Lymphoblastic lymphoma of childhood and the LSA2-L2 protocol: the 30-year experience at Memorial-Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Precursor B-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in Children: Hacettepe Experience

The purpose of the study was to review the clinical and pathologic characteristics and treatment results of children with precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Of 530 children diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphomas between 2000 and 2021, 39 (7.4%) were identified as having precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Clinical characteristics, pathologic, radiologic, laboratory data, treatments, responses, and overall outcomes were recorded from hospital files and analyzed. The median age of 39 patients (males/females, 23/16) was 8.3 years (range 1.3 to 16.1). The most common sites of involvement were the lymph nodes. At a median follow-up of 55.8 months, 14 patients (35%) had a recurrence of disease (11 stage IV, 3 stage III); 4 were in complete remission with salvage therapies, 9 died of progressive disease and one died due to febrile neutropenia. Five-year event-free survival and overall survival rates were 65.4% and 78.3% for all cases, respectively. Survival rates were higher in patients with a complete remission at the end of induction therapies. The survival rates were lower in our study compared with other studies, which could be explained by the high relapse rate and higher incidence of advanced-stage disease due to bone marrow involvement. We demonstrated a prognostic impact of treatment response at the end of the induction phase. Cases with a disease relapse have poor prognosis.

Event-free survival at 24 months is a robust surrogate endpoint for long-term survival in pediatric, adolescent, and adult T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma

T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) has an aggressive clinical behavior. To date, powerful and consistent prognostic factors have not been established for T-LBL. In this study, we first evaluated the association of event-free survival (EFS) at 24 months (EFS24) with overall survival (OS) in T-LBL patients. Besides, we sought to identify clinical factors of prognostic importance in this rare entity. Between January 2006 and December 2017, ninety-one patients with newly diagnosed T-LBL were retrospectively analyzed. EFS was defined as the time from diagnosis to relapse or progression, unplanned retreatment, death from any cause, or to the last follow-up. In total, 91 patients with a median age of 24 years were enrolled. At a median follow-up of 40.4 months (range, 1.4 to 163.3 months), the 5-year OS and EFS was 47.9% and 43.2%, respectively. Of all patients, 45 (49.5%) achieved EFS24 and 46 (50.5%) did not. Patients who achieved EFS24 showed a markedly superior outcome, compared with those who failed to achieve EFS24 (5-year OS, 90.5% vs 3%, P < 0.001). Univariate analysis indicated bone marrow involvement, response to induction treatment, and stem cell transplantation (SCT) consolidation to be prognostic factors for EFS and OS. In addition, compared with the patients receiving non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)-like treatment protocols, patients treated with hyper-CVAD showed significantly improved EFS and OS. Such survival advantage in terms of EFS and OS was also observed of BMF-90 regimens over NHL-like therapy, despite that the difference in EFS did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.056). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that achievement of complete remission (CR) after induction therapy and SCT consolidation were independent prognostic indicators for both EFS and OS. We confirm that EFS24 is a strong surrogate endpoint for long-term survival in T-LBL, which is clinically useful for individualized risk reassessment, future clinical trial design, and biomarker discovery validation. Further validation in the context of directed prospective clinical trials is warranted.

Pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Characteristics, stratification, and treatment at a single institute in Thailand

BACKGROUND

In the modern era of chemotherapy, the outcome of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) continues to improve internationally. Limited data such as information on epidemiology and survival, however, are available in Asian countries.

METHODS

Children (≤15 years old) diagnosed with histologically proven NHL from 1998 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

In total, 114 patients were enrolled; they were predominantly male (65.8%) and had advanced disease (stage III, IV; 71.9%). Of these, 22.8% had Burkitt lymphoma, 20.2% had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 21.1% had lymphoblastic lymphoma, 20.2% had large cell lymphoma, and 15.8% had peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Twenty-nine patients died, especially of uncontrolled disease (62.1%) and infection (20.7%). During a median follow up of 78.4 months, Kaplan-Meier 5 year event-free and overall survival rates were 71.5% ± 4.3% and 74.8% ± 4.1%, respectively, regardless of subtype. B symptoms (i.e. systemic symptoms of fever, night sweats, and weight loss that can be associated with both Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and advanced disease had a significant negative impact on 5 year survival. No other prognostic factor was found, but survival tended to have a negative correlation with age.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric NHL is aggressive, with a high prevalence of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. The present treatment stratification seems to be effective compared with that used in developed countries.

Lymphoma in Adolescents and Young Adults: Current Perspectives

Lymphomas in adolescents and young adults represent approximately one quarter of all cancers in this age group. Historically, adolescent and young adult cancer patients represent a unique population with diverging issues surrounding psychosocial hardships/barriers, economics, and lack of standardization of therapeutic approaches.Furthermore, the biologic differences within the adolescent and young adult population seen in various lymphoma subtypes likely play a role in overall outcomes for this group. Without an organized approach to clinical and translational research for adolescent and young adult patients within specialized treatment centers, this population may continue to experience inferior results. Here we look at the current perspectives of adolescent and young adult lymphomas with respect to disease biology, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of this unique lymphoma population.

NHL in adolescents and young adults: A unique population

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a heterogeneous group of lymphoid malignancies with high incidence in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The most common diseases include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. In comparison to younger children and adults, AYAs (15-39 years) with NHL present a specific set of challenges including variations in tumor biology, inconsistent treatment, pharmacodynamics, and psychosocial barriers. While survival of AYAs with NHL has improved, cure rates remain suboptimal. Incorporation of novel agents into pediatric-inspired treatment regimens specifically designed for NHL in AYAs has led to improved outcomes. Consideration of AYAs as a distinct population in the diagnosis and treatment of NHL is encouraged.

Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Pediatric Lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) comprise approximately 15% of all childhood malignancies. Cure rates for both lymphoma entities have evolved tremendously during the last couple of decades, raising the 5-year survival rates to almost 100% for HL and to 85% for NHL. The mainstay therapy for both malignancies is still chemotherapy-with different regimens recommended for different types of disease. In HL, combined modality treatment, i.e., chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, has long been the standard regimen. In order to reduce long-term side effects, such as second malignancies, most major pediatric HL consortia have studied response-based radiotherapy reduction strategies over the last 3 decades. For recurrent disease, high-dose chemotherapy followed by an autologous or an allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplant is an option. No targeted agents have yet gained regulatory approval for use in pediatric patients with lymphoma. For adult lymphoma patients, the CD20 antibody rituximab and the CD30 antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin are targeted agents used regularly in first- and second-line treatment regimens. More recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors, phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase inhibitors, and Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors appear to be very promising new treatment options in adult lymphoma. Here, we discuss the current experience with these types of agents in pediatric lymphoma patients.

Adolescent and young adult lymphoma: collaborative efforts toward optimizing care and improving outcomes

Lymphomas are responsible for approximately 20% to 25% of annual cancer diagnoses in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population. In 2006, the National Cancer Institute and the Lance Armstrong Foundation developed a joint Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Progress Review Group (AYAO-PRG) to formally address the unique cancer burden of patients age 15 to 39 years. As part of their recommendations, the AYAO-PRG identified 5 imperatives for improving outcomes of AYAs with cancer. Broadly, the recommended areas of focus included research, awareness and education, investigational infrastructure, care delivery, and advocacy. In response to the challenges highlighted by the AYAO-PRG, the Lymphoma Research Foundation held the first AYA Lymphoma Research Foundation Symposium on 2 October 2015. At this symposium, clinicians and basic scientists from both pediatric and adult disciplines gave presentations describing the state of the science and proposed a collaborative research agenda built on the imperatives proposed by the AYAO-PRG. The following review presents an in-depth discussion of lymphoma management across pediatric and adult oncologic disciplines, focusing on Hodgkin lymphoma, mature B-cell lymphomas, and anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Prognostic Factors and Outcomes of Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in the United States

BACKGROUND

T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL) and B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LL) are aggressive lymphoid neoplasms accounting for 2% to 4% of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The aim of the present analysis was to characterize the clinical features and histologic subtypes and to assess the clinical prognostic factors for 696 adult patients with LL, the largest epidemiologic sample to date.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present retrospective cohort study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to identify adult patients (age, > 18 years) with LL with data recorded from 2001 to 2012. We used multivariate Cox regression models to test the clinical prognostic factors, stratified by the histologic subtype.

RESULTS

Of 696 patients with LL (median age, 39 years), 367 (53%) had T-LL and 131 (19%) had B-LL. Patients with T-LL tended to be younger (33 years vs. 48 years), male (66% vs. 50.4%), and less likely to have extranodal involvement (6% vs. 32%) compared with those with B-LL. The 5-year survival rate for those with B-LL versus those with T-LL was not significantly different (45% vs. 48%; P = .58), even in a model adjusted for clinical features, disease stage, primary site, radiotherapy, and year of diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-1.25; P = .63). Multivariate analysis identified age, race, and radiotherapy as independent prognostic factors for outcome in T-LL. Limited tumor stage and the most recent year of diagnosis were favorable prognostic factors for B-LL.

CONCLUSION

Adult patients with LL have poor long-term outcomes and novel therapies are needed. Radiotherapy had a positive effect on T-LL outcomes.

Adolescent and young adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a heterogeneous group of lymphoid malignancies accounting for a significant portion of cancers occurring in children, adolescents and young adults with an increasing incidence with age. The adolescent and young adult (AYA) population presents a specific set of characteristics and challenges. The most common diseases occurring in adolescents and young adults include Burkitt lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma. There is also a higher incidence of primary central nervous system lymphoma in AYA patients. Cure rates largely depend on risk-stratification, and are generally superior to outcomes in comparison to older adult data but less than in younger children. Here, we review the unique clinical and biological characteristics of NHL occurring in the AYA population with a focus on how to achieve similar curative outcomes in AYA that have been established in younger cohorts.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children and Adolescents: Progress Through Effective Collaboration, Current Knowledge, and Challenges Ahead

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the fourth most common malignancy in children, has an even higher incidence in adolescents, and is primarily represented by only a few histologic subtypes. Dramatic progress has been achieved, with survival rates exceeding 80%, in large part because of a better understanding of the biology of the different subtypes and national and international collaborations. Most patients with Burkitt lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are cured with short intensive pulse chemotherapy containing cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, and high-dose methotrexate. The benefit of the addition of rituximab has not been established except in the case of primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma. Lymphoblastic lymphoma is treated with intensive, semi-continuous, longer leukemia-derived protocols. Relapses in B-cell and lymphoblastic lymphomas are rare and infrequently curable, even with intensive approaches. Event-free survival rates of approximately 75% have been achieved in anaplastic large-cell lymphomas with various regimens that generally include a short intensive B-like regimen. Immunity seems to play an important role in prognosis and needs further exploration to determine its therapeutic application. ALK inhibitor therapeutic approaches are currently under investigation. For all pediatric lymphomas, the intensity of induction/consolidation therapy correlates with acute toxicities, but because of low cumulative doses of anthracyclines and alkylating agents, minimal or no long-term toxicity is expected. Challenges that remain include defining the value of prognostic factors, such as early response on positron emission tomography/computed tomography and minimal disseminated and residual disease, using new biologic technologies to improve risk stratification, and developing innovative therapies, both in the first-line setting and for relapse.

Long-term results of the AIEOP LNH-97 protocol for childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Treatment intensification was considered a suitable strategy to increase the cure rate of lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) in children.

PROCEDURE

The AIEOP LNH-97 trial was run between 1997 and 2007 for newly diagnosed LBL in patients aged less than 18 years. Treatment schedule was based on the previous, LSA2-L2 derived, AIEOP LNH-92 protocol. Modifications included: increased dose of upfront cyclophosphamide and methotrexate, use of l-Asparaginase during induction therapy, intensive block therapy for slow responders, and late intensification ("Reinduction") for patients with advanced stage disease. Total therapy duration was 12 months for stage I and II, and 24 months for stage III and IV. Central nervous system prophylaxis did not include cranial irradiation.

RESULTS

114 eligible patients were enrolled, 84 males and 30 females; median age was 9 years. Complete remission was obtained in 98% of patients. After a median follow-up time of seven years, 29 patients failed due to progression of disease (n = 2), relapse (n = 25), or second malignancy (n = 2). The 7-year overall survival was 82% (standard error [SE] 4%) and the 7-year event-free survival was 74% (SE 4%). No subgroup showed significantly different event free survival. None of the patients died of front line chemotherapy-related toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment intensification was associated with good outcome in children and adolescents with LBL, with limited toxicity. Prognosis after relapse was better for patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Measurements of biological markers and treatment response are necessary for achieving further improvement through more accurate identification and stratification of patients at risk of disease relapse.

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of children with anaplastic large cell lymphoma: a single center experience

BACKGROUND

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is uncommon in children, accounting for approximately 15% of all cases of childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite many studies attempting new treatment strategies, treatment outcomes have not significantly improved, and the optimal treatment for pediatric ALCL has not been established.

METHODS

The records of newly diagnosed ALCL patients at our institute between July 1998 and April 2013 were reviewed. We evaluated the general characteristics of the patients, chemotherapy regimens, overall survival (OS) rates, and event-free survival (EFS) rates.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight ALCL patients were eligible. The median age at diagnosis was 10.8 years. Lymph node involvement was the most common presentation (79%). CCG-5941, a multi-agent T-cell lineage chemotherapy, was the predominant treatment regimen (57%). The five-year OS and EFS rates were 88% and 69%, respectively. Stage, the presence of B symptoms, lung involvement, and bone marrow involvement were significant prognostic factors for EFS (P=0.02, 0.01, 0.01, and 0.02, respectively). Eight patients relapsed, and three died during the study period. Four of the eight patients who relapsed were treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT-ASCT). Two of the four who had undergone HDCT-ASCT developed secondary relapses and were subsequently treated with allogeneic SCT or brentuximab.

CONCLUSION

We found that treatment outcomes with multi-agent chemotherapy in children with ALCL were similar to those of previous reports, and that relapsed patients could be salvaged with HDCT-ASCT or allogeneic SCT. A prospective, larger cohort study is warranted to define the optimal treatment for pediatric ALCL.

T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma: relapse 16 years after first remission

Little information is available regarding late relapse in patients with T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-LBL). Because of the aggressive nature of this disease, relapse is common and often happens early. Late relapses are rare and generally occur within a few years after initial remission. The relapse rate after 3 years has been reported to steadily decrease over time yet does not parallel with cure. We report a case of a 26-year-old female with T-LBL and relapse 16 years after her first remission with successful treatment with HyperCVAD and L-asparaginase.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma in childhood and adolescence

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) are thought to derive from immature precursor T-cells or B-cells. LBL are the second most common subtype of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in children and adolescents. LBL are closely related to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of cancer in children. Using ALL-type treatment regimen to treat children with LBL was an important development in the treatment of LBL. During the last decades, several systematic clinical trials contributed to the controlled optimization of treatment. Today event-free survival (EFS) can be achieved for 75-90% of patients. However, acute and long-term toxicity, the lack of prognostic parameters and the poor outcome for patients who suffer from refractory or relapsed LBL remain highly relevant subjects for improvement. To date, the pathogenesis of LBL is poorly understood. Learning more about the biology and pathogenesis of LBL might pave the way for targeted treatment to improve survival especially in relapsed and refractory patients.

Disseminated lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents: results of the COG A5971 trial: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

The Children's Oncology Group's A5971 trial examined central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis and early intensification in paediatric patients diagnosed with CNS-negative Stage III and IV lymphoblastic lymphoma. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, the study randomized patients to Children's Cancer Group (CCG) modified Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster (BFM) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) regimen with intensified intrathecal (IT) methotrexate (MTX) (Arm A1) or an adapted non-Hodgkin lymphoma/BFM-95 therapy with high dose MTX in interim maintenance but no IT-MTX in maintenance (Arm B1). Each cohort was randomized ± intensification (cyclophosphamide/anthracycline) (Arms A2/B2). For the 254 randomized patients, there was no difference in 5-year event-free survival (EFS) for the four arms: Arm A1, 80% [95% confidence interval (CI) 67-89%] and Arm A2, 81% (95% CI 69-89%); Arm B1, 80% (95% CI 68-88%) and Arm B2, 84% (95% CI 72-91%). The cumulative incidence of CNS relapse was 1·2%. Age <10 years and institutional imaging response at 2 weeks was associated with improved outcomes (P < 0·001 and P = 0·014 for overall survival). CNS positive patients (n = 12) did poorly [5-year EFS of 63% (95% CI 29-85%)]. For CNS-negative patients, there was no difference in outcome based on CNS prophylaxis (IT-MTX versus HD-MTX) or with intensification.

Outcome of newly diagnosed children and adolescents with localized lymphoblastic lymphoma treated on Children's Oncology Group trial A5971: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

BACKGROUND

Localized lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL) is rare in pediatric patients. We report the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for children and adolescents with localized LL treated on a uniform regimen based on Children's Cancer Group (CCG) leukemia therapy (COG A5971).

PROCEDURE

From June 2000 to October 2005, the study enrolled 60 patients >12 months old with Murphy stages I or II LL. Central review confirmed 56 eligible patients. Treatment consisted of 24 months of CCG BFM without day 28 intrathecal methotrexate in maintenance therapy or prophylactic cranial radiation.

RESULTS

Most patients had pre-B immunophenotype (75%). At a median follow-up of 5.9 years (range 1.4-9.3 years), the 5-year EFS was 90% [95% confidence interval (CI), 78-96%] and the 5-year OS was 96% (95% CI, 84-99%). Stage (I vs. II), immunophenotype, elevated LDH > institutional normal, or primary site did not impact outcome. Five relapses occurred-none in the CNS and none in patients with pre-T lymphoblastic disease. Patients tolerated treatment well with no toxic deaths.

CONCLUSION

Outcomes of pediatric patients with localized LL treated with 2 years of intensive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)-type therapy was excellent and is similar to the outcome for standard risk ALL treated less intensively. CNS prophylaxis was adequate with limited intrathecal methotrexate and no radiation. Future studies should identify biologic prognostic factors or biomarkers for pediatric patients with LL, explore less intensive treatment for patients with localized disease, and explore novel immunophenotype directed therapies.

Paediatric lymphoma in China: a clinicopathological study of 213 cases

AIM

This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate information on paediatric lymphoma in China.

METHODS

We reviewed the pathological files of patients less than 12 years of age with lymphoma in Shanghai Xinhua Hospital from January 1982 to June 2009. SPSS version 11.0 was used to analyse the results.

RESULTS

Of the 213 subjects, 176 (82.6%) had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 37 (17.4%) had Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). All NHL cases had diffuse and high grade tumours, and 33.5% of these tumours primarily involved extra-nodal sites. Of the NHL cases, 56.6%, 43.3%, and 1.7% were derived from T, B, and null cells, respectively. Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL, 50.6%), Burkitt's lymphoma (BL, 28.4%), and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL, 12.5%) comprised the majority of the NHL cases. A significant difference was found in the frequency of stage I/II cases between LL and ALCL. Paediatric HL resembled the disease in adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Paediatric lymphoma in China is different from that in Western countries with respect to the incidence rate of HL and BL. The distribution pattern of NHL histological subtypes is more similar to that in Japan than that in Pakistan. These features suggest ethnic or geographic variations.

Stem cell transplantation in childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Despite the high cure rates achieved with intensified primary therapies for childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), the prognosis for children with relapsed or refractory disease is poor. Optimal treatment for this group remains a challenge. Dose intensification followed by stem cell transplantation has been used in these circumstances and may provide a curative treatment option for these patients, but the number of children treated using this approach is relatively small and its effectiveness has been difficult to judge. Moreover, the limited experience is insufficient to define the patient most likely to benefit from transplantation. Likewise, the selection of autologous or allogeneic transplantation and the optimal conditioning regimen are debated. We summarize the current experience for stem cell transplantation in childhood NHL and offer our recommendations.

Emerging non-transplant-based strategies in treating pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Lymphomas represent the third most common cancer in children and adolescents. The non-Hodgkin's lymphomas comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors, with distinct clinical and pathologic features. Although intensive multi-agent chemotherapy has made non-Hodgkin's lymphoma one of the most curable malignancies in children and young adults, there is room for improvement in treatment, particularly for those with advanced-stage disease and those who relapse after conventional therapy. New approaches are now attempting to reduce the burden of treatment, to focus on novel and more specific biologic targets, and to improve outcomes for patients with advanced-stage disease while reducing the potential for late effects. A comprehensive review of all potential agents is beyond the scope of this review, which will focus on some of the newer strategies for treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that are coming into clinical use today.

Lymphoma in adolescents and young adults

Non-Hodgkin (NHL) and Hodgkin (HL) lymphomas are represented prominently in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) population. These diseases represent 11% of total cancer diagnoses in children, 4% in those 40 years of age and older, and 13% in AYA (aged 15-39 years). Although age-adjusted incidence rates of NHL increase with age, the more aggressive lymphomas are seen more commonly in the younger population with a transition to low-grade, indolent subtypes as the population ages. Burkitt lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, and anaplastic large cell lymphoma make up the most common subtypes in the AYA population, although within the subgroup age 30-39 years, follicular lymphoma becomes more prominent. As a result, much of the armamentarium in the treatment of aggressive NHL and HL in adults is based on data from pediatric clinical trials. There are obvious limitations to this approach. It is vital that we gain a more thorough understanding of the biology and therapeutic responsiveness of NHL and HL in the AYA population. Thus, we must leverage the large prospective and retrospective trials that have been completed to date and redirect our approaches to cancer care in this unique population. We review the epidemiological data on NHL and HL from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries as a cornerstone for a comparative analysis of therapeutic outcomes available in this population.

Lymphomas of head and neck in pediatric patients

Cancer among children is relatively uncommon, with approximately 1 in 7,000 children 0 to 14 years of age being newly diagnosed each year in the United States, and Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas constitute 10-15% of all childhood cancers in the more developed countries, after acute leukemias and brain tumors. The diagnosis of lymphoma frequently involves otolaryngologists that play also an important role in the its management. A high index of suspicion for lymphoma as a cause of complaints in the head and neck region can lead an early diagnosis and improved outcome for lymphomas. This article reviews the epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, staging, treatment and prognosis of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in children.

Bone marrow minimal disseminated disease (MDD) and minimal residual disease (MRD) in childhood T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma stage III, detected by flow cytometry (FC) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR)

BACKGROUND

Despite overlapping features of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LLy) and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), which respond favorably to T-ALL treatment, clinical and biological differences exist. We retrospectively assessed the prevalence of submicroscopic bone marrow (BM) minimal disseminated disease (MDD) at diagnosis and the early response to treatment (minimal residual disease--MRD) and their prognostic significance in 17 children with stage III T-LLy treated according to Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) non-Hodgkin lymphoma protocols.

PROCEDURE

Four-color flow cytometry (FC) was used for lymphoma associated immunophenotype and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) for T-cell receptor (TCR beta/delta/gamma) gene rearrangements with at least 0.01% sensitivity.

RESULTS

Two markers per patient were identified in all cases using FC and in 80% using RQ-PCR. BM MDD at diagnosis of >or=0.01% was detected by FC and RQ-PCR in 88% and 80% of patients, respectively, and by at least one of the methods in all patients. A significant correlation was achieved between the methods by Pearson correlation analysis (P = 0.004). MRD levels significantly decreased to very low levels on day 33 in 9 out of 10 patients studied. The only patient that remained positive relapsed.

CONCLUSIONS

MDD was prevalent in stage III T-LLy, for which we could not prove a prognostic significance in the context of ALL-like treatment. This study shows that both FC and RQ-PCR methods are efficient for MDD and MRD analyses in T-LLy.

Shortened intensified multi-agent chemotherapy and non-cross resistant maintenance therapy for advanced lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents: report from the Children's Oncology Group

Pediatric lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL) has utilized treatment strategies similar to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with prolonged maintenance chemotherapy. We report the results of a pilot study to estimate the feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of a 12-month aggressive multi-agent chemotherapy regimen in children and adolescents with advanced LL. Between July 1994 and June 1997, 85 eligible children and adolescents with advanced LL (Stage III/IV) were enrolled on this pilot study. Patients achieving a complete response following induction and consolidation received six cycles of maintenance chemotherapy for a total duration of 12 months. Grade III/IV toxicities included: hematological (80%), infections (20%), stomatitis and elevated transaminases, (29%). There were a total of 19 events, 13 relapses, two secondary acute myeloid leukaemia and four toxic deaths (5%). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) was 78 +/- 4.5% and 85 +/- 3.9%, respectively. Relapsed patients had a 5-year OS of only 33 +/- 14%. Multivariate analysis failed to demonstrate age, gender, lactate dehydrogenase level, presence of marrow and/or central nervous system disease to have independent prognostic value. These results suggest that this experimental approach is safe and results in similar outcomes as more prolonged childhood ALL regimens.

Treatment of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Hungary: 15 years experience with NHL-BFM 90 and 95 protocols

Retrospective analysis was performed to assess the survival-rates of children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), treated according to the NHL-BFM (Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster)-90 and -95 protocols between 1990 and 2004 in Hungary, and to compare our data with the international results. Ninety-one patients had non-B-NHL, 108 B-NHL, and 31 ALCL. Complete remission rate was 89%, while 12% relapsed later. The 5-year-overall-survival was 78% and the event-free survival was 75%. These results are lower than those reported by the BFM study group, but comparable from other European centers. In the last 5 years, the results showed 10% improvement and death during induction was reduced from 10 to 3%.

Lymphoma of the ocular adnexa: A study of 353 cases

We studied the cases of 353 patients with lymphoma involving the ocular adnexa diagnosed at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1974 and 2005. The patients included 153 males and 200 females, aged 7 to 95 years, with a mean age of 64 years. In 277 cases, there was no known history of lymphoma. Seventy-six patients had a history of lymphoma, with the ocular adnexa being involved at relapse or with progression of the previously diagnosed lymphoma. The patients had marginal zone lymphoma (182 cases), follicular lymphoma (80 cases), mantle cell lymphoma (18 cases), small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (13 cases), lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (4 cases), splenic marginal zone lymphoma (2 cases), low-grade B cell, not subclassified (19 cases), precursor B lymphoblastic lymphoma (3 cases), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (26 cases), and 1 case each of high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not subclassified, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified type, extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, and Hodgkin lymphoma, nodular sclerosis type. Almost all marginal zone lymphoma patients (168 of 182, 92%) had primary ocular adnexal lymphoma. Fourteen marginal zone lymphoma patients (8%) had a prior history of lymphoma, usually arising in another extranodal site. Twenty-five of 80 (31%) follicular lymphoma patients had a prior history of lymphoma, usually arising in lymph nodes. Patients with mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, and splenic marginal zone lymphoma almost always had a prior history of lymphoma or were known to have widespread disease at the time of diagnosis of ocular adnexal lymphoma. A subset of the diffuse large B-cell lymphomas were associated with large destructive masses involving adjacent structures such as paranasal sinuses, raising the possibility that they may have arisen from one of the adjacent structures and involved the ocular adnexa by direct extension. The relatively high proportion of low-grade lymphoma, not subclassified, highlights the difficulty that may arise in distinguishing different types of low-grade lymphoma, particularly when biopsies are small and artifactually distorted. Ocular adnexal lymphoma is primarily a disease of older adults, with a slight female preponderance. Most lymphomas are low-grade B-cell lymphomas, with marginal zone lymphoma being by far the most common type. Marginal zone lymphoma typically involves the ocular adnexa primarily, whereas other types of low-grade B-cell lymphoma often involve the ocular adnexa secondarily. High-grade B-cell lymphomas only occasionally involve the ocular adnexa, and T-cell lymphoma, NK-cell lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma are only rarely encountered in this site.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children and adolescents

Lymphoma is the third most common cancer in children and adolescents. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors with distinct pathologic and clinical characteristics. Over the past three decades, significant advancements have been made in the molecular characterization of these disorders. With the use of intensive multiagent chemotherapy, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are now among the most successfully treated cancers in the pediatric population. Future goals of therapy include reduction of treatment duration for early-stage patients and identification of novel targets and therapeutics for advanced-stage patients.

Primary therapy for adults with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma with hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation results in favorable outcomes

BACKGROUND

Controversy exists regarding the role of high-dose therapy followed by stem-cell transplant (SCT) in the treatment of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL). We conducted an intention-to-treat analysis of the strategy of SCT as definitive treatment of T-LBL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From July 1987 to March 2005, 34 adults with T-LBL were diagnosed and treated in British Columbia. Treatment, before planned SCT, consisted of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)/acute lymphoblastic leukemia hybrid chemotherapy protocol (28 patients) or a standard NHL chemotherapy regimen (six patients).

RESULTS

Median follow-up of the 23 surviving patients is 51 months (range 13-142 months). Twenty-nine proceeded to SCT (four allogeneic, 25 autologous). For all 34 patients, 4-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) are 72% and 68%, respectively. For patients proceeding to SCT, the 4-year OS and EFS are 79% and 73%, respectively. All patients who received allografts are alive without disease at 38-141 months since diagnosis. For patients who received autografts, the 4-year EFS is 69%. Bone marrow involvement was a significant prognostic factor predicting for a worse survival (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

A treatment strategy for adults with chemosensitive T-LBL that includes planned consolidation with SCT in first response produces favorable long-term outcome.

[Pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphomas]

Non Hodgkin lymphoma represent about 5% of childhood cancer. They are the third most common group of cancers in children and adolescents, after cerebral tumours and leukemias. They differ from adult lymphomas as they are all high grade tumours, always diffuse and often associated with extra-nodal diseases. Three main histological subtypes predominate: Burkitt, lymphoblastic and anaplastic large cell lymphomas. As the clinical progression is growing fast and treatment different between the 3 subtypes, the diagnosis must be rapidly done and with accuracy.