High-dose cytarabine plus high-dose methotrexate versus high-dose methotrexate alone in patients with primary CNS lymphoma: a randomised phase 2 trial.

The article discusses a study which examined the effect of adding high-dose cytarabine to methotrexate in patients with newly diagnosed primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. The open, randomized phase two trial was conducted in 24 centers in six countries, and involved 79 patients ages 18 to 75 yeas with non-Hodgkin lymphoma exclusively localized into the CNS, cranial nerves or eyes. The patients were randomly assigned by computer to receive four courses of either methotrexate on day one, or methotrexate on day one combined with cytarabine twice a day on days two to three. Main variable measured was complete remission rate following chemotherapy. Interpretation of the research findings indicate the efficacy of the drug.