Marginal zone lymphomas

BACKGROUND:

A retrospective review and analysis of 275 patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) was performed to determine prognostic factors. An effort was also made to establish a specific prognostic score for patients with extranodal MZL.

METHODS:

Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of MZL: extranodal, nodal, and splenic. Factors analyzed included age; gender; presence of B symptoms; Zubrod performance score; clinical stage; serum β₂‐microglobulin, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, and hemoglobin levels; and presence of autoimmune disorder.

RESULTS:

The 5‐year overall survival rates of patients with extranodal, nodal, and splenic MZL were 87%, 89%, and 93%, respectively (P = .95). On multivariate analysis, splenic MZL patients had the best prognosis (hazard ratio, 0.18; P = .018). An elevated serum β₂‐microglobulin level (P = .010), B symptoms (P = .021), and male gender (P = .036) were found to be correlated with decreased recurrence‐free survival (RFS) on multivariate analysis. Using these 3 variables, a 3‐tier prognostic scoring system was created for patients with extranodal MZL: low‐risk with no adverse factors, intermediate‐risk with 1 adverse factor, and high‐risk with ≥2 adverse factors. The 5‐year RFS rates for the low‐risk, intermediate‐risk, and high‐risk groups were 80%, 71%, and 44%, respectively (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with extranodal and nodal MZL have a similar prognosis, whereas patients with splenic MZL have a better prognosis despite the increased prevalence of negative prognostic indicators. With the use of 3 readily available factors, a prognostic scoring system was identified for patients with extranodal MZL. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Treatment of gastric marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of the mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue with rituximab,cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone

There is no standard treatment for patients with gastric marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of the mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) who are resistant to, or ineligible for, anti‐Helicobacter pylori (anti‐HP) therapy. In this study, we investigated the activity of the rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (R‐CVP) regimen in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma. Patients were included provided they had untreated gastric MALT lymphoma (except for anti‐HP therapy) and were resistant to, or ineligible for, anti‐HP therapy. Treatment plan consisted of six to eight 21‐day cycles of the R‐CVP chemotherapy regimen. Toxicity, response, relapse and survival were evaluated. Twenty patients (12 women and 8 men) were included in the analyses with median age of 59 years. Thirteen patients (65%) had stage I tumours, and seven patients (35%) had stages II–IV tumours. The overall response rate was 100%, with 19 (95%) complete responses and one (5%) partial response. Regimen toxicity was mild and mainly hematological, and no cases of gastric bleeding or perforation occurred. After a median follow‐up of 56.3 months, three patients had relapsed, and 19 patients remained alive (specific lymphoma survival 100%), of whom 17 had no evidence of disease. In our experience, the R‐CVP regimen is a well‐tolerated and effective treatment for patients with gastric MALT lymphoma who are resistant to, or ineligible for, anti‐HP therapy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Survival of patients with marginal zone lymphoma

BACKGROUND.

Prognostic factors and outcomes in patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) have been studied in small cohort studies, which may not reflect the population at large.

METHODS.

Clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of adult patients with MZL who were diagnosed between 1995 and 2009 were evaluated using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The authors generated clinical prognostic models for subtypes of MZL and compared survival during the periods of 1995 through 2000, 2001 through 2004, and 2005 through 2009.

RESULTS.

The prognosis was significantly better for patients with mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (5‐year relative survival rate of 88.7%; P < .0001) compared with those with the splenic MZL (SMLZ)or nodal MZL (NMZL) subtypes (5‐year relative survival rates of 79.7% and 76.5%, respectively). There was evidence of improved outcomes in patients with NMZL and MALT lymphomas between 1995 and 2009 (P < .0001), with no difference noted in patients with SMZL (P = .56). Advancing age and the presence of B symptoms had prognostic significance in all MZL subtypes. Male sex and stage of disease were significant only for the NMZL and MALT categories. Survival in patients with MALT lymphomas varied depending on the site of origin, with a worse prognosis noted in those with gastrointestinal and pulmonary locations of origin (5‐year incidence rate of lymphoma‐related death, 9.5%‐14.3%) compared with ocular, cutaneous, and endocrine sites (4.5%‐7.8%; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS.

The survival for patients with SMZL is similar to that for those with NMZL, and unlike the NMZL and MALT subtypes, it has not improved over the past decade. The prognosis of patients with MALT lymphoma varies according to the anatomical site of origin. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.     

Rituximab monotherapy is highly effective in splenic marginal zone lymphoma

Splenectomy has traditionally been considered as a standard first line treatment for splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) conferring a survival advantage over chemotherapy. However it carries significant complications, especially in elderly patients. The purpose of this retrospective study was to report our experience on the efficacy of Rituximab as first line treatment in 16 consecutive SMZL patients, diagnosed in our department. The diagnosis was established using standard criteria. Patients' median age was 57 years (range, 48-78). Prior to treatment initiation all patients had splenomegaly, nine had anemia, five lymphocytosis, five neutropenia and six thrombocytopenia. Rituximab was administered at a dose of 375 mg/m2/week for 6 consecutive weeks. The overall response rate was 100%. After treatment, all patients had a complete resolution of splenomegaly along with restoration of their blood counts. Eleven patients (69%) achieved a CR, three (19%) unconfirmed CR and two (12%) a PR. Among the complete responders seven patients had also a molecular remission. The median time to clinical response was 3 weeks (range, 2-6). Rituximab maintenance was given to 12 patients. Eleven of them had no evidence of disease progression after a median follow-up time of 28.5 months (range, 14-36), while two out of four patients who did not receive maintenance, relapsed 7 and 24 months after the completion of induction treatment. Median follow-up time for the entire series was 29.5 months (range, 15-81). No deaths were recorded during the follow-up period. Therapy was well tolerated. The present study demonstrates that rituximab is an effective treatment for SMZL and could be considered as a substitute or alternative to splenectomy.     

脾边缘区淋巴瘤诊治和预后研究进展

脾边缘区淋巴瘤（SMZL）发病率低,占非霍奇金淋巴瘤1%,临床表现呈惰性过程。本文就脾边缘区淋巴瘤临床病理特征、治疗策略和预后因素方面的研究进展作一综述。     

脾边缘区淋巴瘤诊治和预后研究进展

脾边缘区淋巴瘤(SMZL)发病率低,占非霍奇金淋巴瘤1%,临床表现呈惰性过程。本文就脾边缘区淋巴瘤临床病理特征、治疗策略和预后因素方面的研究进展作一综述。     

眼附属器黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区B细胞淋巴瘤（MALT）临床病理分析

目的:探讨6例眼附属器黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区B细胞淋巴瘤(MALT)患者的临床病理特点及预后。方法:收集2010年01月至2019年01月病理学检查确诊的6例眼附属器MALT患者的临床资料及治疗方案、形态学特点及免疫组化表达,FISH检测MALT1基因断裂,电话随访,分析总结其临床病理特点及预后。结果:临床表现为眼部不适,眼睑肿胀及视物模糊等。镜下可见肿瘤由形态多样的小B细胞组成,包括边缘带细胞（中心细胞样细胞）、单核样细胞、小淋巴细胞,也可见散在的免疫母细胞和中心母细胞样细胞,部分细胞有浆细胞样分化。5例肿瘤细胞CD20（+）、CD3（-）、BCL2（+）、Ki67约10%~25%,3例BCL10及AEG1阳性,1例伴浆细胞分化,免疫组化表现为CD20（-）、CD79α（+）、CD38（+）、CD138（+）、MUM1（+）、Kappa、Lambda呈限制性表达,2例FISH检测结果阳性。结论:眼附属器MALT淋巴瘤常CD20、BCL2、BCL10、AEG1阳性,FISH可作为辅助诊断。     

眼睑黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区淋巴瘤二例

目的探讨眼睑黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区B细胞淋巴瘤的临床病理学特征。 方法对2例眼睑黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区淋巴瘤的临床表现、组织学形态及免疫表型进行分析,并复习相关文献。 结果镜检下2例均表现为小圆形肿瘤细胞结节状或弥漫浸润生长,肿瘤细胞浸润至横纹肌组织及睑板腺周围,并见淋巴上皮病变,部分区域见滤泡植入现象。高倍镜下细胞大小不等,细胞核呈类圆形及圆形,核凹陷或扭曲,核深染,染色质分布不均,核仁不明显,胞质少,淡染或部分处呈透明状。肿物组织免疫组化表达结果：CD20弥漫（+）、CD79a弥漫（+）、Bcl 2 1例阳性,1例弱阳性、Ki 67 10％～20％（+）。 结论眼睑黏膜相关淋巴组织结外边缘区淋巴瘤罕见,熟悉其临床病理学特征及免疫表型,有助于正确诊断。     

Predictive value of Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) in patients with follicular lymphoma at first progression.

BACKGROUND: Different prognostic scores have been proposed to predict the outcome of follicular lymphoma (FL) patients at diagnosis. A new prognostic index specifically addressing FL patients, the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI), has recently been developed, which might also be useful in patients with progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and three patients (55 male, 48 female; median age 59 years) with FL in first relapse/progression after an initial response to therapy (50 complete responders/ 53 partial responders) were included in the study. RESULTS: Five-year survival from progression (SFP) was 55% (95% confidence interval 44%-66%). The distribution according to the FLIPI at relapse was 39% good prognosis, 24% intermediate prognosis and 37% poor prognosis. Five-year SFP for these groups were 85%, 79% and 28%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Other variables at relapse with prognostic significance for SFP were age, presence of B symptoms, performance status, bulky disease, number of involved nodal sites, lactate dehydrogenase level, hemoglobin level, histological transformation, the Italian Lymphoma Intergroup prognostic index for FL and the International Prognostic Index for aggressive lymphomas. In the multivariate analysis bulky disease (P=0.01), presence of B symptoms (P=0.03) and FLIPI at relapse (P=0.0003) were the most important variables for predicting SFP. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with FL at first relapse/progression, the FLIPI, along with the presence of bulky disease and B symptoms, are features that predict SFP and thus could be useful to select candidates for experimental treatments.     

Durable complete responses from therapy with combined epratuzumab and rituximab: final results from an international multicenter, phase 2 study in recurrent, indolent, non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND: In this international, multicenter trial, the authors evaluated rituximab (anti-CD20) plus epratuzumab (anti-CD22) in patients with postchemotherapy relapsed/refractory, indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), including long-term efficacy. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with follicular NHL (FL) (N = 41) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) (N = 7) received intravenous epratuzumab 360 mg/m2 and then intravenous rituximab 375 mg/m2 weekly x4. The regimen was tolerated well. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 41 patients with FL (54%) had an objective response (OR), including 10 (24%) complete responses (CR) (CR/unconfirmed CR [CRu]), whereas 4 of 7 patients with SLL (57%) had ORs, including 3 (43%) with CR/CRu. Rituximab-naive patients (N = 34) had an OR rate of 50% (26% CR/CRu rate), whereas patients who previously responded to rituximab (N = 14) had an OR rate of 64% (29% CR/CRu rate). An OR rate of 85% was observed in patients with FL who had Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) risk scores of 0 or 1 (N = 13), whereas 28 patients with intermediate or high-risk FLIPI scores (> or =2) had an OR rate of 39% (18% CR/CRu rate). In patients with FL, the median response duration was 13.4 months, and that duration increased to 29.1 months for 10 patients who had a CR/CRu, including 4 patients who had durable responses with remissions that continued for >4 years. In patients with SLL, the median response duration was 20 months, including 1 patient who had a response that continued for >3 years. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of epratuzumab and rituximab induced durable responses in patients with recurrent, indolent NHL.     

Chemoimmunotherapy for Mucosa‐Associated Lymphoid Tissue‐Type Lymphoma: A Review of the Literature

Background.

Biological treatments, chemoimmunotherapy, and radiotherapy are associated with excellent disease control in both gastric and extragastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. Systemic treatment approaches with both oral and i.v. agents are being increasingly studied, not only for patients with disseminated MALT lymphoma, but also for those with localized disease. To date, however, recommendations for the use of available systemic modalities have not been clearly defined.

Materials and Methods.

The present report reviews the current data on systemic treatment options for patients with MALT lymphoma and provides recommendations for their use in everyday practice.

Results.

Different chemotherapeutic agents, including anthracyclines, alkylators, and purine analogs, have been successfully tested in patients with MALT lymphoma. Reducing side effects while maintaining efficacy should be the main goal in treating these indolent lymphomas. From the data from the largest trial performed to date, the combination of chlorambucil plus rituximab (R) appears to be active as first-line treatment. Similarly, R-bendamustine also seems to be highly effective, but a longer follow-up period is needed. R-monotherapy results in lower remission rates, but seems a suitable option for less fit patients. New immunotherapeutic agents such as lenalidomide (with or without rituximab) or clarithromycin show solid activity but have not yet been validated in larger collectives.

Conclusion.

Patients with MALT lymphoma should be treated within prospective trials to further define optimal therapeutic strategies. Systemic treatment is a reasonable option with potentially curative intent in everyday practice. Based on the efficacy and safety data from available studies, the present review provides recommendations for the use of systemic strategies.

Implications for Practice:

In view of the biology of MALT lymphoma with trafficking of cells within various mucosal structures, systemic treatment strategies are increasingly being used not only in advanced but also localized MALT lymphoma. In the past, different chemotherapeutic agents, including anthracyclines, alkylators, and purine analogs, have been tested successfully. However, modern regimens concentrate on reducing side effects because of the indolent nature of this distinct disease. As outlined in this review and based on recent data, chlorambucil plus rituximab (R) may be considered one standard treatment within this setting. In addition, R-bendamustine seems to be a very promising combination. According to recent trends, however, “chemo-free” approaches (i.e., antibiotics with immunomodulatory effects [clarithromycin]) or other immunotherapies (lenalidomide ±R) may be important therapeutic approaches in the near future.     

Incidence of gastric involvement in patients with nongastrointestinal extranodal marginal zone lymphoma

BACKGROUND:

The current study was conducted to determine the incidence of gastric involvement in patients presenting with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and to identify clinical or laboratory parameters that predict gastric involvement in such cases.

METHODS:

The records of 121 consecutive patients who presented with non‐GI extranodal MZL and had undergone esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) as part of their initial workup were retrospectively reviewed. The authors assessed the presence of occult gastric MZL in these patients and possible associations with demographic characteristics; anatomic site of initial presentation; Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection; Zubrod score; International Prognostic Index (IPI); B symptoms; and serum lactate dehydrogenase, hemoglobin, albumin, and β2‐microglobulin levels.

RESULTS:

The median age at diagnosis of non‐GI MZL was 59 years. The most common primary tumor sites were the salivary/parotid gland (32 patients), ocular adnexa (26 patients), skin (19 patients), and lung (17 patients). Twenty‐two patients (18%) were found to have gastric involvement on EGD. Using logistic regression analysis, factors found to be associated with gastric involvement included: high IPI score (odds ratio [OR], 3.70; P = .03), female sex (OR, 6.50; P = .02), serum β2‐microglobulin level of ≥2.5 mg/L (OR, 3.69; P = .02), and involvement of the aerodigestive mucosal/glandular tissue (OR, 4.50; P = .004). On multivariate logistic analysis, aerodigestive mucosal/glandular sites, H. pylori infection, and an elevated β2‐microglobulin level were found to be associated with gastric involvement.

CONCLUSIONS:

Routine EGD is recommended for patients with non‐GI MZL, particularly those with primary aerodigestive mucosal/glandular tissue involvement or those with a high IPI, female sex, elevated serum β2‐microglobulin level, or H. pylori infection regardless of the primary tumor site. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

The pretransplant Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index is associated with survival of follicular lymphoma patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

We retrospectively evaluated the association of the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) and other characteristics with survival following high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in 207 consecutive follicular lymphoma (FL) patients. The FLIPI was associated with OS both when evaluated as a categorical variable (0 - 1 vs. 2 vs. 3 vs. 4, p = 0.01, global test) and a continuous linear variable (p = 0.002). The association of FLIPI with survival appeared to be more relevant for patients who received standard conditioning regimens compared to those that were treated with high-dose radioimmunotherapy (p = 0.004). Among all patients, mortality was also associated with chemosensitive disease (HR = 0.47, p = 0.01) or untreated relapse (HR = 0.20, p = 0.0002) vs. chemoresistant disease, and ≥2 extranodal sites (HR = 2.82, p = 0.03) after adjusting for FLIPI. These data suggest that the FLIPI and select non-FLIPI factors after adjustment for the FLIPI are associated with survival in FL patients undergoing ASCT.     

A retrospective international study on primary extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of the lung (BALT lymphoma) on behalf of International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG)

Primary lymphoma of the lung is a rare entity. Clinical features, optimal treatment, role of surgery and outcomes are not well defined, and the follow‐up is variable in published data. Clinical data of 205 patients who were confirmed to have bronchus mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma from December 1986 to December 2011 in 17 different centres worldwide were evaluated. Fifty‐five per cent of the patients were female. The median age at diagnosis was 62 (range 28–88) years. Only 9% had a history of exposure to toxic substances, while about 45% of the patients had a history of smoking. Ten per cent of the patients had autoimmune disease at presentation, and 19% patients had a reported preexisting lung disease. Treatment modalities included surgery alone in 63 patients (30%), radiotherapy in 3 (2%), antibiotics in 1 (1%) and systemic treatment in 128 (62%). Patients receiving a local approach, mainly surgical resection, experienced significantly improved progression‐free survival (p = 0.003) versus those receiving a systemic treatment. There were no other significant differences among treatment modalities. The survival data confirm the indolent nature of the disease. Local therapy (surgery or radiotherapy) results in long‐term disease‐free survival for patients with localized disease. Systemic treatment, including alkylating‐containing regimens, can be reserved to patients in relapse after incomplete surgical excision or for patients with advanced disease. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Combination therapy with rituximab and intravenous or oral fludarabine in the first‐line,systemic treatment of patients with extranodal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of the mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue type

BACKGROUND:

Currently, there are no consensus guidelines regarding the best therapeutic option for patients with extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of the mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type.

METHODS:

Patients with systemically untreated or de novo extranodal MALT lymphoma received rituximab 375 mg/m² intravenously on Day 1 and fludarabine 25 mg/m² intravenously on Days 1 through 5 (Days 1‐3 in patients aged >70 years) every 4 weeks, for 4 to 6 cycles. After the first cycle, oral fludarabine could be given orally at 40 mg/m² on the same schedule. After 3 cycles, a workup was done. Patients who achieved a complete remission (CR) received an additional cycle, and patients who achieved a partial remission (PR) received a total of 6 cycles.

RESULTS:

Twenty‐two patients were studied, including 12 patients with gastric lymphoma and 10 patients with extragastric MALT lymphoma. Six patients (27%) had stage IV disease. In total, 101 cycles were administered (median, 4 cycles per patients). After the third cycle, 13 patients (62%) achieved a CR, and 8 patients (38%) achieved a PR. Primary extragastric disease was an adverse factor to achieve CR after 3 cycles of chemotherapy (hazard ratio, 23.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.0‐273.3). At the end of treatment, the overall response rate was 100%, and 90% of patients achieved a CR. The progression‐free survival rate at 2 years in patients with gastric and extragastric MALT lymphoma was 100% and 89%, respectively. Toxicities were mild and mainly were hematologic.

CONCLUSIONS:

Combination therapy with rituximab and fludarabine is a very active treatment with favorable safety profile as first‐line systemic treatment for patients with extranodal MALT lymphoma. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Long‐term safety and activity of cladribine in patients with extranodal B‐cell marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma

The purine analogue 2‐chloro‐deoxyadenosine (2‐CDA, cladribine) +/? rituximab has been successfully tested in mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT lymphoma) patients. However, studies using cladribine in other indications have reported the potential for prolonged hematological side effects and secondary hematologic and non‐hematologic malignancies. To date, there have been no data on long‐term effects of cladribine in MALT lymphoma patients. We have analyzed a large number of 49 patients treated with cladribine at our institution 1997–2011. All patients were treated within clinical trials and had undergone a standardized follow‐up protocol minimizing a potential bias in the detection of late sequels and relapses. After a median follow‐up time of 61 months (interquartile range: 43–72) for 49 analyzed patients, 35 (71%) are alive, while 14 (29%) have died. In the entire collective, three cases (6%) of prolonged pancytopenia including manifest myelodysplastic syndrome in one patient (2%), three cases (6%) of secondary lymphoid malignancies, and five cases (10%) of non‐hematologic cancers were documented. In terms of outcome, 42/49 (86%) patients responded to cladribine‐containing treatment, and only 10/42 (24%) responding patients needed further treatment after a median time to progression of 14 months (interquartile range, 8–34). Currently, 25/35 (71%) patients being alive are in ongoing complete remission and 2/35 (6%) in ongoing stable disease, respectively. Eight patients (23%) are free of lymphoma after second‐line therapy, with the median overall survival not having been reached. Our data suggest that cladribine might be safely applied in patients with MALT lymphoma, also in terms of long‐term toxicities. These data also confirm the potential of cladribine to induce durable remissions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

FDG PET/CT as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for the evaluation of marginal zone lymphoma

We evaluated the role of 18‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d ‐glucose positron emission tomography (^[18F] FDG‐PET) with computed tomography (CT) (PET/CT) as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in newly diagnosed marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) patients. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with newly diagnosed MZL, treated with immunotherapy, chemotherapy regimens, surgery, or Helicobacter pylori eradication between 2008 and 2016 in a single tertiary center. Only patients who had a pretreatment PET/CT (P‐PET/CT) were included. P‐PET/CT, interim (I‐PET/CT), and end‐of‐treatment PET/CT (E‐PET/CT) studies were reviewed. P‐PET/CT results were reported using two methods of evaluation, qualitative and semi quantitative: visual assessment (VAS) and maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax), and I‐PET and E‐PET results were reported by Deauville 5‐point score (DS) evaluation as well. Avidity of PET/CT was defined as abnormal uptake in any of these methods. The primary outcome was the prognostic role of P‐PET/CT, I‐PET/CT, and E‐PET/CT on progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Data of 196 patients with MZL were identified, 110 of which had P‐PET/CT and were included in this analysis. Median age was 67 years (range 18‐93). The median follow‐up period was 63 months (range 3‐278). The median OS and PFS for the whole cohort were 63 (interquartile range 39‐85) and 60 (interquartile range 37‐76) months, respectively. The avidity of PET at baseline for the whole cohort was 70% (77/110 patients), for MALT lymphoma, 62.5% (40/64 patients), for NMZL, 76.4% (13/17 patients), and for SMZL, 82.7% (24/29 patients). When adjusted for IPI, sex, and comorbidities, positive E‐PET/CT was associated with reduced PFS with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.4 (95% CI, 1.27‐9.14, P = 0.02). Positive E‐PET/CT did not correlate with OS. However, there were only three events. P‐PET/CT was not predictive of PFS or OS. Our study demonstrates that above 70% of MZL are FDG avid. Positive E‐PET/CT is a strong prognostic factor for PFS.     

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue arising in the lateral ventricle

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are a well-described type of low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They typically arise adjacent to mucosal surfaces in the gastrointestinal tract, lung and conjunctiva, and, less frequently, in the skin, salivary gland and thyroid gland. Unusual locations, such as the genitourinary tract, thymus and meninges, have also been reported. We recently encountered a case of an intracranial MALT lymphoma in a 53-year-old man who presented with persistent headaches and a seizure. The lesion developed as a mass within the lateral ventricle, appeared to be arising from the choroid plexus, and was not associated with meninges. Histologically, there was a vaguely nodular, dense lymphoid infiltrate with occasional benign follicles colonized by marginal zone lymphoma, suggesting derivation from a focus of prior inflammation. Translocations involving the MALT1 gene were not identified but karyotypic evaluation highlighted a complex cytogenetic profile with many chromosomal abnormalities. This rare case provides insight into the pathophysiology of MALT lymphomas.     

Clinical Characteristics of 95 Patients With Ocular Adnexal and Uveal Lymphoma: Treatment Outcomes in Extranodal Marginal Zone Subtype

BackgroundLymphoma rarely presents in the ocular adnexa but is usually extranodal marginal zone (ENMZ) lymphoma when it does. Involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) is the standard of care for unilateral disease, but the optimal management of more extensive disease is unclear.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 95 patients with ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) or uveal lymphoma treated or diagnosed at our institution. All patients identified were included in the risk factor analysis for progression-free survival (PFS). The initial treatment-related outcomes were assessed for ENMZ OAL only (n = 62).ResultsWith a median follow-up of 32 months, significant risk factors for PFS after initial treatment were age (hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.74), female gender (hazard ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-4.00), and a history of lymphoma (hazard ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-4.78). In ENMZ, IFRT was associated with improved PFS (median, 5.4 years; P < .001). Progression occurred in 7 of 39 (23%), with 6 of the 7 (86%) at systemic sites. Single-agent rituximab was typically used for bilateral ocular or systemic presentations of ENMZ OAL. Progression occurred in 7 of 11 (64%), with no progression at systemic sites. All progression events in those initially treated with rituximab occurred in the ocular adnexa.ConclusionThe results of the present study have confirmed IFRT as the standard for unilateral ENMZ OAL. Single-agent rituximab was an effective agent for bilateral ocular or systemic ENMZ OAL, particularly for systemic control, but ocular progression should be closely monitored. Combined modality therapy should be studied further in bilateral and systemic ENMZ OAL.     

Extranodal marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma of the lung: experience with fludarabine and mitoxantrone‐containing regimens

Bronchial‐associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma is an extranodal primary pulmonary lymphoma. The optimal therapy for this rare disease is still debated, and few heterogeneous data are available in literature. The aim of our study was to critically review data of patients with BALT lymphoma treated in first‐line therapy with fludarabine and mitoxantrone‐containing regimens (with or without rituximab) to investigate the effectiveness and the safety of this approach and patients' survival. An observational retrospective study was performed on homogenous clinical data from 17 patients with biopsy‐proven diagnosis of BALT. All the patients were treated with fludarabine and mitoxantrone‐containing regimen therapy. Radiological findings were also reviewed to assess the role of ¹⁸fluoro‐deoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the initial assessment and in the monitoring of this extranodal lymphoma. A high percentage of response was observed: 82.3% of patients achieved a complete response, 11.8% a partial response. Furthermore, a very remarkable progression‐free survival (71%) and overall survival (100%) were estimated at 14 years. No relevant toxicities were registered. Our results support the use of fludarabine and mitoxantrone‐containing regimens as first‐line therapy in the treatment of BALT lymphoma even if further data are necessary to consolidate our findings. Positron emission tomography scanning may provide additional valuable information in the assessment of BALT lymphoma. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.