Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) is an aggressive neoplasm with poor prognosis. Currently, there is no consensus on the optimal treatment of this disease. In this study, we report the efficacy of a pegaspargase (PEG-Asp)-based chemotherapy, a DDGP regimen (PEG-Asp, dexamethasone, cisplatin, gemcitabine), for the treatment of newly-diagnosed ENKL. From August 2010 to May 2012, 12 patients with newly-diagnosed stage II - IV ENKL were initially treated with a DDGP regimen in our center. Ten patients (10/12, 83.3%) achieved complete response (CR) and two (2/12, 16.7%) achieved partial response (PR). The objective overall response rate (ORR) was 100%. Three patients (3/12, 25.0%) relapsed, and as a result, two died of disease. Eight patients (8/12, 66.7%) were alive with no evidence of disease (NOD) after a median follow-up of 19 months (range 16 - 31 months). Hematologic toxicity was the most frequent toxicity reported in this study. Grade 3/4 leukopenia and neutropenia were common and both occurred in eight patients (8/12, 66.7%), respectively. Additionally, six patients (6/12, 50.0%) experienced grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia and three (3/12, 25.0%) experienced grade 3/4 anemia. However, no patient died of hematologic toxicity. Our results demonstrate the significant efficacy and safety profile of a DDGP regimen in the treatment of newly-diagnosed ENKL, and indicate the potential of this regimen as a first-line therapy against this disease.

Objectives Colon cancer patients were analyzed to compare the effects of surgical trauma on immune function by detecting the activation degree of cell inflammatory cytokines levels after different surgical procedures. Methods In total, 107 patients with colon cancer were divided into open surgery group and laparoscopic surgery group. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) and myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2) levels were detected before, after and one day after surgery. Results Serum CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in both groups were significantly increased at all postoperative time points after surgery compared with those preoperatively. CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in the laparoscopic group were lower than that in the open surgery group at all time points after surgery. Serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels in open surgery group were significantly lower than those in the laparoscopic surgery group after LPS stimulation. Laparoscopic surgery led to the decrease of serum CD14, TLR4 and MD-2 levels. The incidence of postoperative complications in laparoscopic group was significantly less as compared to the open surgery group. Conclusions Cellular immunity may be better presented after laparoscopic surgery in comparison with open surgery. Laparoscopic complete mesenteric resection surgery is effective in the treatment of colon cancer.