Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma arising in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: a report of 21 cases from the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group

We sought to investigate the clinical characteristics and pathologic features and survival outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) arising in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), since controversy regarding their prognosis exists in the literature. Twenty-one patients with DLBCL arising either concurrently with (n = 7) or subsequent to (n = 14) a diagnosis of NLPHL were identified in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group Registry. The clinical and pathologic features of the cases were evaluated, and survival analysis was performed from the time of diagnosis of DLBCL. The median time to the development of DLBCL in those with prior NLPHL was only one year (range, 0.5 - 24 years). The median age of the patients at the time of diagnosis of DLBCL was 46 years (range, 18 - 72 years) and the male to female ratio was 17 : 4. Ten patients presented with nodal DLBCL only, 6 patients presented with both nodal and extranodal involvement, and 5 patients presented with only extranodal DLBCL. Eleven patients had limited stage (I/II) disease and 10 had advanced stage (III/IV) disease. The median overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) of the entire group was 35 months and 11 months, respectively, and the predicted 5-year OS and FFS was 31% and 18%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the survival outcomes between patients with DLBCL arising in NLPHL and age- and sex- matched patients with de novo DLBCL. Our findings suggest that patients with DLBCL arising in NLPHL have a prognosis similar to those with de novo DLBCL and should be treated aggressively.     

Influence of Rurality,Race, and Ethnicity on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Incidence

IntroductionExposure to lymphomagens vary by geography. The extent to which these contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) incidence is not well understood. We sought to evaluate the association between urban–rural status and racial and ethnic disparities in the 3 major NHL subtypes: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Patients and MethodsWe used data on NHL incidence from 21 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) population-based registries for the period 2000 to 2016. Population characteristics were compared by NHL subtype and urban–rural status, using rural-urban continuum codes from the US Department of Agriculture. Incidence rate ratios were calculated, and Poisson regression was used to assess the association between incidence and rurality.ResultsA total of 136,197 DLBCL, 70,882 FL, and 120,319 CLL incident cases aged ≥ 20 years were reported. The majority of DLBCL patients were non-Hispanic white (73.5%), with 11.9% Hispanic and 7.3% non-Hispanic black, with a similar distribution observed in FL and CLL. Adjusting for age, sex, and family poverty, we found increased DLBCL incidence among Hispanics in increasingly urban areas compared to rural areas (rural incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.00; nonmetropolitan urban IRR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.16, 1.51; metropolitan urban IRR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.36, 1.76). Among non-Hispanic blacks, urban areas, relative to rural areas, were associated with increased CLL incidence (IRR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.27, 1.72).ConclusionUrban–rural incidence patterns suggest that environmental exposures in urban areas associated with DLBCL and CLL pathogenesis may disproportionately affect Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks.     

Characterizing Outcomes in Visceral Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma: A Single Center Retrospective Study

IntroductionVisceral involvement of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (vCTCL) is a rare but poorly studied complication of CTCL. We aimed to assess clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes, associated with vCTCL at our institution.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of patients with vCTCL among patients with a confirmed histopathologic diagnosis of CTCL seen at the Winship Cancer Institute in Emory University. vCTCL was defined as a highest TNMB stage of 4B with extracutaneous metastatic disease (M1) pathologically confirmed or strongly clinically suspected based on imaging, symptoms, and the clinical judgment of the treating physician. Patients were selected from our CTCL database containing 656 patients from 1990 to 2022. Clinical characteristics were characterized. Clinical outcomes were measured as overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) using Kaplan-Meier curve and univariable Cox regression analysis.ResultsTwenty-six of 656 patients with vCTCL were identified. 42.3% of patients were black. Twenty-two patients were diagnosed with MF/SS and 4 had other CTCL subtypes including pcALCL, Gamma-Delta, and Cytotoxic T-Cell Lymphoma. The median PFS and OS were 7.3 months (3.8, 11) and 12.1 months (9.9, 18.2), respectively. Median time to metastasis from initial diagnosis was 12.1 months. The most common M1 sites were liver (19.2%) and lung (42.3%). M1 sites outside of liver or lung were associated with inferior OS (HR 8.9, 95%CI: 2.7-29.5, P-value <.001) and PFS (HR 4.3, 95%CI: 1.44-12.7, P-value = .009). No treatments or baseline factors were associated with improved survival.ConclusionOur retrospective study confirms therapy resistance and dismal outcomes among patients with vCTCL.     

培美曲塞为主的化疗方案治疗中老年非霍奇金淋巴瘤回顾性分析CSCD

目的回顾性分析培美曲塞为主的化疗方案治疗中老年非霍奇金瘤患者的安全性及有效性。方法回顾性收集2016年11月至2018年10月中国医学科学院肿瘤医院收治的以培美曲塞为主的化疗方案治疗的非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者临床资料,并对相关文献进行系统性综述。结果共纳入10例非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者,7例为弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤,2例为血管免疫母T细胞淋巴瘤,1例为结外NK/T细胞淋巴瘤。肿瘤复发或一线治疗进展后接受培美曲塞为主的化疗方案,弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤有4例达到部分缓解,3例疾病进展,出现的不良反应主要为Ⅰ~Ⅱ度骨髓抑制及胃肠道反应。结论培美曲塞为主的化疗方案治疗弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤患者,尤其是原发性中枢神经系统淋巴瘤,可能有一定的有效性,且安全性可控。     

粘膜相关淋巴瘤和结外弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤临床病理特征和预后分析

目的:比较粘膜相关淋巴瘤和结外弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤的临床病理特征和预后,探讨两类淋巴瘤的预后影响因素.方法:94例结外B细胞淋巴瘤(粘膜相关淋巴瘤62例,结外弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤32例),经诊断复查后,收集其临床病理和随访资料,进行统计学分析.结果:两类淋巴瘤相比较,MALT淋巴瘤发病的中位年龄、临床病理分期、复发率、淋巴结累及率和细胞增殖活性均偏低,5年生存率较高.94例结外B细胞淋巴瘤的生存影响因素分析:肿瘤细胞增殖指数＞20%的患者生存状况较＜20%的患者低,I E期以上患者生存状况较I E期患者差,伴有淋巴结累及的患者生存状况较无累及患者低.结论:粘膜相关淋巴瘤与结外弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤在发病年龄、细胞增殖水平、临床分期、复发等临床病理特征上有明显差异.肿瘤细胞增殖活性、临床病理分期及淋巴结累及对两种淋巴瘤的生存状况和预后有明显影响.     

弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤预后相关因素的研究

目的分析弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤（DLBCL）患者的病理学特征以及影响其预后的相关因素。方法采用单因素及Cox多因素分析方法,对影响DLBCL预后的相关因素进行分析。结果60例DLBCL患者中共有47例（78．33％）侵犯淋巴结,13例（21．67％）结外侵犯。经单因素分析显示,影响DLBCL患者的预后因素包括年龄、临床分期、PS分级、结外病灶数、血清LDH、近期疗效。经Cox多因素分析显示患者年龄、近期疗效、临床分期是影响患者预后的独立危险因素。根据国际预后指数（IPI）将患者分为低危组、低中危组、高中危组及高危组,各组5年生存率分别为70．59％（12／17）、57．14％（12／21）、41．67％（5／12）、10．00％（1／10）,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。联合治疗DLBCL患者的5年生存率显著高于单纯性放化疗或手术治疗患者。结论影响DLBCL患者预后的独立因素包括年龄、近期疗效、临床分期,采用多种方式联合治疗的方案能提高DLBCL患者临床治愈率。     

Grade 3 Follicular Lymphoma: Outcomes in the Rituximab Era

BackgroundFollicular lymphoma (FL) is heterogeneous. Although FL Grade 3B (FL3B) is treated as aggressive FL (aggFL), an optimal approach to FL Grade 3A (FL3A) remains unclear because few data exist on clinical outcomes on the basis of subclassification of FL Grade 3 (FL3) since the introduction of rituximab. We report outcomes of FL3 in the rituximab era.Patients and MethodsWe identified and analyzed a retrospective cohort of 53 patients with FL3A, 3B, and FL Grade 3 with areas of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). They were divided into 2 groups: aggFL (n = 21) included patients with FL3B (n = 10) and FL3 (A or B) with concomitant DLBCL (n = 11); indolent lymphoma (n = 32) included only FL3A.ResultsBaseline characteristics did not differ between the groups. rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (R-CHOP) was initial treatment in 15 (79%) of patients with aggFL and 21 (72%) of those with FL3A; rituximab was included in initial therapy in 18 (95%) and 24 (83%), respectively. Comparing aggFL and FL3A, 5-year overall survival was 90% versus 79% (P = .97) and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) 44% versus 34% (P = .75), respectively.ConclusionWe conclude that outcomes for FL3, primarily treated with R-CHOP, do not differ between FL3A and aggFL (FL3B and FL3/DLBCL). The aggFL group showed a plateau in PFS confirming these should be treated with curative intent. FL3A patients, mainly managed with R-CHOP, also show an apparent plateau in PFS. Although longer follow-up and confirmation in other data sets is required, this indicates potential undertreatment of FL3A with less aggressive regimens often used for indolent lymphoma.     

Clinical Efficacy and Safety in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review was designed to assess information on the clinical efficacy and safety of interventions used in the treatment of refractory or relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) and to perform a meta-analysis if possible. We searched databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for articles from 1997 to August 2, 2012 reported in English), conference abstracts, bibliographic reference lists, and the ClinicalTrials.gov database for phase II to IV studies with results. Studies had to report on patients with R/R DLBCL who were not eligible to receive high-dose therapy (HDT) with stem cell transplantation (SCT) (autologous or allogeneic). Mixed-type non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) studies were required to report R/R DLBCL outcomes separately. We identified 55 studies that presented outcomes data separately for patients with R/R DLBCL. Of 7 comparative studies, only 4 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In the 2 RCTs with a common regimen, the patient populations differed too greatly to perform a valid meta-analysis. The 48 single-arm studies identified were typically small (n < 50 in most), with 31% reporting median progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) specifically for the R/R DLBCL population. In these studies, median OS ranged from 4 to 13 months. The small number of RCTs in R/R DLBCL precludes identifying optimal treatments. Small sample size, infrequent reporting of OS and PFS separated by histologic type, and limited information on patient characteristics also hinder comparison of results. Randomized studies are needed to demonstrate which current therapies have advantages for improving survival and other important clinical outcomes in patients with R/R DLBCL.     

Richter's Transformation in the Era of Kinase Inhibitor Therapy: A Review

Richter's transformation (RT) is the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into rapidly progressive B-cell lymphoma. This disease has long been recognized as a difficult-to-treat illness with poor survival outcomes. Although the incidence of RT has been well documented in previous studies, less is understood in the era of novel therapeutics, such as kinase inhibitors (KIs). The present review discusses the current risk factors, incidence, and outcomes of patients with RT in the modern era of KI therapy. Although the outcomes remain poor for RT patients after KI therapy, the most up-to-date studies have shown no increased incidence of RT in this patient population. Additionally, the present review reports the outcomes from the most recent data on novel therapies under investigation for patients with RT.