Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Chile: a review of 207 consecutive adult cases by a panel of five expert hematopathologists

The distribution of subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in Latin America is not well known. This Chilean study included 207 consecutive cases of NHL diagnosed at five cancer centers in the capital, Santiago, and one center in Vi?a del Mar. All cases were reviewed and classified independently by five expert hematopathologists according to the 2001 World Health Organization classification of NHL. A consensus diagnosis of NHL was reached in 195 of the 207 cases (94%). B-cell lymphomas constituted 88% of NHL, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, 38.5%) and follicular lymphoma (25.1%) were the most common subtypes. There was a high frequency of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (10.3%), as well as of extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (2.6%) and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (0.5%). Extranodal presentation was seen in 74 of the 195 cases (38%) and the most common extranodal presentation was in the stomach (37.6%). The most common gastric lymphoma was DLBCL (54.5%) followed by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (41%). Overall, the frequency of NHL subtypes in Chile is between that reported in Western and Eastern countries, which is probably a reflection of the admixture of ethnicities as well as the environment and socioeconomic status of its population.     

Regional variation in the distribution of subtypes of lymphoid neoplasms in India

Lymphoid malignancies (LM) are a heterogeneous group of tumours. The relative frequencies of the various types of LMs vary across geographic regions. The pattern in India shows significant differences from the rest of the world. As India is a vast country, we set out to investigate whether there are regional differences in the relative frequencies of the various LMs. A total of 562 LMs from three different regions in India--Barshi (western India, 102 cases), Pondicherry (southern India, 156 cases) and Jaipur (northern India, 304 cases) were analysed according to the WHO classification. The non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) to Hodgkin disease (HD) ratio was 6.28 in Barshi, 1.26 in Pondicherry and 2.27 in Jaipur. The frequency of HD's various subtypes did not significantly differ among the three regions. While T-cell NHLs constituted only 12.5% of NHLs at Barshi, they accounted for 31 and 27.5% of all NHLs at Pondicherry and Jaipur, respectively. There were also notable differences in the specific subtypes of NHL between the three different geographic regions in India.     

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (excluding anaplastic large-cell lymphoma): results from the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Classification Project.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is rare in most parts of the world. Therefore, we have evaluated the 96 cases of PTCL diagnosed within the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Classification Project (NHLCP) (1378 cases) for their geographical distribution, pathologic features and diagnostic reliability, as well as clinical presentation and outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diagnoses of all cases were rendered independently by five experienced hematopathologists based on morphology only, and after introduction of the immunophenotype and clinical data. Divergent diagnoses were jointly discussed and a final consensus diagnosis was established in each case. Reliability of the diagnoses was evaluated statistically, and the clinical features and outcome were analyzed according to the consensus diagnoses. RESULTS: Seven per cent of all non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) cases reviewed were classified as PTCL and the frequency varied from 1.5% to 18.3% in different countries. The interobserver agreement with the consensus diagnosis of PTCL was 86% in the Revised European-American Lymphoma (REAL) classification, but the designation of subtypes was less reliable. Diagnostic reliability improved from 41% to 86% after immunophenotyping, but did not improve further with the addition of detailed clinical data. Clinically, angiocentric nasal lymphoma presented in young females (median age 49 years) at extranodal sites, but with few adverse risk factors, whereas angioimmunoblastic lymphoma presented most often in older males (median age 65 years) at nodal and extranodal sites with numerous risk factors. The 5-year overall and failure-free survivals for patients with PTCL treated with doxorubicin (Adriamycin)-containing regimens were only 26% and 20%, respectively. Both failure-free and overall survival were strongly correlated with the performance status and International Prognostic Index scores at presentation, but differences in survival were not observed between the major histological types. However, within the PTCL 'not otherwise specified' category, but not angioimmunoblastic lymphoma, the number of transformed blasts was prognostically relevant. CONCLUSIONS: PTCLs can be diagnosed reliably by experienced hematopathologists, but immunophenotyping is absolutely necessary. Currently, all types of PTCL should be considered high-grade lymphomas. An increased ability to distinguish T-lymphocyte subsets is needed in order to better subclassify the PTCLs for therapeutic and prognostic purposes.     

Pathology review for paediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients in Japan; a report from the Japan association of childhood leukaemia study (JACLS)

A central pathology review system with an immunophenotyping laboratory was established in Japan to support the clinical trial, the Japan Association of Childhood Leukaemia Study (JACLS) NHL-98, for patients with paediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Pathology samples from 155 clinically-suspected NHL cases were evaluated centrally initially using the Revised European-American Lymphoma (REAL) classification in a rapid review (within 2 weeks after surgery/biopsy) and then later at the consensus review (once a year). The samples were subsequently re-classified according to the new World Health Organisation (WHO) classification. After the pathology review, 96 (62%) patients were eligible for the study, and 58 of them (60%) had extra-nodal primaries. These NHL cases included B-cell lymphomas (precursor B-cell, 11; Burkitt, 18; diffuse large B-cell, 18; not otherwise specified, 3) and T/Natural Killer (NK)-cell lymphomas (precursor T-cell, 23; anaplastic large cell, 20; others, 3). There was excellent concordance in making the diagnoses (95/96, 99%) and typing (93/96, 97%) of NHL between the rapid and consensus reviews. Five cases, initially diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by the review, were re-classified as Burkitt lymphoma according to the immunocytochemical criteria by the WHO classification. A total of 59 (38%) cases were excluded from the study: they were Hodgkin lymphoma (7), leukaemias (11), reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (20), necrotizing lymphadenitis (7), no consensus diagnosis (1), insufficient materials (2), and others (11). This is the first report of the central pathology review from the paediatric NHL group study in Japan. Because various diseases, either neoplastic or reactive, mimicked NHL, clinically and histopathologically, the central pathology review system was critical and essential for patient enrollment and protocol assignment in our clinical trial. Through the two-step review system, highly reliable data were generated to support this study.     

鼻腔鼻窦非霍奇金淋巴瘤免疫表型及其与EB病毒感染的关系

背景与目的:鼻腔鼻窦非霍奇金淋巴瘤(non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,NHL)的患病率和免疫表型组成具有地域性差异.本研究探讨中国广州地区57例鼻腔鼻窦NHL免疫表型及其与EB病毒(Epstein-Barr virus,EBV)感染的关系.方法:收集2000年4月1日至2006年10月31日中山大学肿瘤防治中心病理科57例鼻腔鼻窦NHL标本.免疫组化染色确定免疫表型,EBER原位杂交及PCR检测EBV感染情况.结果:在同期诊断的1 412例NHL中,71例(5.03%)发生于鼻腔鼻窦,其中仅有57例适用于本研究.57例鼻腔鼻窦NHL患者中,男性38例,女性19例,年龄3～75岁,中位年龄50岁;44例(77.19%)为鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤,其中37例(84.09%)为EBV /CD56 NK细胞肿瘤,7例(15.91%)为EBV /CD56-细胞毒性T细胞表型;11例(19.30%)为B细胞淋巴瘤,其中6例为弥漫大B表型,2例为Burkitt(Burkitt样)淋巴瘤(EBV ),1例为髓外浆细胞瘤(EBV ),1例为MALT淋巴瘤(EBV-),1例为小淋巴细胞性淋巴瘤(EBV-);2例(3.51%)为外周T细胞淋巴瘤(EBV-).37例适用DNA检测的病例中,25例(67.57%)感染缺失型LMP1(del-LMP1)EBV株,12例(32.43%)感染野生型LMP1(wt-LMP1)EBV株.结论:鼻腔鼻窦NHL最常见的类型为鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤,可进一步分为EBV /CD56 NK细胞及EBV /CD56-细胞毒性T细胞表型.NK/T细胞淋巴瘤均感染了EBV,EBV株主要为del-LMP1型.     

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: cytotoxic T lymphocyte mediated activity correlated with histopathological classification and staging

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) constitute a heterogeneous group of lymphoid tumors and a majority of them in India are of B-cell phenotype. It has been postulated that immunoregulatory dysfunctions may be involved in the pathogenesis of NHL. Hence, peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from twenty six untreated patients were assessed for cytotoxic T lymphocyte mediated (CTL) activity in 51Cr release assay. Patients were classified according to Revised European American Lymphoma classification. B-cell small lymphocytic lymphoma patients showed lower CTL activity than NHL patients of other histopathological subtypes and healthy individuals. Diffuse large B cell lymphomas showed CTL activity comparable to healthy individuals. However, within the same histopathological subgroup, the CTL activity did not correlate with the stage of the patients.     

Epidemiology of the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: Distributions of the major subtypes differ by geographic locations

Background: There has been no previous systematic study of the distribution of the major subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) across geographic regions, although there have been isolated reports of such differences.Design: As part of a clinical evaluation of the International Lymphoma Study Group (ILSG) classification of NHL, we classified 1378 NHLs from eight different geographic sites (Omaha, NE, USA; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Capetown, South Africa; London, England; Würzburg/Göttingen, Germany; Lyon, France; Locarno/Bellinzona, Switzerland; and Hong Kong) using the ILSG classification.Results: Substantial differences were found in the distribution of the major subtypes of NHL across geographic regions (P < 0.0001). A greater percentage of follicular lymphoma was seen in North America, London and Capetown (31% versus 14% at other sites). Peripheral T-cell lymphoma was more common in London, Capetown and Hong Kong (9%) than elsewhere (3%). In Locarno/Bellinzona, higher percentages of mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (9% versus 2% elsewhere) and mantle cell lymphoma (14% versus 6% elsewhere) were seen. Angiocentric nasal T-/NK-cell lymphoma was only seen in Hong Kong (8%) and Lyon (2%).Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that the distribution of NHL subtypes differs by geographic region. These findings suggest that geographical differences in etiologic or host factors may be responsible for the observed differences in the distribution of cases across NHL subtypes.     

Mature B-cell lymphoma/leukemia in children and adolescents: intergroup pathologist consensus with the revised European-American Lymphoma Classification.

Background:The Revised European–American Lymphoma(R.E.A.L.) Classification criteria were evaluated in the internationalprotocol FAB LMB 96 Treatment of Mature B-Cell Lymphoma/Leukemia: A SFOP LMB96/CCG-5961/UKCCSG NHL 9600 Cooperative Study. This includes B-lineagelymphomas: Burkitt's lymphoma (including ALL-L3); high-grade B-cell lymphoma,Burkitt-like; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (excluding anaplastic large cellKi-1 lymphoma). Patients and methods:Cases were independently reviewed by eighthematopathologists from the three cooperative national groups (two SFOP, twoCCG, four UKCCSG), without prior discussion of classification criteria orguidelines for case rejection. Consensus diagnosis was determined by eachnational cooperative group, and final consensus diagnosis established when atleast two national consensus diagnoses were in agreement, or following groupagreement at a multiheaded microscope. Results:Two hundred eight cases were reviewed, with finalconsensus diagnosis established in two hundred three. The percent agreementof each group's national consensus diagnosis with final consensus diagnosiswas 86%, 86% and 71%. The percent agreement of thegroup's national consensus diagnosis with final consensus diagnosis forBurkitt's and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were 88% and 80%,respectively, but only 42% for Burkitt-like lymphoma. Conclusions:International panel review of mature B-celllymphoma/leukemia in children and adolescents highlighted difficulties insubclassification, particularly with Burkitt-like, which is a 'provisionalentity' in the R.E.A.L. Classification. The absence of previous discussion ofclassification and guidelines for case rejection may in part explain thediscrepancy between pathologists. These results underline that morphology mayneed to be complemented by other studies, such as molecular genetics andcytogenetics, to discriminate between the mature B-cell lymphomas.     

Malignant lymphoma in the Miyazaki district: analysis of 237 biopsy cases

Pretreatment biopsy specimens of 237 consecutive patients with malignant lymphoma, who presented to us from 1979 to 1982, were reviewed and reclassified. According to the new classification proposed by the Lymphoma Study Group of Japan (LSG), there were 226 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) which was further classified as diffuse lymphoma (216 cases), follicular lymphoma (4 cases), mycosis fungoides (4 cases), and others (2 cases). The 216 cases of diffuse NHL were subdivided into small cell (2 cases), medium-sized cell (71 cases), mixed (7 cases), large cell (92 cases), pleomorphic (40 cases), lymphoblastic (3 cases), and Burkitt's type (1 case) lymphoma. Cell surface marker studies using conventional methods were performed on 65 NHL patients, of whom 45 showed T-cell marker and 11 B-cell marker, and 8 had neither marker. The average survival periods were 13.1 mo for 107 patients with NHL, 27.9 mo for those with mycosis fungoides and 70.0 mo for 10 patients with Hodgkin's disease. Patients with adult T-cell leukemia survived for an average of only 5.5 mo. Histologically diffuse pleomorphic type had the worst prognosis. T-cell lymphoma appeared to have a poorer prognosis than B-cell lymphoma.     

Clinical characteristics and pathological classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Kuwait. Results of a collaborative study with the International Lymphoma Study Group (ILSG)

Kuwait was chosen by the International Lymphoma Study Group (ILSG) as one of the sites attending in the project on "Clinical characteristics and pathological classification of non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the developing countries". The Kuwait study involved 206 cases of NHL, diagnosed, staged and treated in the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC). All cases were reviewed and reclassified independently by the pathologists of KCCC and the International Lymphoma Study Group (ISLG) using the latest World Health Organization (WHO) classification of neoplastic disease of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Immunophenotyping as to B- or T-cell was documented in all cases. Three main pathological entities (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma) were identified and studied thoroughly. The intense cooperation between experts of the ISLG and pathologists of the KCCC proved that the WHO classification was fully reproducible in Kuwait. The high incidence of extranodal lymphomas (53%) observed in the KCCC may not be due to special ethnic or environmental conditions in Kuwait but rather be due to a selection of patients coming to our center.     

IgH和IgL引物联合检测对提高石蜡组织淋巴瘤基因重排检出率的价值

背景与目的：通过聚合酶链反应（polymerase chain reaction,PCR）扩增免疫球蛋白重链（immunoglobulin heavy chain,IgH）基因对其克隆性的检测,可以辅助诊断淋巴瘤。缺点是假阴性率较高,在石蜡包埋组织中尤为明显。本研究拟采用手工显微切割、免疫球蛋白重链和轻链（immunoglohulin light chain,IgL）联合测定等方式,探讨该方法在石蜡包埋组织中非霍奇金淋巴瘤（non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,NHL）诊断中的价值。方法：选用1对IgH引物、1对T细胞受体γ（Tcell receptor γ,TCRγ）、TCRγ引物、2对新设计的轻链引物,通过PCR、琼脂糖和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（PAGE）及银染技术,检测经形态学及免疫组织化学确诊的58例石蜡包埋组织标本,包括39例B细胞淋巴瘤、16例T细胞淋巴瘤和3例淋巴结反应性增生组织。以DG75和Jurkat淋巴瘤细胞系DNA作为对照。结果：IgH引物P1在39例B细胞淋巴瘤检出阳性率79．5％（31／39）。假阳性率6．25％（1／16）,IgL引物在B细胞淋巴瘤检出阳性率71．8％（28／39）。假阳性率12．5％（2／16）,经统计学分析二者检出率无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。二者联合检测,B细胞淋巴瘤阳性检出率可以达到92．3％,假阳性率并无明显提高（12．5％）。以上重排引物在反应性增生淋巴结组织中均未检出。结论：IgH与IgL引物联合检测可明显提高石蜡包埋组织中B细胞淋巴瘤的检出率,并为B-NHL的诊断及鉴别诊断提供了有效的辅助手段。     

Die Rolle der Strahlentherapie bei seltenen extranodalen Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomen

Extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) accounts for approximately 30% of NHLs. Extranodal NHLs are mainly located in the skin (mainly T-cell NHL), stomach, small intestines, tonsils and central nervous system (CNS mainly B-cell lymphoma). Uncommon sites represent the orbit, salivary glands, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, thyroid gland, lungs, bladder, breast, female genital tract, testes, bone and extradural space. Stage, localization and histology are crucial for the decision of treatment modality. As, in contrast to nodal NHL, extranodal NHLs are more frequently diagnosed in stages I/II, radiotherapy (RT) plays a significant role in the treatment of extranodal NHLs. In general, in patients with low grade NHL involved-field radiotherapy (IF-RT) alone with 30?C40?Gy is recommended. Excellent local control is achieved by IF-RT resulting in high disease-free and overall survival rates. In cases of high grade lymphoma, induction chemotherapy is followed by consolidating IF-RT (36?C40?Gy). The localization and histology are predictors for local control, disease-free and overall survival.     

Rare Pediatric Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Of the cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed in children and adolescents, 10% comprise a diverse mixture of unusual B-cell or T-cell disease, some types of which are more commonly seen in adults. Understanding of these rare types of NHL comes from small pediatric case series or the adult literature. Some rare pediatric NHL is similar to adult NHL, but other types have different molecular and cytogenetic characteristics. It is important to improve understanding and treatment of these rare pediatric NHLs through international collaborative efforts.     

Clinical significance of immunophenotype in diffuse aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

We performed a prospective study of the clinical significance of immunophenotype in 110 patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) treated by oncologists in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group between October 1982 and May 1986. All patients were immunophenotyped from biopsies performed before therapy was administered. The patients were treated with a uniform protocol of radiotherapy for minimal nonbulky, stage I or II disease (seven patients) or a single, six-drug chemotherapy regimen cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, procarbazine, bleomycin, vincristine, and prednisone (CAP-BOP) in patients with more extensive disease (103 patients). Ninety-one patients (83%) had B-cell lymphoma and 19 patients (17%) had T-cell lymphoma. The histologic diagnosis of diffuse mixed-cell lymphoma was significantly associated with T-cell immunophenotype (45% v 5%; P less than .001), and the diagnosis of diffuse large-cell lymphoma was significantly associated with B-cell immunophenotype (40% v 5%; P = .006). However, no significant difference in frequency of prognostic variables such as age, stage, systemic symptoms, tumor bulk, serum lactic dehydrogenase, or performance status was found between the B-cell and T-cell groups. Patients with B-cell NHL had a slightly higher complete remission rate (74% v 53%; P = NS), similar durability of complete remission (75% v 70% at 3 years; P = NS), and a slightly but not significantly better overall survival (50% v 41% at 3 years; P = NS). The slight advantage in response rate and survival for B-cell patients was related to a very poor outcome for patients with stage IV T-cell NHL. For patients with stage I to III disease, neither the complete remission rate (B-cell, 82% v T-cell, 91%; P = NS) nor overall survival (3-year survival for B cell, 58% v T cell, 73%; P = NS) were significantly different. However, with stage IV disease B-cell patients fared far better than those with T-cell NHL for both complete remission rate (67% v 0%; P = .002) and overall survival (3-year survival, 44% v 0%; P = .002). Immunophenotyping intermediate- and high-grade NHL allowed identification of a subgroup of patients who had a very poor prognosis with this treatment approach and for whom alternate therapy might be considered.     

Pattern of Malignant Lymphoma in the United Arab Emirates - A Histopathologic and Immunologic Study in 208 Native Patients

The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of the various pathologic types of lymphoma in a native Arab population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Two hundred and eight patients with malignant lymphoma diagnosed over a 12-year period (1988?1999) were retrospectively studied morphologically and immunohistochemically with a panel of monoclonal antibodies and classified according to the revised European?American classification of lymphoid neoplasms (REAL). Of the 208 patients in the study, 41% had Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 59% had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The distribution of HD showed a predominance of nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity types. Among NHLs, the most frequent type was diffuse large B cell (59% of all NHLs) followed by the Burkitt's type (13%). The proportion of primary extranodal NHL was 29%. Immunologically, the percentages of NHL with B-cell and T-cell phenotypes were 83 and 11, respectively. When the International Working Formulation was used, 34% of NHLs were classified as high grade, 59% as intermediate grade and only 7% as low-grade lymphomas.     

Prognostic significance of the immunophenotype versus the International Prognostic Index in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The International Prognostic Index (IPI) is currently the most widely accepted prognostic factor system for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, in constructing the model, the immunophenotype of the disease was not used as an independent variable. The purpose of the present study was to assess and compare the prognostic significance of the immunophenotype (B-cell vs. T-cell) of aggressive NHL with other well-established prognostic determinants, in particular the IPI. Between January 1995 and December 2000, a retrospective analysis was conducted of clinical and pathological data on 181 patients aged = 15 years who had been newly diagnosed with aggressive NHL. All pathology slides were reviewed and defined according to the Revised European-American Lymphoma classification. Forty-one patients (23%) had T-cell lymphoma and 140 patients (77%) had B-cell lymphoma. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and unspecified peripheral T-cell lymphoma were the 2 most common entities, comprising 63% and 14% of patients, respectively. Most of the pretreatment characteristics, including IPI risk groups, were not significantly different between B-cell and T-cell lymphomas. The rates of complete remission (71% vs. 54%, P = 0.038) and progressive disease (39% vs. 63%, P = 0.023) significantly favored patients with B-cell lymphoma. With a median follow-up time of 31 months (range, 10-81 months), the 5-year overall survival (49% vs. 27%; P < 0.001) and event-free survival (35% vs. 10%; P < 0.001) were significantly better in B-cell lymphoma. The 5-year disease-free survival was also in favor of the B-cell group (48% vs. 21%; P = 0.086). Patients with T-cell lymphoma yielded inferior survival in all IPI risk groups. Multivariate analysis revealed T-cell lymphoma as the most significant factor associated with short overall survival (relative risk [RR], 3.4; 95% CI, 1.9-5.9) and event-free survival (RR 2.7, 95% CI, 1.7-4.3). When a second multivariate analysis was done using IPI (age, stage, performance status, number of extranodal sites, and serum lactate dehydrogenase) as one independent variable, T-cell phenotype remained the strongest factor affecting the survival of patients (P < 0.001). T-cell lymphoma is an independent prognostic factor, the significance of which is at least comparable to the IPI for patients with aggressive NHL.     

A Collaborative Nationwide Lymphoma Study in Lebanon: Incidence of Various Subtypes and Analysis of Associations with Viruses

Incidence of various Hodgkin (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes and association with viruses in Lebanon are not known. We undertook a nationwide study of 272 patients diagnosed with lymphoma in 2007. HL comprised 32.7 % (n?=?89) of cases while NHL represented 67.3 % (n?=?183). Consistent with the literature, nodular sclerosis was the most predominant HL subtype (n?=?57/89). Among NHL, B-cell NHL represented 88 % (n?=?161/183), T-cell NHL 9 % (n?=?17/183), whereas in 2.7 % it was not classifiable. The B-cell NHL comprised predominantly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (46 %) and follicular lymphoma (23 %). 81 cases were reviewed by a panel of pathologists with 87.6 % concordance rate. Serology was negative for hepatitis C in 122 tested cases. HIV was positive in 2 cases. Two adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma were HTLV-I positive. EBV IgG were positive in 88.5 % of cases. 38 EBV seropositive cases [27 NHL (24 B-cell, 3 T-cell) and 11 HL] were studied for EBV genome expression using EBV-encoded RNA (EBER)-in situ hybridization. EBER expression was positive in 8 (21 %) cases (6 HL, 2 T-cell NHL). The distribution of lymphoma subtypes in Lebanon appears similar to that of Western countries. The high rate of EBV positivity in HL and T-cell lymphoma by EBER deserves further investigation.     

Bilateral primary orbital non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a patient with scleroderma: a case report

Orbital presentation of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) is uncommon but occurs both as the only site of disease and as a site of recurrence. Primary orbital NHLs are usually low-grade, and mostly extranodal marginal zone/mucosa associated lymphoid tissue B-cell neoplasms. They are commonly associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. The issue of bilaterality in orbital lymphoma is not very common. The onset of malignant lymphoproliferation may precede, follow, or exist simultaneously with scleroderma. Different treatment modalities were applied in orbital NHL such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or both. We report a 57-year-old man with scleroderma presenting with eyelid hernias who had biopsy-proven marginal zone NHL, successfully treated with radiotherapy and combined chemotherapy, and also review the literature.     

CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell lymphoma

Chimeric antigen receptor-modified (CAR) T-cell therapy targeting CD19 has revolutionized the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas. Based on unprecedented response rates and durability of response in high risk B-cell lymphoma patients, anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy was rapidly approved by the FDA for a variety of lymphoma subtypes. Anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy is now considered standard of care for patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) aggressive non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) after 2 or more lines of therapy. Three second-generation anti-CD19 CAR T-cell products have been FDA approved for R/R aggressive B-cell lymphoma and FDA approval has been obtained for Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Follicular lymphoma as well. This has ensured broad access to CAR T-cell therapy for patients with NHL and new real-world trials have helped confirm feasibility of CAR T-cell therapy for a broad patient population. The emergence of CAR T-cell therapy will likely provide a new patient population who is status post anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. Investigation of mechanisms of failure of CAR T-cell therapy and clinical trials to study strategies to address this are thus required. Here we provide a thorough review on the use of the FDA approved anti-CD19 CAR T-cell products axicabtagene ciloleucel, tisagenlecleucel, and lisocabtagene maraleucel in patients with indolent or aggressive B-cell lymphoma, and touch on mechanisms of failure of CAR T-cell therapy and potential approaches which are currently under investigation to address this.     

Angiogenesis and mast cells in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a strong correlation in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Mast cells are likely to play a role in angiogenesis under pathological conditions. Solid tumor growth is dependent on angiogenesis, but the influence of mast cells on angiogenesis in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, (NHL) is not clear. We investigated mast cell number and vessel count in 61 cases of NHL. We also evaluated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), both important cytokines for angiogenesis. The number of mast cells was greater in T-cell lymphomas than in B-cell lymphomas. Of the T-cell lymphomas, the greatest number of mast cells was observed in the angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AIL). In all NHLs, significant correlation was found between vessel count and the number of mast cells (p < 0.0001) and between vessel count and the number of VEGF-expressing cells (p < 0.05) but not between vessel count and bFGF-expressing cells. Strong correlation was detected between the number of mast cells and the number of VEGF-expressing cells (p < 0.0001) in all NHLs. Double fluorescence staining of VEGF mRNA and mast cell tryptase revealed that mast cells expressed VEGF mRNA. Our data suggest that mast cells play a very important role in angiogenesis by expressing VEGF in NHL, especially in AIL.