Treatment
There is no standard treatment for CNS lymphoma. Your doctor will discuss the best treatment option for you. As CNS lymphoma only affects a small number of people, it is important to be treated by a hematologist/oncologist who is knowledgeable about non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is important to consider getting a second opinion with a NHL expert to make sure you are aware of all treatment options.
Possible treatment options are listed below. Methotrexate-based combinations that include rituximab (Rituxan®) have been the most successful for CNS lymphoma patients. Methotrexate is usually given at high doses and require that the patient be hospitalized while giving the chemotherapy. For patients over age 60 years, radiation treatment can be extremely neurotoxic and it is important to speak to your doctor before receiving this treatment. Talk to your doctor about the best care for you.
Treatment options for CNS lymphoma not related to AIDS include:
- Chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy
- Steroid therapy
- Whole brain radiation therapy
- High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
Treatment options for AIDs-related CNS lymphoma include:
- Treatment with HIV medications
- Steroids with or without radiation
- Chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy
Treatment for recurrent (the cancer comes back) CNS lymphoma includes:
- Chemotherapy or radiation (if not received as first-line treatment)
- Chemotherapy and radiation
- A clinical trial
For some patients, taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment choice. There are also several clinical trials available nationally that are examining the role of radiation and the role of bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of primary CNS lymphoma. Your doctor can discuss if these clinical trials are appropriate or available for you. For information about clinical trials for CNS lymphoma, please call our Information Specialists or click here for an online clinical-trial search service supported by LLS that offers patients and caregivers immediate access to listings of blood cancer clinical trials.
Treatment Outcomes
Treatment of CNS lymphoma is most effective when the tumor has not spread outside the cerebrum (the largest part of the brain) and the patient is under age 60, able to maintain daily functions and does not have AIDS or other diseases that weaken the immune system.
*Information cited from Leukemia & Lymphoma Society under Link