Primary Cutaneous Immunocytoma/Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma: A Case with Unusual Course

Treatment of indolent primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas with subcutaneous interferon-alfa

BACKGROUND

Interferon-alfa is used in the treatment of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (PCBCL). Therapy with interferon-alfa has thus far been reported solely in case reports and small case series, mostly describing intralesional use.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate efficacy, response rate, time to response, duration of response, and safety of subcutaneously administered interferon-alfa for the treatment of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart analysis of patients given the diagnosis of PCBCL and treated with interferon-alfa subcutaneously at a tertiary referral center.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients with indolent subtypes of PCBCL were identified. The overall response rate was 66.7%; all responding patients went into complete remission. Response was not significantly associated with the maximum tolerated dose. Within the median follow-up time of 40 months, 90% of the responders experienced a relapse; median duration of response was 15.5 months. Adverse events were predominantly mild and in no case led to cessation of therapy.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective nature of the analysis and small number of patients because of scarcity of the disease are limitations.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of indolent PCBCL with subcutaneously injected interferon-alfa demonstrated good response rates and tolerability. Response was not dose dependent. Relapses were observed in nearly all responding patients raising the question of interferon-alfa maintenance therapy in PCBCL.

Blastic marginal zone lymphoma: a clinical and pathological study of 8 cases and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Blastic transformation (BT) of marginal zone lymphoma or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma has been mainly reported in the spleen and stomach. Primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma that undergoes BT is rare and not well documented. We describe 8 patients with blastic primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma and compare the clinical, pathologic, and molecular findings of these patients with 10 cases previously reported in the literature.

RESULTS

The cases of blastic marginal zone lymphoma could be categorized into cases of de novo blastic marginal zone lymphoma and large-cell transformation arising in a background of a history of biopsy proven marginal zone lymphoma. The cases of de novo blastic marginal zone lymphoma occurred in elderly patients without any medical history. In each of the cases, the lesions were radiated, not treated, or treated with complete excision without any death due to lymphoma nor was there any evidence of extracutaneous dissemination. Large-cell transformation arising in background of marginal zone lymphoma typically occurred in patients who were younger; 2 of the 4 cases were immunocompromised. The clinical course in each of the cases was aggressive with 3 of the 4 patients succumbing to disseminated disease while 1 patient developed extracutaneous nodal disease. Phenotypically, there was an expression of CD5 in a total of 3 of the 8 cases and CD23 in 3 of the 8 cases. Commonality of B-cell clones was demonstrated in 2 cases where biopsies were available of both the less aggressive appearing marginal zone lymphoma and the transformed biopsies. Cytogenetic abnormalities associated with BT included a deletion of chromosome 7q in all cases tested.

CONCLUSION

Large-cell transformation arising in a patient with a history of marginal zone lymphoma portends a worse prognosis, including death from disseminated disease, whereas a de novo presentation of blastic marginal zone lymphoma may define a clinical course similar to other forms of low-grade cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. The expression of CD5 and CD23 may define a phenotypic profile associated with BT. It is possible that marginal zone lymphomas associated with CD5 and CD23 positivity should be followed more closely and/or treated with radiation and/or complete excision.