Patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma typically respond well to first-line immunochemotherapy. At relapse, single-agent rituximab is commonly administered. Data suggest the immunomodulatory ...agent lenalidomide could increase the activity of rituximab.
A phase III, multicenter, randomized trial of lenalidomide plus rituximab versus placebo plus rituximab was conducted in patients with relapsed and/or refractory follicular or marginal zone lymphoma. Patients received lenalidomide or placebo for 12 cycles plus rituximab once per week for 4 weeks in cycle 1 and day 1 of cycles 2 through 5. The primary end point was progression-free survival per independent radiology review.
A total of 358 patients were randomly assigned to lenalidomide plus rituximab (n = 178) or placebo plus rituximab (n = 180). Infections (63%
49%), neutropenia (58%
23%), and cutaneous reactions (32%
12%) were more common with lenalidomide plus rituximab. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (50%
13%) and leukopenia (7%
2%) were higher with lenalidomide plus rituximab; no other grade 3 or 4 adverse event differed by 5% or more between groups. Progression-free survival was significantly improved for lenalidomide plus rituximab versus placebo plus rituximab, with a hazard ratio of 0.46 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.62;
< .001) and median duration of 39.4 months (95% CI, 22.9 months to not reached) versus 14.1 months (95% CI, 11.4 to 16.7 months), respectively.
Lenalidomide improved efficacy of rituximab in patients with recurrent indolent lymphoma, with an acceptable safety profile.
Pediatric-type follicular lymphoma (PTFL) is a variant of follicular lymphoma (FL) with distinctive clinicopathological features. Patients are predominantly young males presenting with localized ...lymphadenopathy; the tumor shows high-grade cytology and lacks both BCL2 expression and t(14;18) translocation. The genetic alterations involved in the pathogenesis of PTFL are unknown. Therefore, 42 PTFL (40 males and 2 females; mean age, 16 years; range, 5-31) were genetically characterized. For comparison, 11 cases of conventional t(14:18)− FL in adults were investigated. Morphologically, PTFL cases had follicular growth pattern without diffuse areas and characteristic immunophenotype. All cases showed monoclonal immunoglobulin (IG) rearrangement. PTFL displays low genomic complexity when compared with t(14;18)− FL (mean, 0.77 vs 9 copy number alterations per case; P < .001). Both groups presented 1p36 alterations including TNFRSF14, but copy-number neutral loss of heterozygosity (CNN-LOH) of this locus was more frequently observed in PTFL (40% vs 9%; P = .075). TNFRSF14 was the most frequently affected gene in PTFL (21 mutations and 2 deletions), identified in 54% of cases, followed by KMT2D mutations in 16%. Other histone-modifying genes were rarely affected. In contrast, t(14;18)− FL displayed a mutational profile similar to t(14;18)+ FL. In 8 PTFL cases (19%), no genetic alterations were identified beyond IG monoclonal rearrangement. The genetic landscape of PTFL suggests that TNFRSF14 mutations accompanied by CNN-LOH of the 1p36 locus in over 70% of mutated cases, as additional selection mechanism, might play a key role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The genetic profiles of PTFL and t(14;18)− FL in adults indicate that these are two different disorders.
•PTFL is a monoclonal B-cell neoplasia with low genomic complexity and recurrent TNFRSF14 mutations/deletions.•The genetic profiles of conventional t(14;18)− and t(14;18)+ FL are similar but distinct from PTFL.
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) shows a clinical aggressiveness that varies from patient to patient. Despite major advances in outcomes with current immunochemotherapy, the future development of therapies ...requires risk stratification to tailor therapy intensity. Within the group of reference pathologists for the ongoing trials of the European MCL Network, we performed a round robin test on a tissue microarray to evaluate the reproducibility in assessing the biomarkers of outcome in MCL. Cytological subtype, Ki67-index and expression of p53 and SOX11 were evaluated on 20 diagnostic tumour samples by eight participating labs independently. We demonstrate that the assessment of the proliferation index by counting the Ki67 positive cells as well as assessment of SOX11 and p53 expression status is reproducible between labs. For the most established prognostic biomarker, Ki67, the intra-class correlation coefficient was very good when assessed as a continuous parameter (0.87). The agreement was lower when the values were analysed in a dichotomized way applying the commonly used cutoff of 30% (kappa = 0.65, complete concordance of all labs in 13/20 (65%)). Cases with discrepant results between labs in the dichotomized analysis showed mean values close to the cutoff of 30%. Centralised scoring and digital image analysis revealed results in line with the scores from individual labs. All cases in our cohort were additionally assessed for gene expression signatures and of
TP53
gene alterations. Given the good reproducibility when guidelines of assessment are applied, the biomarker studied in this inter-laboratory test presents potential candidates to be enhanced for risk-stratification in the future clinical trials.
Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma may harbor a 6p25.3 rearrangement, which has been associated with an epidermotropic small cell component. We report the case of a patient with said ...lymphoma harboring that rearrangement. It presented as a forehead nodule, histologically composed of an intermediate-to-large cell dermal component alongside a small-to-intermediate cell epidermotropic component. After multiple cutaneous and regional lymph node relapses, disease progression has been documented to a distant lymph node, despite local radiotherapy of the cutaneous lesions, chemotherapy, and anti-CD30 therapy, albeit with an indolent course over 6 years. Cases of pcALCL with nonregional lymph node involvement are unusual. Nevertheless, in this case, progression to a distant lymph node was not associated with an aggressive transformation of the disease.
Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common haematopoietic tumour in dogs and recognized as clinical model for its human counterpart. Recently, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte (NLR) and ...lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte (LMR) ratios have been shown to predict time‐to‐progression (TTP) and lymphoma‐specific survival (LSS) in dogs with DLBCL treated with CHOP‐based chemotherapy. We retrospectively evaluated in 59 dogs diagnosed with DLBCL the prognostic value of haematological parameters and derived ratios: NLR, LMR, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte (PLR) and platelet‐to‐neutrophil (PNR) ratios for TTP, LSS and associated secondary end‐points (time‐to‐progression‐rate TTPR and lymphoma‐specific survival‐rate LSSR) as rates at 180 and 365 days. PNR is an independent prognostic marker (p ≤ .001) for TTPR/180 and 365 days, dogs with a PNR above 0.032 were more likely to progress before 180 days (sensitivity 46.5%, specificity 87.5%, p = .004). On univariate analysis, NLR showed a prognostic significance for LSSR/180 (p = .006) and LSSR/365 (p = .009). A baseline NLR value below 7.45 was positively associated with survival at 180 days (sensitivity 52%, specificity 85.3%, p = .025). The presence of substage b, was associated with early progression and decreased survival at 180 days (p = .031). Anaemia significantly reduced LSSR at 365 days (p = .028). This is the first study evaluating PLR and PNR in canine DLBCL and demonstrates that PNR could be a predictor of early lymphoma progression. Since peripheral blood cell composition can be affected by several non‐oncological causes, the development of larger multicenter studies with homogeneous inclusion criteria could help to better determine the true predictive values of blood cell ratios in dogs' DLBCL treated with CHOP chemotherapy.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) pathology, subclassification, and patient screening is unexplored. We analyzed by state-of-the-art mass ...spectrometry the whole cell and secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteomes of different molecular subtypes of DLBCL, germinal center B cell (GCB subtype), and activated B cell (ABC subtype). After quality control assessment, we compared whole-cell and secreted EVs proteomes of the two cell-of-origin (COO) categories, GCB and ABC subtypes, resulting in 288/1115 significantly differential expressed proteins from the whole-cell proteome and 228/608 proteins from EVs (adjust
-value < 0.05/
-value < 0.05). In our preclinical model system, we demonstrated that the EV proteome and the whole-cell proteome possess the capacity to separate cell lines into ABC and GCB subtypes. KEGG functional analysis and GO enrichment analysis for cellular component, molecular function, and biological process of differential expressed proteins (DEP) between ABC and GCB EVs showed a significant enrichment of pathways involved in immune response function. Other enriched functional categories for DEPs constitute cellular signaling and intracellular trafficking such as B-cell receptor (BCR), Fc_gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, ErbB signaling, and endocytosis. Our results suggest EVs can be explored as a tool for patient diagnosis, follow-up, and disease monitoring. Finally, this study proposes novel drug targets based on highly expressed proteins, for which antitumor drugs are available suggesting potential combinatorial therapies for aggressive forms of DLBCL. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD028267.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Patients with CD5-expressing lymphomas presenting with splenomegaly are frequently diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The most important differential diagnosis is mantle cell lymphoma, both ...in its classical and leukemic, non-nodal forms, given its prognostic and therapeutic implications. Other small B-cell neoplasms that frequently involve the spleen and occasionally express CD5 include the splenic marginal zone lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia and, rarely, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. The frequency of CD5 positivity depends in part on the sensitivity of the detection methods employed. Usually, a combination of morphological, immunophenotypic and molecular findings allows for a precise sub-classification of CD5-positive, low-grade B-cell lymphomas of the spleen. Some of these tumors may display a mixture of small and larger B cells, raising the possibility of more aggressive lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). Approximately 5-10% of DLBCL are CD5-positive and some may manifest as primary splenic lesions. When available, the morphology of DLBCL in the splenic tissue is distinctive and a leukemic picture is very rare. In conclusion, the appropriate morphological and clinical context assisted by flow cytometry panels and/or immunohistochemistry allows the differential diagnosis of CD5-positive, non-Hodgkin, B-cell lymphomas involving the spleen.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Standardized treatment options are lacking for patients with unresectable or multifocal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) and disease-related mortality is as high as 20%. Applying whole genome ...sequencing (WGS) in one case and whole exome sequencing (WES) in additional twelve, this study adds information on the molecular landscape of FDCS, expanding knowledge on pathobiological mechanisms and identifying novel markers of potential theragnostic significance. Massive parallel sequencing showed high frequency of mutations on oncosuppressor genes, particularly in RB1, CARS and BRCA2 and unveiled alterations on homologous recombination DNA damage repair related genes in 70% (9/13) of cases. This indicates that patients with high stage FDCS may be eligible for poly ADP ribose polymerase inhibition protocols. Low tumor mutational burden was confirmed in this study despite common PDL1 expression in FDCS arguing on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. CDKN2A deletion, detected by WGS and confirmed by FISH in 41% of cases (9/22) indicates that impairment of cell cycle regulation may sustain oncogenesis in FDCS. Absence of mutations in the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway and lack of clonal hematopoiesis related mutations in FDCS sanction its differences from dendritic cell-derived neoplasms of haematopoietic derivation. WGS and WES in FDCS provides additional information on the molecular landscape of this rare tumor, proposing novel candidate genes for innovative therapeutical approaches to improve survival of patients with multifocal disease.
Gene expression studies have identified the microenvironment as a prognostic player in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, there is a lack of simple immune biomarkers that can be applied in the ...clinical setting and could be helpful in stratifying patients. Immunohistochemistry has been used for this purpose but the results are inconsistent. We decided to reinvestigate the immune microenvironment and its impact using immunohistochemistry, with two systems of image analysis, in a large set of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Diagnostic tissue from 309 patients was arrayed onto tissue microarrays. Results from 161 chemoimmunotherapy-treated patients were used for outcome prediction. Positive cells, percentage stained area and numbers of pixels/area were quantified and results were compared with the purpose of inferring consistency between the two semi-automated systems. Measurement cutpoints were assessed using a recursive partitioning algorithm classifying results according to survival. Kaplan-Meier estimators and Fisher exact tests were evaluated to check for significant differences between measurement classes, and for dependence between pairs of measurements, respectively. Results were validated by multivariate analysis incorporating the International Prognostic Index. The concordance between the two systems of image analysis was surprisingly high, supporting their applicability for immunohistochemistry studies. Patients with a high density of CD3 and FoxP3 by both methods had a better outcome. Automated analysis should be the preferred method for immunohistochemistry studies. Following the use of two methods of semi-automated analysis we suggest that CD3 and FoxP3 play a role in predicting response to chemoimmunotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.