Front-line management of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Australia. Part 2: mantle cell lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma

Marginal zone lymphomas: a consensus practice statement from the Australasian Lymphoma Alliance

Marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs) are a rare, indolent group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas with different diagnostic, genetic and clinical features and therapeutic implications. The most common is extranodal MZL of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, followed by splenic MZL and nodal MZL. Patients with MZL generally have good outcomes with long survival rates but frequently have a relapsing/remitting course requiring several lines of therapy. The heterogeneous presentation and relapsing course present the clinician with several diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This position statement presents evidence-based recommendations in the setting of Australia and New Zealand.

How we treat mature B-cell neoplasms (indolent B-cell lymphomas)

Mature B cell neoplasms, previously indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (iNHLs), are a heterogeneous group of malignancies sharing similar disease courses and treatment paradigms. Most patients with iNHL have an excellent prognosis, and in many, treatment can be deferred for years. However, some patients will have an accelerated course and may experience transformation into aggressive lymphomas. In this review, we focus on management concepts shared across iNHLs, as well as histology-specific strategies. We address open questions in the field, including the influence of genomics and molecular pathway alterations on treatment decisions. In addition, we review the management of uncommon clinical entities including nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, splenic lymphoma and primary lymphoma of extranodal sites. Finally, we include a perspective on novel targeted therapies, antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific T cell engagers and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.

Clinical efficacy of the modified Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori-negative gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a meta analysis

Background

Helicobacter pylori (HP) has been considered to be one of the primary causes of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma since 1993. Low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma with HP is widely treated with HP eradication therapy, according to each specific clinical situation. However, several studies and guidelines indicate that the modified HP eradication therapy is also valid for HP-negative gastric MALT lymphoma. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of the clinical efficacy of the modified HP eradication therapy for gastric MALT lymphoma without HP.

Methods

We searched studies that reported the response rate of the modified HP eradication therapy regimen for gastric MALT lymphoma without HP by using PubMed, Medline, and Ebsco from January 1971 until February 2019. All statistical analyses were carried out using R 3.5.3 (Mathsoft Company, Cambridge, MA, USA). The pooled response rate was expressed as a decimal. The heterogeneity test was performed using the I-squared (I²) statistic.

Results

A total of 14 studies were selected with a total of 148 patients with HP-negative gastric MALT lymphoma. The overall pooled response rate was 0.38 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29–0.47). The combined estimate is I² = 57% (P < 0.01). The study subjects were categorized by factors (area of patients). The pooled response rate of the sub-groups (Korea, Japan, China, and Western countries) was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.50–0.76), 0.16 (95% CI: 0.05–0.30), 0.38 (95% CI: 0.20–0.55), and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.08–1.00). The response rate showed that the modified HP eradication therapy was effective for patients with HP-negative gastric MALT lymphoma, especially in Korea and Western countries.

Conclusion

Therefore, the modified HP eradication therapy can be considered an optional therapy for patients with low-grade HP-negative gastric MALT lymphoma. However, several limitations were revealed in the meta-analysis. Further systematic reviews and research are required.

Mesenteric lymphadenopathy is a key to diagnosis of radiologically challenging pulmonary lymphoma

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (EMZBL), previously known as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, is the most common type of marginal zone B-cell lymphomas. Primary pulmonary lymphomas only constitute 0.5% of primary lung cancer, but 90% of these are EMZBLs. Primary pulmonary lymphomas share similar imaging features with secondary pulmonary lymphomas. Imaging diagnosis is challenging because many benign and other malignant lung lesions can display similar features. Here, we demonstrate a 70-year-old male case with lung tumors and only mesenteric lymphadenopathy, which was eventually diagnosed as advanced pulmonary EMZBL with involvement of the mesenteric lymph nodes and bone marrow. Pulmonary masses have a wide differential diagnosis, but concurrent isolated mesenteric lymphadenopathy might be a radiological clue to pulmonary lymphoma. KEY POINTS: Concurrent isolated mesenteric lymphadenopathy might be a radiological clue to pulmonary lymphoma. For nonspecific lung tumors, additional abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan might be helpful for diagnosis of possible lymphoma.

Real-World Budget Impact of Listing a Biosimilar of Rituximab

BACKGROUND

The approval of new biosimilars by national health agencies is expected to generate significant cost savings for health care systems. This is particularly the case with the biosimilar of rituximab approved for the Canadian market in 2019. However, several uncertainties remain regarding utilization of this agent.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the proportion of total annual drug expenses for each indication for rituximab in the hospital setting and to determine potential savings related to introduction of a biosimilar.

METHODS

A budget impact analysis was performed through 3 real-world scenarios, based on data obtained from a large university teaching hospital for a 12-month period.

RESULTS

This study involved data for 420 patients. Annual expenses for rituximab for all indications represented 7.7% of total annual drug spending for the hospital, of which 5.0% was related specifically to indications approved by Health Canada. More than 6% of the annual drug expenses was attributable to the use of rituximab for oncologic indications, including 1.8% for uses not approved by Health Canada. Overall, each 10% reduction in the price of a biosimilar of rituximab (relative to the reference rituximab) would result in annual savings of about 0.8% of total drug expenses in the hospital if a biosimilar was used for all real-world indications, whether approved by Health Canada or not.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of a biosimilar of rituximab to the Canadian market would generate significant savings. To properly assess the potential savings that this agent could generate in the limited budget environment of a hospital, it seems important to consider all of the indications for which it could be used.