Analysis of clinical characteristics and prognostic factors for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma

Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma after Treatment of Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Case Report

We report a case of a 24-year-old man who developed angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) after treatment for refractory lymphocyte-rich classic Hodgkin lymphoma (LR-CHL). This patient was treated with the BV+AVD (brentuximab vedotin, doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine) protocol for LR-CHL but progressed before completing chemotherapy. The pathological imaging showed the typical findings of LR-CHL at the first onset and first progression. Rescue chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy combined with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) were performed for refractory LR-CHL, and complete remission was achieved. However, the recurrence was suspected 6 months after AHSCT. The pathological findings of the lymph node biopsy at this time were different from those of the previous two lymph node biopsies, demonstrating findings of AITL. The finding of the immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction results supported the diagnosis. Although it has been reported that the risk for the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma after treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma is increased, most are B-cell lymphomas, and few cases of AITL have been reported. AITL is a type of peripheral T-cell lymphoma that generally occurs in middle-aged and elderly people and that rarely occurs in young people. Here, we were able to make an accurate diagnosis by performing re-examination even when recurrence of LR-CHL was suspected. As there are no detailed case reports of AITL developing into secondary non-Hodgkin lymphoma, here we report on an identified case.

Incidence, Survival Outcome, and Prognostic Nomogram of Patients with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma: a Population-based Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Due to the rarity of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), very limited data concerning its incidence patterns and prognostic factors are available. This study aimed to explore the incidence, characteristics, survival outcomes, and prognostic factors of AITL.

METHODS

Age-adjusted incidence and temporal trends were calculated based on 1247 AITL patients from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-13 database. A total of 1525 AITL patients from the SEER-18 database and 43 patients from our single center were included for survival analysis and nomogram construction.

RESULTS

The age-adjusted incidence for overall cohort was 0.123 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.117-0.131) per 100 000 during 1992-2017. The overall incidence increased steeply at the rate of 15.3% (95%CI 11.0%-19.8%, P<0.001) per year during 1992-2004, but remained stable during 2004-2017 (P=0.200). Similar incidence trends were observed in age, sex, and stage subgroups. The final nomograms consisted of four variables: age at diagnosis, sex, Ann Arbor stage, and primary site. The concordance index (C-index) of the nomogram for 5-year overall survival prediction was 0.717, 0.690 and 0.820 in the training cohort, validation cohort-1 and cohort-2, respectively. Regarding the disease-specific survival (DSS), the nomogram also demonstrated a good discrimination level, with the C-index for predicting the probability of DSS at 5 years of 0.716, 0.682 and 0.813 for the three cohorts, respectively. The calibration displayed good concordance between the nomogram-predicted and actual observed outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The age-adjusted incidence for AITL was low during 1992-2017. The incidence continuously increased during 1992-2004, but remained stable during 2004-2017. The nomograms as proposed may provide a favorable and accurate prognostic survival prediction in AITL.

A novel prognostic model for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: A retrospective study of 55 cases

Objective

To explore prognostic factors and develop an accurate prognostic prediction model for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL).

Methods

Clinical data from Chinese patients with newly diagnosed AITL were retrospectively analysed. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method survival curves; prognostic factors were determined using a Cox proportional hazards model. The sensitivity and specificity of the predicted survival rates were compared using area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

The estimated 5-year OS and PFS of 55 eligible patients with AITL were 22% and 3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of pneumonia, and serous cavity effusions at initial diagnosis were significant prognostic factors for OS. Based on AUC ROC values, our novel prognostic model was superior to IPI and PIT based models and suggested better diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusions

Our prognostic model based on pneumonia, and serous cavity effusions at initial diagnosis enabled a balanced classification of AITL patients into different risk groups.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis in 84 patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: a single-center analysis]

目的

对就诊于我院的初治血管免疫母细胞性T细胞淋巴瘤（AITL）患者进行回顾性研究，探讨AITL患者的临床特征及影响预后的因素。

方法

收集2009年7月至2018年9月就诊于福建医科大学附属协和医院，经淋巴结病理及免疫组织化学检查确诊为AITL患者的临床资料，采用Log-rank检验及Cox比例风险回归模型分析影响患者总生存（OS）期和无进展生存（PFS）期的预后因素。

结果

纳入患者84例，中位发病年龄62（39~86）岁，年龄>60岁者44例（52.4%），男60例（71.4%），男女比例2.5∶1，Ann Arbor分期Ⅲ~Ⅳ期者80例（95.2%），伴B症状者53例（63.1%）。国际预后指数（IPI）评分0~2分者25例（29.8%），3~5分者59例（70.2%）。外周T细胞淋巴瘤预后指数（PIT）评分0~1分者42例（50.0%），2~4分者42例（50.0%）。可评估疗效的61例患者中有16例（26.2%）获得完全缓解/不确定的完全缓解，25例（41.0%）获得部分缓解，总体反应率为67.2%，5年OS率和PFS率分别为46.0%和38.3%。单因素分析显示，年龄、IPI评分、PIT评分、HGB水平、是否有浆膜腔积液、是否化疗对AITL的OS有预后意义，而年龄>60岁、HGB<110 g/L及存在浆膜腔积液是影响PFS的不良因素。多因素分析显示，年龄>60岁、有浆膜腔积液是OS的独立不良预后因素。

结论

AITL是一种侵袭性高、进展快、预后差的非霍奇金淋巴瘤，初诊时多为Ⅲ~Ⅳ期。治疗前的年龄、IPI评分、PIT评分、HGB水平及是否有浆膜腔积液可作为评价预后的参考指标。

Chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy for successful treatment of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: a case report

Background

The incidence of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma is rare worldwide, and it has a poor prognosis. There is no proven or standard first-line therapy that works for the majority of patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma because of the rarity of this disease. The treatment and management are challenging for clinicians.

Case presentation

This report presents the diagnosis and treatment of a 65-year-old Chinese man who presented with cough and lymph node swellings in the left axillary region. The patient was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. He underwent eight cycles of chemotherapy with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin, prednisone) followed by TOMO radiotherapy (helical tomotherapy, a kind of radiotherapy for cancer treatment using spiral computed tomographic scanning). After treatment, the therapeutic effects were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography about every 3 months. The patient recovered well with no sign of tumor recurrence and no obvious severe treatment-related adverse effects.

Conclusion

This treatment experience indicates an essential role for the combination of radiation therapy with CHOP, which may have a better prognosis than treatments without radiation therapy. But challenges warrant further validation in prospective studies.

EBV status has prognostic implication among young patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐positive B cells have been detected in 66%‐86% of patients with angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma (AITL). However, it remains controversial whether EBV status has an impact on the survival of patients with AITL. In this study, we aimed to reevaluate the impact of EBV on the clinicopathological characteristics of AITL. In particular, we focused on the impact of EBV in younger patients with AITL. In total, 270 cases of AITL were studied. Epstein‐Barr virus‐positive B cells were detected in 191 (71%) cases (EBER⁺ group). Among the patients who received anthracycline‐based therapy, the EBER status did not affect the overall survival (OS) or progression‐free survival (PFS). In the younger group of AITL (≤60 years), PFS was significantly worse in the EBER⁻ group compared to the EBER⁺ group (P = .0013). Furthermore, the multivariate analysis identified EBER‐negative status, thrombocytopenia, and elevated serum IgA level as significant adverse prognostic factors for PFS (P < .001, P < .001, and P = .002). Based on these findings, we constructed new prognostic model for the younger group, based on three adverse factors. We classified the patients into two risk groups: low risk (no or 1 adverse factor) and high risk (2 or 3 adverse factors). This new model for younger patients with AITL showed that both OS and PFS were significantly related to the level of risk (P < .0001). In summary, this study showed that, among younger patients with AITL, an EBER⁺ status significantly improved prognosis compared to an EBER⁻ status. Our new prognostic model should be applicable to younger patients with AITL.

Bexarotene in Patients With Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas: Results of a Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are generally aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas that portend poor prognosis with currently available therapies. Bexarotene, a retinoic acid derivative, has efficacy in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, but its activity in PTCL is unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, single-institution, review of off-label bexarotene therapy in patients with PTCL between 2005 and 2016.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were treated with bexarotene as monotherapy: 3 patients with PTCL, not otherwise specified, and 9 patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Bexarotene doses of 300 mg/m² daily or 150 mg/m² were used for all patients. The treatment was well-tolerated. The most common toxicities included hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia, which were effectively managed. The overall response rate for all patients was 58% with a median duration of response of 11 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 months to not estimable). Among patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, there was a 44% overall response rate. The median progression-free survival for all patients was 2.1 months (95% CI, 1.1 months to not estimable), and the median overall survival was 14.9 months (95% CI, 2.1-73.1 months).

CONCLUSION

Bexarotene monotherapy is well-tolerated and has encouraging activity in PTCL that warrants further investigation in prospective clinical trials.

Pretreatment Epstein-Barr virus DNA in whole blood is a prognostic marker in peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Because there are few studies regarding the clinical impact of circulating EBV-DNA in peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs), we tried to evaluate the role of EBV-DNA in whole blood as a prognostic factor for PTCL. We retrospectively reviewed 110 PTCL patients with median age of 63 (20-94) years. Forty-seven patients (42.7%) showed positive results for EBV-DNA, and these patients also had stage III/IV disease, elevated lactic dehydrogenase, and low albumin level (P = 0.007, P = 0.004, P = 0.002, respectively). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were 21.0% and 18.0%. Univariable analysis showed that positive EBV-DNA was related with inferior OS and PFS (P = 0.015 and P < 0.001, respectively). Multivariable analysis showed that poor performance status, extranodal involvement more than one site and positive EBV-DNA results were related with OS and PFS (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.007 and P = 0.001, P = 0.002, P < 0.001, respectively). Using these three variables, we made a new prognostic model which classified patients on risk as follows: low, no adverse factors; intermediate, 1 factor; or high, 2-3 factors. The new prognostic model could stratify the three groups for OS and PFS better than either international prognostic index or prognostic index of PTCL-u, and showed statistical significance in PTCL, not otherwise specified. This study suggests that whole blood EBV-DNA is related with aggressive clinical characteristics and inferior survival. The new prognostic model, which incorporates EBV-DNA, could better stratify PTCL patients.

Clinical characteristics of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in China and C-reactive protein as an independent prognostic factor

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a major subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Due to its low incidence, the characteristics of AITL are still not well understood. The prognostic evaluation of this disease has not been established.We retrospectively analyzed 52 patients with newly diagnosed AITL in China between January 2008 and September 2016.Among these patients, the median age at diagnosis was 62 (40-83) and 58% (30/52) of the patients were older than 60 years. Thirty-five patients were male, accounting for 67.3% of the whole. Among these, 90% (47/52) of the diagnoses were estimated at advanced stage. A total of 25 (48%) patients were scored >1 by the ECOG performance status. Systemic B symptoms were described in 34 (65%) patients. When evaluated by International Prognostic Index (IPI), 81% were scored >2, and 77% got >1 score according to the prognostic index for PTCL (PIT) upon diagnosis. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 44% and the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 52%. IPI and PIT scores could not be effectively applied to stratify those AITL patients into subgroups. Our multivariate analysis results found that the elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level was an independent adverse factor to the OS of the AITL patients.Patients with AITL had a poor outcome. The serum level of CRP may be applied as an independent prognostic factor for AITL.

Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma presents with long-term nasal blockage and fever: a rare case report and literature review

NK/T cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is a common disease which is a threat to human health. Nasal NKTCL is a rare but serious type of systemic lymphoma because of its high mortality rate and serious complications. In this case report, we describe a male who presented with nasal blockage in the right side, a fever of one month duration and a soy-like, painless and gradually increasing mass in the right submandibular region due to nasal NKTCL. The patient had no significant medical history and the initial clinical symptoms were nasal blockage. Contrast computed tomography showed that the nasopharyngeal mucosa was thickened and that the celiac and retroperitoneal lymphaden was intumescent. Finally a biopsy, guided by nasal endoscopy and examined using flow cytometry confirmed a diagnosis of NKTCL. Nasal NKTCL is rare and has no unique characteristics at first presentation, such as epidemiology and obvious clinical manifestation. As no effective therapy is currently available for this disease, early diagnosis and therapy of nasal NKTCL remains challenging.

T-cell lymphomas, a challenging disease: types, treatments, and future

T-cell lymphomas are rare and aggressive malignancies associated with poor outcome, often because of the development of resistance in the lymphoma against chemotherapy as well as intolerance in patients to the established and toxic chemotherapy regimens. In this review article, we discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, current standard of care, and future treatments of common types of T-cell lymphomas, including adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, aggressive NK/T-cell lymphoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Expression of the significance of silent information regulator type-1 in Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma is greater association with tumorigenesis and has strong implications for adverse prognosis

Silent information regulator type-1 (SIRT1) is the best-studied member of the Sirtuin (Sir2) family of nicotinamide dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent class III histone deacetylases (HDACs). Rrecently, it is suggested that SIRT1 may be involved in the development of malignant tumors including mouse lymphoma, but has not yet been explored in Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and the prognostic impact of SIRT1 expression in AITL. Immunohistochemical expression of SIRT1, p53 were evaluated by using a 2 mm core from 45 AITL patients. Positive expression of SIRT1 was seen in 71.11% (32 of 45) of patients and p53 expression were seen in 53.33% (24 of 45). SIRT1 and p53 expression were significantly associated with shorter PFS by univariate analysis (P=0.009 and P < 0.001, respectively), multivariate analysis also shows that SIRT1 expression relate to worse prognosis. We also suggest inferior survival in AITL with the combined expression of SIRT1 and clinical characteristics of high IPI scores, high clinical stage, increased serum LDH, decreased HGB and increased γ-Globulin. In conclusion, our results indicate that SIRT1 is strongly expressed in AITL and it act as a clinically significant prognostic indicator for AITL patients, may also serve as a therapeutic target in AITL.