OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features, therapeutic outcome and prognostic factors of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

METHODSClinical data of a total of 68 patients with MCL admitted from August 2003 to June 2013 in our department were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOf all the patients, the median age was 58.5 years, with marked male predominance (2.8:1), 59 patients (86.8%) were in Ann Arbor stage III/IV. 56 cases (82.4%) primarily showed lymph node involvement, 49 cased showed extranodal involvement and 19 cases (38.8%) had bone marrow involvement. Patients were followed up for 4 to 122 months with a median follow up time of 35 months. The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 78.5% and 64.1%, respectively. The 2- and 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 41.3% and 23.7%, respectively, and the median time to progression was 20.0 months. The overall response rate (ORR) of CHOP regimen was superior to that of intense regimens (P = 0.036). Univariate analysis showed that stage III/IV,IPI score of 3-5, expression of Ki-67 higher than 30%, elevated LDH, elevated β2-MG, blastic variant, more than 5 lymph nodes involved, and failure to chemotherapy were the negative factors. Multivariate analysis showed that Ki-67 index, LDH and the response to chemotherapy were independent factors affecting survival.

CONCLUSIONSMost patients with MCL were elderly males with advanced stage and usually had bone marrow involvement. Although ORR of CHOP regimen is superior to intense regimens, the prognosis of MCL remains poor.