Pediatric T-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after solid organ transplantation

Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are a heterogenous set of unregulated lymphoid cell proliferations after organ or tissue transplant. A majority of cases are associated with the Epstein-Barr virus and higher intensity of pharmacologic immunosuppression. The clinical presentations are numerous. The diagnosis is ideally by histology, except in cases where the tumor is inaccessible to biopsy. While some pre-emptive therapies and treatment strategies are available have reasonable success are available, they do not eliminate the high morbidity and significant mortality after PTLD.

Late-Onset Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Not Otherwise Specified in a Liver Transplant Recipient: A Rare Subtype of Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder

INTRODUCTION

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a rare complication seen in the period after liver transplant. The commonest subtype is B-cell PTLD which is usually associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. T-cell PTLD is rare and the association with EBV is again rarer.

CASE

Our patient, a 21-year-old young adult, presented to us with generalized lymphadenopathy, 5 years after liver transplantation. The biopsy of the lymph node was suggestive of peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified, which was associated with EBV infection. The Positron emission tomography and computerised tomography (PET-CT) scan showed stage 3 disease. He was treated with standard cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide, vincristine, and prednisolone chemotherapy and is currently in remission.

CONCLUSION

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified is a rare subtype of PTLD and its association with EBV is even more rare. A few patients can achieve complete remission with standard chemotherapy.

Immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders: time for reappraisal?

Immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (IA-LPDs) are pathologically and clinically heterogeneous. In many instances, similar features are shared by a spectrum of IA-LPDs in clinically diverse settings. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies IA-LPDs by their immunodeficiency setting largely according to the paradigm of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders but with inconsistent terminology and disease definitions. The field currently lacks standardization and would greatly benefit from thinking across immunodeficiency categories by adopting a common working vocabulary to better understand these disorders and guide clinical management. We propose a 3-part unifying nomenclature that includes the name of the lesion, associated virus, and the specific immunodeficiency setting for all IA-LPDs. B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) are usually Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)⁺ and show a spectrum of lesions, including hyperplasias, polymorphic LPDs, aggressive lymphomas, and, rarely, indolent lymphomas. Human herpes virus 8-associated LPDs also include polyclonal and monoclonal proliferations. EBV^- B-cell LPDs and T- and NK-cell LPDs are rare and less well characterized. Recognition of any immunodeficiency is important because it impacts the choice of treatment options. There is an urgent need for reappraisal of IA-LPDs because a common framework will facilitate meaningful biological insights and pave the way for future work in the field.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after solid-organ transplant in children

The post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a diverse group of potentially life-threatening conditions affecting organ transplant recipients. PTLD arises in the setting of an attenuated host immunologic system that is manipulated to allow a foreign graft but then fails to provide adequate immune surveillance of transformed malignant or premalignant lymphocytes. The diversity of biological behavior and clinical presentation makes for a challenging clinical situation for those involved in the care of children with PTLD occurring after solid-organ transplantation. This review details a large transplant center's multidisciplinary approach to monitoring for PTLD and systematic approach to intervention, which has been essential for early recognition and successful treatment.

Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma: an unusual presentation of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder in a pediatric patient

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are a potentially life-threatening complication of immunosuppression in transplant recipients. The majority of cases are Epstein-Barr virus-associated lesions of B cell origin. T cell PTLD is rare, particularly in pediatric patients. We present an unusual case of monomorphic T cell PTLD with features of angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma in an 8-year-old heart transplant patient, presenting with cranial nerve palsy.

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease after pediatric solid organ transplantation

Patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT) carry a substantially increased risk to develop malignant lymphomas. This is in part due to the immunosuppression required to maintain the function of the organ graft. Depending on the transplanted organ, up to 15% of pediatric transplant recipients acquire posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), and eventually 20% of those succumb to the disease. Early diagnosis of PTLD is often hampered by the unspecific symptoms and the difficult differential diagnosis, which includes atypical infections as well as graft rejection. Treatment of PTLD is limited by the high vulnerability towards antineoplastic chemotherapy in transplanted children. However, new treatment strategies and especially the introduction of the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab have dramatically improved outcomes of PTLD. This review discusses risk factors for the development of PTLD in children, summarizes current approaches to therapy, and gives an outlook on developing new treatment modalities like targeted therapy with virus-specific T cells. Finally, monitoring strategies are evaluated.

Clinicopathological characteristics of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders of T-cell origin: single-center series of nine cases and meta-analysis of 147 reported cases

T-cell or natural killer (NK)-cell posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (T-PTLD) is a rare but severe complication after transplant. Here we present the clinicopathological features of a single-center series of nine cases. Additionally, we summarize the clinicopathological findings of 147 cases of T/NK-cell PTLD reported in the literature in an attempt to define subtype-specific characteristics. T/NK-cell PTLD occurs in patients of all ages, usually extranodally, and most frequently after kidney transplant. Organ specific incidence, however, is highest following heart transplant. Approximately one-third of T-cell PTLDs are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related, with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL, NOS) being the most prevalent EBV-associated T-cell PTLD. A male predominance is observed, which is most striking in the EBV(+) group, particularly in PTCL, NOS. With a median posttransplant interval of 72 months, T-cell PTLDs are among the late-occurring PTLDs. Of the most common T-cell PTLDs, anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) has the best prognosis, whereas PTCL, NOS and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) have the worst prognosis. EBV(+) cases seem to have a longer survival than EBV(-) cases, suggesting a different pathogenetic mechanism.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma in children and adolescents: a single-institution experience

BACKGROUND

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is rare in pediatric patients and is associated with worse outcome compared with other pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We report our institutional experience over a 10-year period.

METHODS

Patients were identified through the institutional oncology database. Data were abstracted through a detailed retrospective review of patient charts. Those with isolated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma were excluded from this analysis.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients were diagnosed with PTCL during the 10-year period. All presented with advanced disease. According to the WHO PTCL classification, 7 patients had PTCL not otherwise specified, 3 had hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma and 3 had T-cell posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease. Six of the patients had previously received or were receiving immunosuppressive therapy at the time of their diagnosis. Patients were treated with various chemotherapeutic regimens, including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia-like therapy. Patients who had refractory or recurrent disease were changed to alternative therapy. Eight patients underwent stem cell transplantation, 7 allogeneic and 1 autologous. Of the 13 patients, 7 died. Three patients died from disease progression, 3 died from treatment-related mortality, and 1 patient died from cardiac rejection. Six patients (46%) are alive and disease free at a median of 21 months (2 to 79 mo).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with PTCL have an unfavorable outcome. A standard approach to management of pediatric PTCL needs to be established to improve outcome. Because of the rarity of this condition, this will require collaborative studies.

Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric kidney-transplant recipients - a national study

PTLD is the most common malignancy in pediatric kidney-transplant recipients. We examined the prevalence, clinical features, and outcome of PTLD in Israel. Twelve (4.4%) of 272 pediatric (<19 yr) kidney-transplant recipients retrieved from a search of the NIKTR for 1991-2008 had acquired PTLD at a median of 3.2 yr post-transplantation. PTLD-affected patients were younger at transplantation (4.2 vs. 12.5 yr, p = 0.02), had a higher rate of OKT3 therapy for acute rejection (25% vs. 4%, p = 0.015), and 5/12 were EBV-seropositive at transplantation. Graft dysfunction was the presenting sign in six (50%). PTLD was predominantly abdominal (83%) and B-cell type (67%); T-cell PTLD occurred exclusively in EBV-seropositive patients. Treatment consisted of immunosuppression cessation (6/12, 50%), antiviral agents (7/12, 58%), anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (4/12, 33%), and chemotherapy (6/12, 50%). Survival was 100% in the EBV-naïve patients and 40% in the EBV-seropositive patients. Graft loss occurred in three of eight survivors (37.5%). PTLD-associated mortality risk was older age: 11.2 vs. 3.4 yr, longer dialysis: 15 vs. 6.5 months, T-cell type disease (75%), later PTLD onset: 6.35 vs. 1.9 yr post-transplantation and era of transplantation (43% mortality before vs. 20% after 2001). Pretransplantation EBV-seronegative status might confer a survival benefit with early detected PTLD. EBV-seropositive patients are at risk for aggressive late-onset lethal PTLD.

[Transplant-associated lymphoproliferation]

Transplantation of solid organs and haematopoietic stem cells requires immunosuppressive drug therapy in order to prevent rejection or graft-versus-host disease. Depending on dosage and type of drug, the risk of developing an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is increased. The lesion spectrum ranges from hyperplastic lesions to manifest lymphomas, the latter being classified as monomorphic PTLD. Hyperplastic changes, which are not distinguishable from viral reactions, comprise early or mononucleosis-like lesions. Those with effaced lymph node architecture or extranodal manifestation without a lymphoma-like phenotype are designated polymorphic PTLD. Monomorphic PTLD are either high grade B cell lymphomas, plasma cell neoplasms or Hodgkin lymphomas and only very rarely T cell lymphomas. Low grade B cell lymphomas do not occur. In a subfraction of cases, including even monomorphic PTLD, reduction of immunosuppression alone is sufficient to induce remission of the pathological process.

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative diseases

The risk of developing cancer after solid organ transplantation (SOT) is about 5- to 10-fold greater than that of the general population. The cumulative risk of cancer rises to more than 50% at 20 years after transplant and increases with age, and so children receiving transplants are at high risk of developing a malignancy. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is the most common cancer observed in children following SOT, accounting for half of all such malignancies. PTLD is a heterogeneous group of disorders with a wide spectrum of pathologic and clinical manifestations and is a major contributor to long-term morbidity and mortality in this population. Among children, most cases are associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. This article reviews the pathology, immunobiology, epidemiology, and clinical aspects of PTLD, underscoring the need for ongoing systematic study of complex biologic and therapeutic questions.