Immunomodulatory treatment for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT lymphoma)

The pathogenesis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma has been characterized as a dynamic process driven by lymphoma cell dependency on T-cell signaling, chronic antigenic stimulation of marginal zone B-cells and activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway. This concept is underlined by the strong causal connection of chronic Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis and MALT lymphoma development based on perpetual auto-antigenic stimulation of Helicobacter pylori-specific T-cells, but also its association with further potential infectious triggers and autoimmune disorders for extragastric lymphoma sites. Thus, given the dependency of MALT lymphoma cells on the tumor microenvironment, this specific entity appears highly suitable for immunomodulatory treatment strategies. Several approaches have been assessed in the last years including promising data on immunomodulatory agents “IMiDs” thalidomide and lenalidomide, macrolide antibiotics and antibodies. The aim of the present review is to discuss rationales for immunomodulatory therapies in MALT lymphoma and to present the statu quo on immunomodulatory and therefore chemotherapy-free treatment strategies for these patients.     

Paraneoplastic movement disorder in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and CRMP-5 autoantibody.

The paraneoplastic autoantibody, collapsin response-mediator protein (CRMP)-5 immunoglobulin G (IgG), is specific for neuronal cytoplasmic CRMP-5, and is usually associated with small-cell lung carcinoma or thymoma. We report on details of a movement disorder that followed anti-B-cell therapy in a patient with lymphoma, and was accompanied by CRMP-5 IgG.     

The Effect of Desensitization Protocols on Human Splenic B-Cell Populations In Vivo

Rituximab, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) all have been suggested to have an effect on antibody producing cells, however, supporting data are lacking. To assess the impact of these agents on splenic B‐cell populations in vivo, we retrospectively examined 25 spleens removed from patients treated with these agents as part of desensitization protocols in either ABO incompatible or positive crossmatch living donor kidney transplantation. These were compared to control (CTL) spleens removed for trauma. CTLs and spleens removed at transplant after multiple pretransplant plasmaphereses (PP) plus low‐dose IVIG showed similar large numbers of naïve B cells (CD20⁺ and CD79⁺), plasma cells (CD138⁺) and memory B cells (CD27⁺ cells). Adding rituximab to this PP/IVIG regimen reduced the number naïve B cells, but had no effect on memory or plasma cells. Combination treatment (PP/IVIG, rituximab and rATG) showed a trend toward the reduction of CD27⁺ cells, but again plasma cells were unchanged. We conclude that none of these protocols reduces splenic plasma cells in vivo. PP/low‐dose IVIG does not alter splenic B cells, but the addition of rituximab decreases mature B cells. Memory B cells may be affected by combination therapy including rATG and requires further study.     

靶向B细胞治疗系统性红斑狼疮研究进展

系统性红斑狼疮(Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE)是一种慢性、全身多系统受累的自身免疫性疾病。其病因和发病机制尚未完全明确,有研究表明B细胞过度增殖、活化是SLE发病至关重要的环节,也是造成全身多脏器损害的病理基础。因此B细胞成为SLE治疗的新型靶点,本综述主要围绕B细胞相关靶向治疗进展进行讨论,包括靶向B细胞表面抗原、靶向B细胞因子、共刺激阻断、酪氨酸蛋白激酶抑制剂等方面,重点介绍其已经结束或正在进行的临床试验以及实际上市后的临床应用。     

Extended rituximab therapy in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

BackgroundWaldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a CD20 expressing B-cell malignancy represented by the pathological diagnosis of IgM secreting lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Major response rates of 30% have been reported in most studies with standard dose rituximab, i.e. 4 weekly infusions at 375 mg/m²/week.MethodsIn an effort to increase rituximab activity in WM, an extended dose schedule employing two sets of four (375 mg/m²/week) infusions at weeks 1–4 and 12–16 was evaluated. Expression of the complement resistance antigens CD46, CD55 and CD59 was also evaluated on tumor cells pre- and post-therapy to determine impact on response.ResultsTwenty-nine patients were enrolled and 26 patients completed the intended therapy. On an intent to treat analysis, 14 (48.3%) patients achieved a partial response, and 5 (17.2%) patients achieved a minor response. Responses were observed in 18/24 (75%) patients with a serum IgM level of <6000 mg/dl, and only 1 of 5 (20%) patients with a level of >6000 mg/dl (P = 0.03). The median time to best response was 17 months, and only 2 of 19 responding patients progressed with a median follow-up of 29 months. No differences in baseline expression of the complement resistance antigens CD46, CD55 and CD59 were observed among responding and non-responding patients, although post-therapy CD55 expression was higher in non-responding patients (P = 0.002).ConclusionsThese data show that extended rituximab therapy is active and may lead to more major responses over standard dose rituximab in WM. WM patients with serum IgM levels of <6000 mg/dl are more likely to benefit from extended rituximab therapy.     

利妥昔单抗联合CHOP方案治疗弥漫大B细胞性淋巴瘤的多中心临床研究

目的:观察利妥昔单抗联合环磷酰胺、长春新碱、多柔比星及泼尼松(CHOP方案)治疗新诊断的弥漫性大B细胞性淋巴瘤(DLBL)的临床疗效. 方法:2002年4月至2003年2月,共52例病人进入本研究.化疗采用标准的CHOP方案:d 1,环磷酰胺600 mg·m-2,长春新碱1.4 mg·m-2,多柔比星25 mg·m-2,泼尼松60 mg·m-2×5 d,每3 wk一个疗程,共6个疗程.利妥昔单抗静脉滴注剂量为375 mg·m-2,于化疗第一个疗程前2 d开始,每周输注1次(连续输注),连续4次(标准剂量)或6次(增强剂量);或于每疗程的CHOP方案化疗前2 d输注,每3周1次(间隔输注),输注4次(标准剂量)或6次(增强剂量).结果:50例病人进入临床疗效评估, 60 %获得完全缓解,总有效率为 100 %.其中,34例Ann Arbor分期为Ⅲ期或Ⅳ期的病人有15例获得完全缓解,完全缓解率为44 %.50例病人共随访了(8±s 5) wk, 2～30 wk,病人16 wk的无病生存(PFS)率为87 %.标准剂量组和增强剂量组疗效无显著差异,连续输注和间隔输注疗效差异亦无显著意义(P>0.05).所有病人在治疗过程中对本方案均能较好耐受,主要的不良反应为输注相关的不良反应(32 %)和化疗相关的血液学不良反应(20 %). 结论:利妥昔单抗联合CHOP方案可有效用于治疗新诊断的弥漫性大B细胞性淋巴瘤,它具有较高的完全缓解率,而且在治疗中不良反应较小.     

CD20‐positive plasmablastic lymphoma with excellent response to bortezomib combined with rituximab

As a distinct type of aggressive mature large B‐cell lymphoma, plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) poses diagnostic and treatment challenges. PBL is distinguished from other B‐cell lymphomas by the presence of plasmacytic differentiation markers such as CD38, CD138, and MUM1. Clinically, PBLs from oral and extra‐oral sites are rapidly progressive tumors with frequent relapse after treatment with standard diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma regimens. Here, we report a near‐complete response of one patient with relapsed PBL following treatment with a non‐cytotoxic regimen containing bortezomib, rituximab, and dexamethasone.     

Progress in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: results of the German CLL8 trial

Until now, no approach that is able to improve overall survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients has been available. In the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG) CLL8 trial, treatment-naive, physically fit patients (aged 30–81 years) with CD20⁺ CLL were randomly assigned in a one-to-one ratio to receive six courses of intravenous fludarabine (25 mg/m² per day) and cyclophosphamide (250 mg/m² per day) for the first 3 days of each 28-day treatment course with or without rituximab (375 mg/m² on day 0 of first course and 500 mg/m² on day 1 of second to sixth courses). The two groups were well balanced with respect to baseline characteristics. The study was stopped at the preplanned interim analysis owing to an advantage in the median progression-free survival in the chemoimmunotherapy arm (51.8 vs 32.8 months; hazard ratio: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.46–0.69; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, at 3 years after randomization, 87% of patients in the chemoimmunotherapy group were alive compared with 83% in the chemotherapy group (hazard ratio: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.48–0.92; p = 0.01). In terms of toxicity, chemoimmunotherapy was more frequently associated with grade 3 and 4 neutropenia (p < 0.0001). There were eight (2%) treatment related-deaths in the chemoimmunotherapy arm compared with ten (3%) in the chemotherapy arm. The CLL8 trial has demonstrated that an association of rituximab, fludarabine and cyclophosphamide is effective in prolonging progression-free survival and overall survival of patients with symptomatic CLL, therefore establishing the new standard of treatment for physically fit patients.