Robust antibody response after a third BNT162b2 vaccine compared to the second among immunocompromised and healthy individuals,a prospective longitudinal cohort study

PurposeAs protection from COVID-19 following two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine showed a time dependent waning, a third (booster) dose was administrated. This study aims to compare the antibody response following the third dose versus the second and to evaluate post-booster seroconversion.MethodsA prospective observational study conducted in Maccabi Healthcare Services. Serial SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG tests, 1,2,3 and 6 months following the second vaccine dose and one month following the third were obtained. Neutralizing antibody levels were measured in a subset of participants. Per individual SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG titer ratios were calculated one month after the booster administration compared to titers one month following the second dose and prior to booster.ResultsAmong 110 participants, 56 (51%) were women. Mean age was 61.7 ± 1.9 years and 66 (60%) were immunocompromised. One month after third dose, IgG titers were induced 7.83 (95 %CI 5.25–11.67) folds and 2.40 (95 %CI 1.90–3.03) folds compared to one month after the second, in the immunocompromised and immunocompetent groups, respectively. Of the 17 immunocompromised participants who were seronegative after the second dose, 4 (24%) became seropositive following the third. Comparing the titers prior to the third dose, an increase of 50.7 (95 %CI 32.5–79.1) fold in the immunocompromised group and 25.7 (95 %CI 19.1–34.7) fold in and immunocompetent group, was observed.ConclusionA third BNT162b2 vaccine elicited robust humoral response, superior to the response observed following the second, among immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.     

Treatment of classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma in children and adolescents

Introduction: The treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in children is a story of success. Nowadays, more than 90% of patients are cured and overall survival is nearly 100% at 5 years. Efforts have been made to avoid related effects of therapies; therefore, children are treated using different chemotherapy schemes in comparison with adults.

Areas covered: This review includes a view of the clinical classification and risk assessment in children suffering from HL. The chemotherapy more commonly employed is revisited. The use of PET/CT to evaluate the disease in order to guide therapy is analyzed. New options of chemotherapy and emerging immunotherapy are also included.

Expert opinion: In order to make the right treatment choice, a proper initial assessment of risk is mandatory. The choice of therapy in these kinds of patients must be done according to the experience of the team, and also, the cost and logistics related to the eligible scheme are very important. If possible, efforts must be made to include PET/CT in guiding therapy and avoiding overtreatment and long-term adverse effects in children. New options in immunotherapy are emerging and must be considered with caution in selected patients.     

Immunotherapy in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Innate,adaptive and targeted immunological strategies

Since the clinical introduction of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies into lymphoma treatment, immunologic approaches in lymphoma have made substantial progress. Advances in our understanding of tumor immunology have led to the development of strategies to overcome immunologic barriers responsible for an ineffective immune response. Specifically, therapeutic agents have been developed and tested against molecules that are responsible for T-cell exhaustion. The use of monoclonal antibodies against immune checkpoints in the adaptive immune system, such as programmed cell death-1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, has changed the landscape of cancer therapy including the treatment of lymphoma. This achievement has recently been accompanied by the development of novel immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the innate immune system, including the CD47-SIRPα signaling pathway, and this approach has yielded promising results. To overcome impaired antigen presentation, antibody-based cytotoxic strategies, namely antibody-drug conjugates (polatuzumab vedotin and brentuximab vedotin) and bispecific T-cell or NK-cell engagers (blinatumomab, REGN1979, RG6206, and AFM13), have rapidly evolved with promising clinical activity. As additional tools become available for lymphoma treatment, formulation of safe, rational combination strategies to combine them with standard therapy will be of paramount importance. A successful approach to the treatment of lymphoma may require both an optimized anti-tumor immune response as well as effective depletion of malignant lymphoid cells.     

Epstein–Barr virus in Reed–Sternberg G-like cells in non Hodgkin's lymphomas

In the course of our study on Hodgkin's disease (HD), ten cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) containing Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg-like (MRS) cells were encountered. Many of these cases had initially been diagnosed as HD, but on careful review of the histology, with the aid of immunophenotyping studies, they were reclassified as NHL. The presence of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) in these HRS-like cells was investigated using a combination of EBER in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunostaining for the detection of EBV-encoded latent membrane protein (LMP). HRS-like cells in four cases (two lymphoplasmacytoid lymphomas, one Richter's transformation of lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma, and one immunoblastic lymphoma of T-cell type) were found to be EBV-positive. In two of these cases, a second biopsy taken up to 10 years later also contained EBV in the HRS-like cells. In three of the four cases, HRS-like cells expressed the activation antigen CD30, but the expression of B- or T-cell antigens was variable. All cases of T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas were negative for EBV. In conclusion, EBV may play a role in the development of HRS-like cells i some cases of NHL. The relationship of HRS-like cells to HRS cells of HD is discussed.     

mic2/CD99在经典型霍奇金淋巴瘤H/RS细胞中的表达及与Eber-1/LMP-1相关性的研究

目的： 检测mic2基因与CD99蛋白和Eber-1基因与潜伏膜蛋白-1（LMP1）在经典型霍奇金淋巴瘤（cHL）H/RS细胞中的表达，探讨mic2/CD99表达与Eber-1/LMP-1的相关性。 方法： 采用分子原位杂交和免疫组化技术并结合组织芯片技术检测59例石蜡包埋淋巴瘤组织标本［43例cHL,16例非霍奇金淋巴瘤（NHL）］mic2/CD99和Eber-1/LMP-1的表达，比较分析mic2/CD99在两组中的表达及与Eber-1/LMP-1的关系。 结果： cHL组CD99蛋白表达阳性率为2.3％，mic2基因表达为55.8％，LMP1表达为58.1％，Eber-1表达为53.5％；NHL组CD99蛋白与mic2基因表达高于cHL组（P<0.05）；LMP1和Eber-1的表达低于cHL组（P<0.05）；mic2基因的表达高于CD99蛋白的表达（P<0.05）；Eber-1与LMP1的表达无统计学意义（P>0.05）。CD99蛋白与LMP1的表达呈负相关（P<0.05），各项指标的表达与性别无关。CD99蛋白与LMP1的表达与年龄呈负相关（P<0.05），mic2与Eber-1的表达与年龄无关（P>0.05）。 结论： CD99蛋白在cHL H/RS细胞中低表达，并与LMP1的表达呈负相关。     

M. Hodgkin. Ergebnisse der Diagnostik und Therapie

Zusammenfassung Eine optimale Behandlung des Hodgkin-Patienten setzt die Kenntnis des Ausbreitungsstadiums voraus. Laboruntersuchungen, Röntgen und Nuklearmedizin reichen gewöhnlich nicht aus, um dies mit ausreichender Sicherheit festzustellen. Es sind in der Regel Biopsien von Knochenmark und Leber erforderlich. In besonderen Fällen werden auch eine Laparoskopie oder explorative Laparotomie und Splenektomie empfohlen. Als optimale Therapie tritt in den auf Lymphknotenregionen beschränkten Ausbreitungsstadien die Strahlentherapie in den Vordergrund, bei ausgeprägten Allgemeinsymptomen und bei Organbefall eine zytostatische Behandlung. Diagnostik und Therapie sollten individuell gehandhabt werden. Neue therapeutische Vorstellungen müssen kritisch an den z.T. hervorragenden Ergebnissen gemessen werden, die von verschiedenen Arbeitsgruppen erreicht wurden.Herrn Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. H.E. Bock zum 75. Geburtstag in Verehrung und Dankbarkeit gewidmet     

Diagnostic impact of core-needle biopsy on fine-needle aspiration of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

We retrospectively reviewed 74 fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cases of presumptive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). All the cases had cytology and core-needle biopsy and 53 cases had concurrent flow cytometric analysis. FNA (cytology and flow cytometry) and core-needle biopsy were evaluated independently. FNA was diagnostic of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) in 25% (13/53) of cases and small B-cell NHL in 15% (8/53) of cases, whereas core-needle biopsy was diagnostic of DLBL in 37% (27/74) of cases and small B-cell NHL in 8% (6/74) of cases. Subclassification of small B-cell NHL was reached in 3/6 cases by core-needle biopsy. Insufficient cases were observed in both FNA (47%; 25/53) and core-needle biopsy (28%; 21/74) groups. With the combination of FNA and core-needle biopsy, diagnostic cases of DLBL increased to 43% (32/74) and insufficient samples were reduced to 16% (12/74). There was no clear advantage in the diagnosis and classification of small B-cell NHL by adding core-needle biopsy to FNA (14%; 10/74). We conclude that core-needle biopsy is a useful adjunct to FNA in the diagnosis of DLBL and shall be encouraged. In small B-cell NHL, core-needle biopsy does not add to the diagnostic ability of FNA. Cases insufficient for diagnosis may be seen in both core-needle biopsy and FNA. A combined approach reduces the number of insufficient cases and is recommended in routine FNA practice.     

泌尿生殖系统原发性非霍奇金淋巴瘤6例

目的 探讨泌尿生殖系原发性非霍奇金淋巴瘤的临床特征。方法 总结1990－1999年我院收治泌尿生殖系原发性非霍淋巴瘤6例,其中明上腺,肾脏,膀胱,睾丸,附睾及前列腺各1例,病理类型均为非霍奇金淋巴瘤结果 除原发于前列腺1例行单纯化疗外,余5例的均在手术后方英诊断,术后均行化疗或化疗联合放疗,4例生存已超过3年。结论 术前诊断泌尿生殖系原发性非霍奇金淋巴瘤可能避免手术治疗,联合化疗应是治疗首选。