Helicobacter pylori eradication in gastric MALT lymphoma: Results of 316 patients treated inside and outside of a clinical trial

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Background: Cure of infection induces remissions in most patients with early stage Helicobacter pylori- (Hp-) positive gastric MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma (GML). We compared the long-term outcome of 120 patients treated within a multicenter trial to that of 196 routinely treated patients. Methods: 120 patients with stage I1E disease from a prospective trial (cohort 1) were compared to 196 patients with GML treated outside a trail by sole Hp-eradication (cohort 2). The latter were evaluated in retrospect and only a minority had a complete staging at diagnosis. Histology was the standard for remission evaluation in all patients and performed by the same pathologist (MS). B-cell-clonality and the t(11;18) were assessed in cohort 1-patients. Results: Median endoscopic follow-up was 79 months (range, 1–121) in cohort 1-patients and 27 months (range, 0–120) in cohort 2-patients. In 41% of the cohort 2-patients no or one control endoscopy was performed after a first CR. Most patients are in continuous complete histological remission in both cohorts. 3 cohort 1- and 5 cohort 2-patients relapsed. 16 cohort 1- and 13 cohort 2-patients exhibited histological residual disease (RD) during follow up after a first CR; a watch-and-wait strategy was applied, and most entered into a second CR. Conclusions: Hp-eradication results in long term CR in the majority of patients with GML in both cohorts. Duration of remission, rate of relapse, and RD were similar, regardless of incomplete staging and follow-up procedures and higher age in the cohort 2-patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.