Viral infection induces potent cellular immunity and activated intracellular signaling, which may dictate the driver events involved in immune escape and clonal selection of virus-associated cancers, ...including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive lymphomas. Here, we thoroughly interrogated PD-L1/PD-L2-involving somatic aberrations in 384 samples from various lymphoma subtypes using high-throughput sequencing, particularly focusing on virus-associated lymphomas. A high frequency of PD-L1/PD-L2-involving genetic aberrations was observed in EBV-positive lymphomas 33 (22%) of 148 cases, including extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL, 23%), aggressive NK-cell leukemia (57%), systemic EBV-positive T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (17%) as well as EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, 19%) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified (15%). Predominantly causing a truncation of the 3'-untranslated region, these alterations represented the most prevalent somatic lesions in ENKTL. By contrast, the frequency was much lower in EBV-negative lymphomas regardless of histology type 12 (5%) of 236 cases. Besides PD-L1/PD-L2 alterations, EBV-positive DLBCL exhibited a genetic profile distinct from EBV-negative one, characterized by frequent TET2 and DNMT3A mutations and the paucity of CD79B, MYD88, CDKN2A, and FAS alterations. Our findings illustrate unique genetic features of EBV-associated lymphomas, also suggesting a potential role of detecting PD-L1/PD-L2-involving lesions for these lymphomas to be effectively targeted by immune checkpoint blockade.
Abstract
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas with poor prognosis. Up to 30% of PTCL lack distinctive features and are classified as PTCL, not otherwise ...specified (PTCL-NOS). To further improve our understanding of the genetic landscape and biology of PTCL-NOS, we perform RNA-sequencing of 18 cases and validate results in an independent cohort of 37 PTCL cases. We identify
FYN-TRAF3IP2
,
KHDRBS1-LCK
and
SIN3A-FOXO1
as new in-frame fusion transcripts, with
FYN-TRAF3IP2
as a recurrent fusion detected in 8 of 55 cases. Using ex vivo and in vivo experiments, we demonstrate that
FYN-TRAF3IP2
and
KHDRBS1-LCK
activate signaling pathways downstream of the T cell receptor (TCR) complex and confer therapeutic vulnerability to clinically available drugs.
Early identification of ultra-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients is needed to aid stratification to innovative treatment. Previous studies suggested high baseline total metabolic ...tumor volume (TMTV) negatively impacts survival of DLBCL patients. We analyzed the prognostic impact of TMTV and prognostic indices in DLBCL patients, aged 60 to 80 years, from the phase 3 REMARC study that randomized responding patients to R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) into maintenance lenalidomide or placebo. TMTV was computed on baseline positron emission tomography/computed tomography using the 41% maximum standardized uptake value method; the optimal TMTV cutoff for progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was determined and confirmed by a training validation method. There were 301 out of 650 evaluable patients, including 192 patients classified as germinal center B-cell–like (GCB)/non-GCB and MYC/BCL2 expressor. Median baseline TMTV was 238 cm3; optimal TMTV cutoff was 220 cm3. Patients with high vs low TMTV showed worse/higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ≥2, stage III or IV disease, >1 extranodal site, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, International Prognostic Index (IPI) 3-5, and age-adjusted IPI 2-3. High vs low TMTV significantly impacted PFS and OS, independent of maintenance treatment. Although the GCB/non-GCB profile and MYC expression did not correlate with TMTV/survival, BCL2 >70% impacted PFS and could be stratified by TMTV. Multivariate analysis identified baseline TMTV and ECOG PS as independently associated with PFS and OS. Even in responding patients, after R-CHOP, high baseline TMTV was a strong prognosticator of inferior PFS and OS. Moreover, TMTV combined with ECOG PS may identify an ultra-risk DLBCL population. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01122472.
•Early identification of ultra-risk DLBCL patients is needed to aid stratification to alternative treatment approaches.•High baseline TMTV (±ECOG) was a strong prognosticator of inferior PFS and OS in REMARC patients post-R-CHOP, irrespective of maintenance.
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Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) comprised more than 30 rare heterogeneous entities, representing 10 to 15% of adult non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Although their diagnosis is still mainly based on ...clinical, pathological, and phenotypic features, molecular studies have allowed for a better understanding of the oncogenic mechanisms involved and the refinement of many PTCL entities in the recently updated classifications. The prognosis remains poor for most entities (5-year overall survival < 30%), with current conventional therapies based on anthracyclin-based polychemotherapy regimen, despite many years of clinical trials. The recent use of new targeted therapies appears to be promising for relapsed/refractory patients, such as demethylating agents in T-follicular helper (TFH) PTCL. However further studies are needed to evaluate the proper combination of these drugs in the setting of front-line therapy. In this review, we will summarize the oncogenic events for the main PTCL entities and report the molecular targets that have led to the development of new therapies. We will also discuss the development of innovative high throughput technologies that aid the routine workflow for the histopathological diagnosis and management of PTCL patients.
Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL), a rare and aggressive intestinal malignancy of intraepithelial T lymphocytes, comprises two disease variants (EATL-I and EATL-II) differing in clinical ...characteristics and pathological features. Here we report findings derived from whole-exome sequencing of 15 EATL-II tumour-normal tissue pairs. The tumour suppressor gene SETD2 encoding a non-redundant H3K36-specific trimethyltransferase is altered in 14/15 cases (93%), mainly by loss-of-function mutations and/or loss of the corresponding locus (3p21.31). These alterations consistently correlate with defective H3K36 trimethylation. The JAK/STAT pathway comprises recurrent STAT5B (60%), JAK3 (46%) and SH2B3 (20%) mutations, including a STAT5B V712E activating variant. In addition, frequent mutations in TP53, BRAF and KRAS are observed. Conversely, in EATL-I, no SETD2, STAT5B or JAK3 mutations are found, and H3K36 trimethylation is preserved. This study describes SETD2 inactivation as EATL-II molecular hallmark, supports EATL-I and -II being two distinct entities, and defines potential new targets for therapeutic intervention.
PTCL patients exhibit poor survival with existing treatments. We investigated the efficacy of CHOP combined with alemtuzumab in 116 PTCL patients age 61-80 in an open-label, randomized phase 3 trial. ...Alemtuzumab was given on day 1, to a total of 360 mg in 21 patients, or 120 mg in 37. Hematotoxicity was increased with A-CHOP resulting in more grade ≥3 infections (40% versus 21%) and 4 versus 1 death due to infections, respectively. CR/CRu rate was 60% for A-CHOP and 43% for CHOP, and OR rate was 72% and 66%, respectively. Three-year-EFS, PFS and OS were 27% 15%-39%, 28% 15%-40%, and 37% (23%-50% for A-CHOP, and 24% 12%-35%, 29% 17%-41%, and 56% 44%-69% for CHOP, respectively, showing no significant differences. Multivariate analyses, adjusted for strata and sex confirmed these results (hazard ratio HR
: 0.7 (95% CI: 0.5-1.1; p = 0.094), HR
: 0.8 (95% CI: 0.5-1.2; p = 0.271), HR
: 1.4 (95% CI: 0.9-2.4; p = 0.154). The IPI score was validated, and male sex (HR
2.5) and bulky disease (HR
2.2) were significant risk factors for EFS, PFS, and OS. Alemtuzumab added to CHOP increased response rates, but did not improve survival due to treatment-related toxicity.
Systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a T-cell lymphoma, whose anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) expression varies according to age. Long-term outcomes of chemotherapy-treated adults are ...not definitively established and should be evaluated.
Patients treated in three Groupe d'Étude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte prospective clinical trials with confirmed systemic ALCL after immunohistopathologic review and defined ALK expression status were analyzed.
Among the 138 adult patients with ALCL, 64 (46%) were ALK positive, and 74 (54%) were ALK negative. Median follow-up was 8 years. At diagnosis, significantly more patients younger than 40 years old were ALK positive than ALK negative (66% v 23%, respectively; P < .001). Comparing patients with ALK-positive and ALK-negative ALCL, β(2)-microglobulin was ≥ 3 mg/L in 12% and 33% (P = .017); International Prognostic Index was high (score, 3 to 5) in 23% and 48% (P = .03); complete response rates to first-line treatment were 86% and 68% (P = .01); and 8-year overall survival (OS) rates were 82% (95% CI, 69% to 89%) and 49% (95% CI, 37% to 61%), respectively (P < .001). The survival difference mostly affected patients age ≥ 40 years. Multivariate analysis identified β(2)-microglobulin ≥ 3 mg/L (P < .001) and age ≥ 40 years (P = .029), but not ALK status, as prognostic for OS. These two variables distinguished four survival risk groups, with 8-year OS ranging from 84% to 22%. CONCLUSION Results of this long-term study enabled refinement of the prognosis of adult systemic ALCL, with ALK prognostic value dependent on age, and could provide guidance for eventual treatment adjustment.
To evaluate the prognostic value of the cell of origin (COO) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBLC), prospectively treated by rituximab, dexamethasone, high-dose ...cytarabine, and cisplatin (R-DHAP) versus rituximab, ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide and followed by intensive therapy plus autologous stem-cell transplantation on the Collaborative Trial in Relapsed Aggressive Lymphoma (CORAL) trial.
Among the 396 patients included on the trial, histologic material was available for a total of 249 patients at diagnosis (n = 189 patients) and/or at relapse (n = 147 patients), which included 87 matched pairs. The patient data were analyzed by immunochemistry for CD10, BCL6, MUM1, FOXP1, and BCL2 expression and by fluorescent in situ hybridization for BCL2, BCL6 and c-MYC breakpoints. The correlation with survival data was performed by using the log-rank test and the Cox model.
Characteristics of immunophenotype and chromosomal abnormalities were statistically highly concordant in the matched biopsies. In univariate analysis, the presence of c-MYC gene rearrangement was the only parameter to be significantly correlated with a worse progression-free survival (PFS; P = .02) and a worse overall survival (P = .04). When treatment interaction was tested, the germinal center B (GCB) -like DLBCL that was based on the algorithm by Hans was significantly associated with a better PFS in the R-DHAP arm. In multivariate analysis, independent prognostic relevance was found for the GCB/non-GCB the Hans phenotype interaction treatment (P = .04), prior rituximab exposure (P = .0052), secondary age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (P = .039), and FoxP1 expression (P = .047). Confirmation was obtained by gene expression profiling in a subset of 39 patients.
COO remains a major and independent factor in relapsed/refractory DLBCL, with a better response to R-DHAP in GCB-like DLBCL. This needs confirmation by a prospective study.
Summary Background Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a common cancer in elderly patients. Although treatment has been standardised in younger patients, no prospective study has been done in patients ...over 80 years old. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a decreased dose of CHOP (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone) chemotherapy with a conventional dose of rituximab in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Methods We did a prospective, multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 study of patients aged over 80 years who had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Patients were included from 38 centres in France and Belgium. All patients received six cycles of rituximab combined with low-dose CHOP (R-miniCHOP) at 3-week intervals. Patients received 375 mg/m2 rituximab, 400 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, 25 mg/m2 doxorubicin, and 1 mg vincristine on day 1 of each cycle, and 40 mg/m2 prednisone on days 1–5. The primary endpoint was overall survival, both unadjusted and adjusted for treatment and baseline prognostic factors. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT01087424. Findings 150 patients were enrolled between Jan 9, 2006, and Jan 23, 2009 and 149 were included in the intention-to-treat analyses. Median age was 83 years (range 80–95). After a median follow-up of 20 months (range 0–45), the median overall survival was 29 months (95% CI 21 to upper limit not reached); 2-year overall survival was 59% (49–67%). In multivariate analyses, overall survival was only affected by a serum albumin concentration of 35 g/L or less (hazard ratio 3·2, 95% CI 1·4–7·1; p=0·0053). Median progression-free survival was 21 months (95% CI 13 to upper limit not reached), with a 2-year progression free survival of 47% (38–56). 58 deaths were reported, 33 of which were secondary to lymphoma progression. 12 deaths were attributed to toxicity of the treatment. The most frequent side-effect was haematological toxicity (grade ≥3 neutropenia in 59 patients; febrile neutropenia in 11 patients). Interpretation R-miniCHOP offers a good compromise between efficacy and safety in patients aged over 80 years old. R-miniCHOP should be considered as the new standard treatment in this subgroup of patients. Funding Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA).
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