Natural killer cell neoplasms: a distinctive group of highly aggressive lymphomas/leukemias.

Natural killer (NK) cell neoplasms, which include extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (nasal and extranasal) and aggressive NK cell leukemia, are generally rare, but they are more common in people of Oriental, Mexican and South American descent. These neoplasms are highly aggressive, and show a strong association with Epstein-Barr virus. Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma most commonly affects the nasal cavity and other mucosal sites of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Early stage nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma: clinical outcome, prognostic factors, and the effect of treatment modality.

Purpose: To determine the clinical outcome, prognostic factors, and effect of adding combination chemotherapy to radiation therapy on disease control and survival in early stage nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective "intent to treat" analysis was carried out on 79 patients treated consecutively with curative intent between 1977 and June 2001. They all had early stage (Ann Arbor Stage I(E): 63, II(E):16) nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma.