Long-term results of stomach-conserving therapy in gastric MALT lymphoma

Purpose To evaluate long-term results of stomach-conserving therapy and to assess the value of histological probable minimal residual disease (pMRD) in predicting outcome in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma. Materials and methods We studied 115 patients with stage I–II 2 gastric MALT lymphoma treated between 1975 and 2002. Initially, first-line treatment consisted of radiotherapy only. Since 1994 most patients were primarily treated with Helicobacter pylori eradication; radiotherapy was used in case of eradication failure. To assess the value of pMRD, first follow-up biopsy samples classified as compete remission (CR) according to classical clinico-pathological criteria and biopsy samples 1 year after assessment of histological CR were reviewed; results were related to outcome. Results Following radiotherapy only ( n =56) 96% achieved a clinical CR; 10-year cancer-specific survival rate was 94%. Following H. pylori eradication only ( n =35) CR-rate was 43% and after additional treatment 89%; 5-year cause-specific survival was 93%. There was no difference in relapse rate following initial histological CR or pMRD. Conclusions Patients with early stage gastric MALT lymphoma have a favorable long-term outcome following conservative treatment. Outcome after H. pylori eradication followed by delayed radiotherapy on indication was excellent. In our series pMRD was not associated with increased risk of recurrence.