.For Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)-positive patients(n=31),chemotherapy or H.pylori eradication therapy was the initial treatment.In patients with failure after H.pylori eradication,RT was performed.For H.pylorinegative patients(n=33),chemotherapy or RT was the first-line treatment.The median RT dose was 36Gy.The target volume included the entire stomach andthe perigastric lymph node area.RESULTS:All of the patients completed RT without interruption and showed complete remission on endoscopic biopsy after treatment.Over a median follow-up period of 39 mo,the 5-year local control rate was 89%.Salvage therapy was successful in all relapsed patients.Secondary malignancies developed in three patients.The 5-year overall survival rate was 94%.No patient presented symptoms of moderate-to-severe treatmentrelated toxicities during or after RT.CONCLUSION:Radiotherapy results in favorable clinical outcomes in patients with early-stage gastric MALToma who experience failure of H.pylori eradication therapy and those who are H.pylori negative.