Traditional treatment approaches in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Immunotherapy in indolent Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in general has improved over the years with the emergence of the monoclonal antibodies (MAB) therapy. NHL is divided into B cell NHL and T cell NHL. Treatment of NHL was based on the subtype of NHL and its staging. NHL is divided into aggressive and indolent NHL (iNHL). Subtypes of iNHL include: Follicular lymphoma (FL), Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small-cell lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, Nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL), Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL). Chemotherapy was the main stay treatment of iNHL until the emergence of Rituximab, anti-CD20 MAB targeting CD-20 surface cell antigens that are present on B-cells lymphoma and not on precursor cells, mainly efficacious in B cell iNHL, It became the mainstay treatment in follicular lymphoma (FL) as a single agent modality or in combination with chemotherapy. The anti-CD20 Rituximab played an important role in the development of the treatment of iNHL to become FDA approved in 1997. It was also proven effective in multiple other types of lymphoma. MAB through targeting the cell surface antigen leads to a direct or immune mediated cytotoxicity. This carries few side effects, including allergic reactions. Other than that, a resistance mechanism to rituximab emerged by inducing a failure in the apoptosis mechanism. Alternative mechanisms of resistance included the presence of soluble antigens that could act by binding to the antibody present before the drug itself can bind the lymphoma cell. Thus, the interest in immunotherapy grew further to explore the possibility of conjugating an immune mediated drug to a radio-sensitizing agent in order to enhance the selectivity of the drug. Here came the development of 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan and 131I-tositumomab. After it, humanized anti-CD20 emerged ofatumumab, IMMU106 (veltuzumab) in 2005, and ocrelizumab which are considered as second generation anti-CD20 and 3^rd generation anti-CD20 include AME-133v (ocaratuzumab), PRO131921 and GA101 (obinutuzumab). Also multiple other agents emerged targeting different surface cell antigens like CD52 (alemtuzumab), CD22 (unconjugated epratuzumab and calicheamicin conjugated CMC-544 [inotuzumab ozogamicin]), CD80 (galiximab), CD2 (MEDI-507 [siplizumab]), CD30 (SGN-30 and MDX-060 [iratumumab], Brentuximab vedotin), CD40 (SGN-40), and CD79b (Polatuzumab). Other agents include MAB targeting T-Cells like mogamulizumab, Denileukin Diftitox and BiTEs or bispecific T cell engagers like Mosunetuzumab, Glofitamab, and Epcoritamab. Moreover, further studies came up to evaluate the role of immunotherapy in combination chemotherapy as a pathway to evade the resistance mechanisms. Side effects of the treatment were mainly infusion related adverse reactions, myelosuppression in conjugated forms leading to immunosuppression and subsequently to infectious complications. Another important aspect in immunotherapy is the half-lives of the medication which is an important factor that can influence the evaluation of the response. The MAB treatment showed important benefit in the treatment of iNHL and it continuously shows how rapidly it can develop to provide optimum care and benefit to patients with iNHL.

Click CAR-T cell engineering for robustly boosting cell immunotherapy in blood and subcutaneous xenograft tumor

The adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells has shown remarkable clinical responses in hematologic malignancies. However, unsatisfactory curative results and side effects for tumor treatment are still unsolved problems. Herein we develop a click CAR-T cell engineering strategy via cell glycometabolic labeling for robustly boosting their antitumor effects and safety in vivo. Briefly, paired chemical groups (N3/BCN) are separately incorporated into CAR-T cell and tumor via nondestructive intrinsic glycometabolism of exogenous Ac4GalNAz and Ac4ManNBCN, serving as an artificial ligand-receptor. Functional groups anchored on cell surface strengthen the interaction of CAR-T cell and tumor via bioorthogonal click chemistry, further enhancing specific recognition, migration and selective antitumor effects of CAR-T cells. In vivo, click CAR-T cell completely removes lymphoma cells and minimizes off-target toxicity via selective and efficient bioorthogonal targeting in blood cancer. Surprisingly, compared to unlabeled cells, artificial bioorthogonal targeting significantly promotes the accumulation, deep penetration and homing of CAR-T cells into tumor tissues, ultimately improving its curative effect for solid tumor. Click CAR-T cell engineering robustly boosts selective recognition and antitumor capabilities of CAR T cells in vitro and in vivo, thereby holding a great potential for effective clinical cell immunotherapy with avoiding adverse events in patients.

A phase II study of bendamustine in combination with rituximab as initial treatment for patients with indolent non-follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The purpose of this phase 2 study was to determine the activity and safety of six cycles of bendamustine and eight rituximab (RB) as first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced stage non-follicular indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (INFL). The primary end-point was the complete response rate (CRR) with expected CRR of 75%. Sixty-nine patients were enrolled; median age was 65 years (45-75), 65% were male, 93% of patients had stage IV disease. Complete and overall response rates were 48% (95% CI = 35.6-60.2) and 86% (CI = 75.0-92.8). The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (43%), thrombocytopenia (7%) and anemia (4%); whereas the rate of febrile neutropenia was very low (3%). At a median follow-up of 22 months (1-43 months), 2-year progression-free survival was 89% (CI = 79-95) and 2-year overall survival was 96% (CI = 87-99). RB combination is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced stage previously untreated INFL.

Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab in patients with advanced, untreated, indolent B-cell nonfollicular lymphomas: phase 2 study of the Italian Lymphoma Foundation

BACKGROUND

Indolent nonfollicular non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas (INFLs) are clonal mature B-cell proliferations for which treatment has not been defined to date.

METHODS

In this phase 2 study of patients with advanced INFL, the authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of first-line rituximab, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide (FCR) as induction immunochemotherapy (rituximab 375 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1 of each cycle and on days 1 and 14 of cycles 4 and 5; fludarabine 25 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 2-4, cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m(2) intravenously on Days 2-4) every 28 days for 6 cycles followed by a maintenance phase with 4 infusions of rituximab (375 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1) every 2 months for responders.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients were enrolled. Among 46 evaluable patients (28 men; median age, 59 years), 19 were diagnosed with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, 21 were diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma, and 6 were diagnosed with nodal marginal zone lymphoma. The overall response rate after maintenance was 89.1% with a 67.4% complete remission (CR) rate (CR/unconfirmed CR) and a 21.7% partial response rate. After a median follow-up of 40.9 months, the failure-free survival and progression-free survival rates both were 90.1%, and the overall survival rate was 97.4%. The main toxicity was hematologic, and related grade 3 and 4 neutropenia was observed in 55.3% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

FCR induction therapy followed by a short maintenance phase is a highly effective regimen with acceptable toxicity.

Utility of the PET-CT in the evaluation of early response to treatment in the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Preliminary results

OBJECTIVE

To assess the role of FDG-PET/CT performed after the first cycles of chemotherapy in the prediction of response to treatment in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

METHODS

Twenty patients (mean age: 48 years) were included, 16 initial staging and 4 relapse. All patients underwent PET/CT at 3 times: 1) Baseline, 2) After 1-3 cycles of chemotherapy (early response assessment), and 3) End of treatment (evaluation of final response). Early PET/CT findings were correlated to the end-treatment PET/CT and follow-up. The evaluation of the response was established according to the decrease in uptake of the lesions (SUVmax). In the early assessment, a good response indicator (GRI) was obtained when the lesion disappeared or had more than 50% reduction in SUVmax. At the end of the treatment, a complete metabolic response (CMR) was determined in negative PET scans. Follow-up was superior to 19 months and final outcome was established as progression/relapse or no evidence of disease (NED).

RESULTS

At the early treatment evaluation, 16/16 patients of initial staging (100%) and 2/4 of relapse (50%) achieved GRI. At the end of treatment evaluation, 14/16 patients of initial staging with GRI achieved CMR and 1/16 PMR: 14 were alive with NED in the follow-up while 1 relapsed. In the second group, 2/2 patients with GRI achieved CMR (100%): 1 continued with NED in the follow-up and another relapsed.

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET/CT after the first cycles of chemotherapy is useful to monitor treatment due to its high negative predictive value (87.5%), using it to modify treatment early in the non-responders.

Survival patterns among lymphoma patients with a family history of lymphoma

PURPOSE

Genetic factors are important in the etiology and pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Only a few small studies have assessed clinical characteristics and prognosis for familial patients, with inconsistent findings.

METHODS

Using population-based registries from Sweden and Denmark, 7,749 patients with CLL, 7,476 patients with HL, and 25,801 patients with NHL with linkable first-degree relatives were identified. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to compare survival in patients with lymphoma with and without a family history of lymphoma. The risk of dying was assessed using adjusted Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

We found 85 patients with CLL (1.10%), 95 patients with HL (1.28%), and 206 patients with NHL (0.80%) with a family history of any lymphoma. Five-year mortality was similar for patients with CLL (hazard ratio [HR], 1.28; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.72), HL (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.49 to 1.25), and NHL (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.12) versus without a family history of any lymphoma. Mortality was also similar for patients with versus without a family history of the same lymphoma. T-cell/anaplastic lymphoma patients with a family history of NHL had poorer outcome 5-years after diagnosis (HR, 5.38; 95% CI, 1.65 to 17.52). Results were similar for 10 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

With the exception of T-cell/anaplastic lymphoma, survival patterns for patients with CLL, HL, and NHL with a family history of lymphoma were similar to those for sporadic patients, suggesting that most familial lymphomas do not have an altered clinical course. Our findings provide no evidence to modify therapeutic strategies for patients with CLL, HL, or NHL based solely on family history.

Surface immunoglobulin positive lymphoblastic leukemia in adults; a genetic spectrum

Precursor B-lymphoblastic leukemia is typically surface immunoglobulin (sIg) negative. Although rare cases of sIg+ precursor lymphoblastic leukemia are recognized, sIg+ leukemia often represent leukemic phase of Burkitt lymphoma or other non-Hodgkin lymphoma such as blastic mantle cell lymphoma. This study reports four adults, two women (56 and 58 years old) and two men (35 and 41 years old) with lymphoblastic leukemia that displayed lambda, surface immunoglobulin restriction (sIg+). The leukemic cells were all dim CD45 positive with side scatter light characteristic of blasts. Two cases were positive with the blasts associated with antigens TdT and CD34. Genetic abnormalities were detected in all cases and in three cases included abnormalities commonly present in precursor lymphoblastic leukemia. Translocation (1;19) (q23;p13) was present in the first case. Deletion of the 3' region of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene at chromosome 11q23 as well as t(14;18) were detected in the second case. In the 3rd case, a BCR-ABL fusion gene was detected as part of a complex abnormal karyotype. Translocation (1;19)(q23;p13) was present in one case. Deletion of the 3' region of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene at chromosome 11q23 as well as t(14;18) were detected in one case. BCR-ABL fusion gene was detected as part of a complex abnormal karyotype in one case. These cases illustrate that lymphoblastic leukemias occurring in adults exhibit a morphologic, immunophenotypic as well as a genetic spectrum and represent either non-Hodgkin lymphoma or precursor lymphoblastic leukemia. A multi-parameter approach including flow cytometric and genetic studies is crucial in separating these cases.

Proteasome inhibition with bortezomib: a new therapeutic strategy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has markedly increased in the US and other westernized countries in recent years and presents a considerable clinical challenge. NHL is divided into subtypes that follow an aggressive or indolent course. Follicular lymphoma (FL), the most common indolent subtype, and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an aggressive subtype that accounts for approximately 5% of cases, are generally incurable. MCL has a relatively poor prognosis, with a median survival of 3-4 years. Despite improving response rates with new agents and regimens, the lack of demonstrated improvement in overall survival in many subtypes supports the development of novel approaches, such as proteasome inhibition. Bortezomib is the first proteasome inhibitor to be evaluated in human studies. It has already been approved as second-line treatment in multiple myeloma and is now under active investigation in NHL. The US FDA has granted bortezomib fast-track designation for relapsed and refractory MCL. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated single-agent activity against various lymphoid tumors, and additive or synergistic effects in combination with other agents, including standard chemotherapy drugs employed in NHL. Phase 2 clinical trials indicate that bortezomib is well tolerated and active in several NHL subtypes, with response rates of 18-60% in FL and 39-56% in MCL. A number of combination trials are currently underway with a range of standard agents. Bortezomib has the potential to play a significant role throughout the NHL treatment algorithm in the future.

FDG-PET after two to three cycles of chemotherapy predicts progression-free and overall survival in high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Less than 50% of all high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients experience lasting disease-free survival. Risk-adapted treatment strategies require better tools for prediction of outcome. This investigation aimed to assess the value of positron emission tomography with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG-PET) after two to three cycles of chemotherapy for prediction of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and twenty-one patients with high-grade NHL underwent FDG-PET. The therapy response on FDG-PET was correlated to PFS and OS using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Cox regression analyses were employed to test for independence of known pretreatment prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Fifty FDG-PET scans were negative, 19 scans showed minimal residual uptake (MRU), and 52 scans were positive. The estimated 5 year PFS was 88.8% for the PET-negative group, 59.3% for the MRU group, and 16.2% for the PET-positive group. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed strong associations between FDG-PET results and PFS (P <0.0001) and OS (P <0.01). Early interim FDG-PET was independent of the other prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Early interim FDG-PET is an accurate and independent predictor of PFS and OS. An early assessment of chemotherapy response with FDG-PET could provide the basis for selection of patients for alternative therapeutic strategies.