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Cancer

Novel HIV/AIDS Treatment Regimen Shows Promise in Treating Sporadic and HIV-Associated Burkitt Lymphoma

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at the Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute have presented data on a novel treatment regimen for Burkitt lymphoma that shows promise in treating both HIV-negative and HIV-positive patients. The "CARMEN" therapy, a 36-day regimen including single doses of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and doxorubicin, has been shown to be more tolerable and feasible compared to other used regimens. The study included 153 patients, 57 of whom received the CARMEN therapy, and found that it achieved comparable outcomes to other standard therapies, with significantly better tolerability.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CARMEN therapy, a 36-day regimen including single doses of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and doxorubicin, has been shown to be more tolerable and feasible compared to other used regimens in treating Burkitt lymphoma.
  • The study included 153 patients, 57 of whom received the CARMEN therapy, and found that it achieved comparable outcomes to other standard therapies, with significantly better tolerability.
  • Among the 57 patients with HIV, the CARMEN therapy showed better efficacy, with a 5-yr PFS of 68% and a 5-yr OS of 74%, compared to a 5-yr PFS of 66% and a 5-yr OS of 69% for patients without HIV.
  • The CARMEN therapy was associated with reduced risk of chronic toxicity and second tumors due to the use of single doses of cytotoxic agents.
  • The study was conducted at 6 Italian centers that have developed the CARMEN program, and included patients treated with curative intent between 2009 and 2024.
  • The study used a variety of endpoints, including toxicity and efficacy, to evaluate the CARMEN therapy and other used regimens in patients with Burkitt lymphoma.

Statistics:

  • 153 patients were included in the study, with 57 receiving the CARMEN therapy and 96 receiving other regimens.
  • The median age of the patients was 48 years, with 41% having a performance status of 2-4 and 86% having advanced stage disease.
  • The median follow-up was 84 months, during which 7 patients had a second tumor: 2 (3%) after CARMEN and 5 (5%) after other regimens.
  • The 5-yr PFS for patients receiving the CARMEN therapy was 68% (95% CI 66-70), and the 5-yr OS was 74% (95% CI 73-75).
  • The study found that HIV status did not alter the efficacy of the CARMEN therapy.

Sources:

  • Dp076 | Tolerability And Efficacy of "carmen" And Other Intensified Regimens Used in Hiv-negative And Hiv-positive Patients With Burkitt Lymphoma: Real-life Data From A Multicenter Series of 153 Patients. Haematologica, 2025, 110(s1). (Haematologica - http://www.haematologica.org)
  • NewsRx. Studies from Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute in the Area of HIV/AIDS Described (Dp076 | Tolerability And Efficacy of "carmen" And Other Intensified Regimens Used in Hiv-negative And ...). AIDS Weekly. November 3, 2025; p 129.

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