Autoimmune conditions and primary central nervous system lymphoma risk among older adults

Primary central nervous system lymphomas in immunocompromised patients require specific response criteria

PURPOSE

Immunosuppression is a well-established risk factor for primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs), which present in this context distinct radiological characteristics. Our aim was to describe the radiological evolution of treated PCNSL in immunocompromised patients and suggest adapted MRI response criteria.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of patients from the French LOC, K-Virogref and CANCERVIH network databases and enrolled adult immunocompromised patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL.

RESULTS

We evaluated the baseline, intermediate, end-of-treatment and follow-up MRI data of 31 patients (9 living with HIV, 16 with solid organ transplantation and 6 with an autoimmune disease under chronic immunosuppressive therapy). At baseline, 23/30 (77%) patients had necrotic lesions with ring enhancement and 28% of the lesions were hemorrhagic. At the end of the first-line treatment, 12/28 (43%) patients could not be classified according to the IPCG criteria. Thirteen of 28 (46%) patients still harbored contrast enhancement, and 11/28 (39%) patients had persistent large necrotic lesions with a median diameter of 15 mm. These aspects were not associated with a pejorative outcome and progressively diminished during follow-up. Six patients relapsed; however, we failed to identify any neuroimaging risk factors on the end-of-treatment MRI.

CONCLUSION

In immunocompromised patients, PCNSLs often harbor alarming features on end-of-treatment MRI, with persistent contrast-enhanced lesions frequently observed. However, these aspects seemed to be related to the necrotic and hemorrhagic nature of the lesions and were not predictive of a pejorative outcome. Specific response criteria for this population are thereby proposed.

Diagnostic, Pathologic, and Therapeutic Considerations for Primary CNS Lymphoma

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare lymphoma representing 3% of CNS malignancies. The diagnosis is complicated by the unique risks associated with brain biopsy, and the treatment is similarly complicated by the restriction of effective therapeutics able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Currently, the majority of individuals diagnosed with this disease are immunocompetent although immune deficiency related to HIV or immunosuppressive therapy remains an important risk factor. Improvements in both frontline therapy and consolidation options, including the use of hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, have translated to improved survival. Unfortunately, patients experiencing relapsed or refractory disease often fare poorly. Here, we review key clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic aspects of PCNSL and highlight challenging clinical scenarios that may be encountered by the treating oncologist.

Impact of preexisting autoimmune disease on myelodysplastic syndromes outcomes: a population analysis

Preexisting autoimmune disease affects between 10% and 30% of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Studies comparing outcomes in patients with MDS with and without autoimmune disease show discordant results. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare database, we conducted a population analysis to define the impact of autoimmunity on MDS outcomes. Cases were ascertained between 2007 and 2017 and claim algorithms used to identify autoimmune disease, demographic characteristics, comorbidity scores, MDS histology, transfusion burden, treatment with hypomethylating agents, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Cox regression models estimated the impact on survival, and competing-risk regression models defined the effect on leukemic transformation. We analyzed 15 277 patients with MDS, including 2442 (16%) with preexisting autoimmune disease. The epidemiologic profile was distinctive in cases with preexisting autoimmunity, who were younger, were predominantly female, and had higher transfusion burden without difference in MDS histologic distribution. Autoimmune disease was associated with 11% decreased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-0.94; P < .001). The effect on risk of leukemic transformation differed based on MDS histology. In low-risk MDS histologies, autoimmunity was associated with a 1.9-fold increased risk of leukemia (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.17-2.99; P = .008), whereas no significant effect was seen in other groups. These results suggest that autoimmune disease affects survival in MDS and is associated with decreased mortality. The survival effect was evident in low-risk histologies despite higher risk of progression to leukemia. This could represent inflammation-driven hematopoiesis, simultaneously favoring less aggressive phenotypes and clonal expansion, which warrants further investigation.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in a patient with multiple sclerosis using fingolimod

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disease associated with immunosuppression. Here, we report the case of a patient with multiple sclerosis, under treatment with fingolimod (FTY720, Gilenya) for 4 years, who developed this condition. Although the causal relationship cannot be established, there are cases in the literature that describe the appearance of lymphoma after the use of this medication. Considering the high mortality of PCNSL, epidemiological studies are necessary to establish a relationship between its arising and the use of immunosuppressants.

Nomograms for predicting cancer-specific survival in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma: a population-based analysis

Background

This study identified the risk factors for survival in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Nomograms were developed and validated to predict individualized overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in this particular cohort.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with PCNSL between 1975 and 2016 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for this study. The Cox regression model, the Fine and Grey's model, and the backward method were applied to determine the risk factors for OS and CSS. Nomograms were established accordingly. Internal and external validation was performed in an Asian population to examine the accuracy of the nomograms.

Results

A total of 5,900 patients with PCNSL were identified from the SEER database. A further 163 patients with PCNSL from the Beijing Tiantan Hospital between 2004 and 2018 were included. Age at diagnosis, tumor site, pathological subtype, surgery, chemotherapy, coexisting malignancies, and HIV infection were independent risk factors of CSS. In addition to the risk factors of CSS, gender, marital status, and radiation were also independent factors of OS. Nomograms were developed to estimate the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and CSS. The discrimination and calibration of the nomograms performed well. The C-indexes of the nomograms for OS and CSS prediction were 0.728 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.703-0.753] and 0.726 (95% CI: 0.696-0.756), respectively. In addition, compared with previously published OS nomograms, the newly established nomograms displayed superior prediction for OS.

Conclusions

Nomograms predicting the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS and CSS of patients with PCNSL were established in this study. The validated nomograms showed relatively good performance and may be used clinically to evaluate patients' individualized risk and prognosis with PCNSL. Free software for individualized survival prediction is provided at http://www.pcnsl-survivalprediction.cn.

Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery as an effective tool in primary CNS lymphoma: Evaluation of stereotactic radiosurgery and methotrexate treatment in a prospective and observational clinical research study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the progression of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) in patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) versus those treated with a combination of Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and MTX. Progression was measured via brain lesion count and tumor volume.

METHODS

This observational and prospective cohort study evaluated the outcome of SRS treatment of PCNSL in one hundred twenty-eight subjects. We analyzed baseline, prospective, and retrospective data of patients enrolled in the brain tumor registry between June 2010 and August 2017. Seventy-three patients were treated exclusively with MTX while the remaining fifty-five patients received a combination of SRS and MTX. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were established.

RESULTS

Mean survival rate for patients receiving combined SRS and MTX treatment was significantly higher (52.6 months) compared to the MTX group (19.8 months); p = 0.0029. At the 36 months follow-up, patients treated with SRS and MTX also had a lower rate of tumor progression (32.7 %) than the MTX group (95.9 %); p = 0.00192. Local tumor control was achieved in all patients treated with SRS. No clinical toxicity was observed in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical results obtained from this observational study highlight the potential effectiveness of SRS in the treatment of PCNSL. Although treatment outcomes have improved in the past years, additional evidence in the clinical design of randomized trials is needed to evaluate the strength of this treatment in specific situations.

Autoimmune disease-related primary CNS lymphoma: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggest a relatively high prevalence of autoimmune disorders (AD) among primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) patients, however, the literature is limited to case reports. To gain a better understanding of AD-PCNSL we reviewed and analyzed all cases described in the literature.

METHODS

We searched the MEDLINE database using the search terms 'central nervous system lymphoma' or 'CNS lymphoma' along with AD-related terms. We selected 39 records for qualitative synthesis of data and identified 50 AD-PCNSL. Clinical, imaging and outcome data were collected. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using log rank test and Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

Most common AD were systemic lupus erythematosus (24%), multiple sclerosis (16%), and myasthenia gravis (14%). All patients had received immunosuppressants for their AD. Median interval from AD until PCNSL diagnosis was 108 months (range: 11-420). Male-to-female ratio was 0.42 and AD-PCNSL was diagnosed at a median age of 57 years (range: 2-88). On imaging lesions typically localized to the hemispheres (65%) and displayed peripheral enhancement (74%). Pathological evaluation revealed diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype (80%) and Epstein-Barr virus positivity (75%) in most AD-PCNSL. Median OS was 31 months. Age > 60 years (p = 0.014) was identified as a significant prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONS

AD requiring immunosuppression appear over-represented in the population of PCNSL patients. Aggressive polychemotherapy can accomplish long term OS in AD-PCNSL comparable to immunocompetent patients. Age > 60 may serve as a prognostic factor.