Bone marrow biopsies do not impact response assessment for follicular lymphoma patients treated on clinical trials

Clinical trials enrolling follicular lymphoma (FL) patients typically require bone marrow biopsies (BMBs) at baseline and at a subsequent point if complete response is achieved. These procedures are painful, take time and add cost. We hypothesized that BMBs do not provide information significant for response assessment in most follicular lymphoma patients on clinical trials. We identified 99 patients treated on clinical trials for follicular lymphoma between 2000 and 2016. BMBs resulted in a possible response assessment change in 1·0% of patients (95% confidence interval: 0·0–5·5%). We conclude that mandatory BMBs at baseline and for response assessment are unnecessary in clinical trials for follicular lymphoma.     

Molecular biology of mantle cell lymphoma: From profiling studies to new therapeutic strategies

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a well-defined lymphoid malignancy characterized by a rapid clinical evolution and poor response to current therapeutic protocols. The hallmark genetic alteration of MCL is the t(11;14)(q13;32) chromosomal translocation that leads to the overexpression of cyclin D1. Recently, new molecular alterations of major importance in the pathogenic mechanisms of this disease have been discovered, and have revealed the biological heterogeneity of MCL. The first section of our review discusses our current understanding of the molecular biology of this entity according to recent information from comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and expression profiling studies, which are leading to the identification of several druggable targets. In the second section we revise new therapeutic strategies based on new drug families that target key molecular pathways of major relevance in this malignancy. We analyze emerging agents that are already producing significant results in different models of human cancers, including MCL. Based on the current knowledge and recent studies, we suggest that the encouraging results described here should provide a rationale platform for the design of new treatments that may overcome the resistance of this aggressive lymphoma to conventional therapy and improve patient prognosis.     

VEGF、p53在非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者血清中的表达及其临床意义的研究

目的:探讨VEGF、p53在非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)的微转移检测及治疗等方面的作用。方法:ELISA法检测60例非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者血清VEGF及p53的含量,用50例健康人血清作对照。结果:NHL患者血清VEGF及p53浓度的平均数较健康对照者的明显增高(t=8.23,P<0.001;t=5.141,P<0.001);合并白血病或骨髓浸润的NHL患者的VEGF及p53水平明显高于未有骨髓浸润者;临床治疗有效的患者,治疗后VEGF及p53浓度的平均数较治疗前均有明显下降;VEGF及p53表达水平与患者年龄和性别均无相关性;而惰性淋巴瘤的VEGF、p53水平比侵袭性和高侵袭性的淋巴瘤水平低(P<0.05);Ⅰ、Ⅱ期和Ⅲ、Ⅳ期患者VEGF、p53表达水平差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:VEGF、p53在NHL患者血清中的表达,对临床分期、病理恶性程度、肿瘤侵犯程度有一定指导意义;VEGF、p53的检测对NHL治疗反应的判断有一定价值,有望成为判断NHL预后的新指标。     

Erythema multiforme‐like cutaneous lesions in monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T‐cell lymphoma: a rare case report

Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T‐cell lymphoma (MEITL), also known as Type II enteropathy‐associated T‐cell lymphoma (EATL), is an aggressive peripheral T‐cell lymphoma. EATL generally presents in adults with gastrointestinal symptoms. Skin involvement is very rare, found only in approximately five percent of patients. The authors report a 67‐year‐old Asian male who presented with chronic diarrhea and developed erythema multiforme‐like cutaneous lesions. A skin biopsy revealed extensive pagetoid spread of atypical lymphocytes in the epidermis. The results of an immunohistochemistry test led to a diagnosis of MEITL. This report points to the need for dermatologists and dermatopathologists to consider a possible diagnosis of MEITL when encountering similar cases.     

Epstein-Barr Virus–associated Lymphoproliferative Disorders in the Skin

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–associated lymphoproliferations involving the skin are a rare but important group of diseases with a broad spectrum of behavior, ranging from self-limiting spontaneously resolving disorders to highly aggressive malignancies. They may be of B, T, or natural killer (NK) cell type and include EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer, lymphomatoid granulomatosis, EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, hydroa vacciniforme–like lymphoproliferative disorder, and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma of nasal type. Recognition and distinction of these entities is important in view of their differing prognoses and treatments. An association with EBV may be the first indication that a patient is immunosuppressed.