Activity of rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin/mitoxantrone, vincristine and prednisone in patients with relapsed MALT lymphoma

Unmet clinical needs in the use of zanubrutinib in malignant lymphomas (Waldenström macroglobulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma): A consensus-based position paper from an ad hoc expert panel

Zanubrutinib has been approved for the treatment of patients with different lymphoproliferative disorders, and now represents a major breakthrough in the treatment of patients resistant or relapsing after the recommended therapies. Because few systematic studies or comparative randomized clinical trials have been conducted, optimal use of the drug in approved indications is challenging, and questions are emerging on its use in earlier stages of the disorders. This article presents the results of group discussion among an ad hoc constituted panel of experts aimed at identifying and addressing unmet clinical needs (UCNs) in the use of zanubrutinib in the lymphomas which have received the approval of use, specifically Waldenström macroglubulinemia, marginal zone lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma. Key UCNs were selected according to the criterion of clinical relevance using the Delphi process. The panel produced recommendations and proposals for new studies for the management of the identified UCNs. These recommendations are intended for use not only by expert centers but above all by not experienced hematologists as well as general practitioners.

Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment

Simple Summary

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) is an indolent lymphoproliferative disease morphologically composed of small heterogeneous B lymphocytes. It generally occurs with a localized stage and can arise in various organs, the most frequent being the stomach, lung, and ocular adnexa. Depending on the presentation and the possible association with infectious agents, different therapeutic approaches are to be undertaken. The purpose of this review is to describe the biology underlying this pathology, the diagnostic, and therapeutic approach.

Abstract

Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma (EMZL lymphoma) is an indolent B-cell lymphoma with a median age at diagnosis of about 60 years. It accounts for 7–8% of all B-cell lymphomas. It can occur in various extranodal sites, including stomach, lung, ocular adnexa, and skin; furthermore, the disseminated disease can be found in 25–50% of cases. Several infectious agents, such as Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) in the case of gastric Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma, can drive the pathogenesis of this cancer, through the autoantigenic stimulation of T cells, but there may also be other factors participating such autoimmune diseases. Initial staging should include total body computed tomography, bone marrow aspirate, and endoscopic investigation if indicated. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), should be performed to detect the presence of specific chromosomal translocations involving the MALT1 and BCL10 genes, which leads to the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Depending on the location and dissemination of the disease, different therapeutic choices may include targeted therapy against the etiopathogenetic agent, radiotherapy, immunochemotherapy, and biological drugs. The purpose of this review is to illustrate the complex biology and the diagnosis of this disease and to better define new treatment strategies.

Durable ibrutinib responses in relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma: long-term follow-up and biomarker analysis

Advanced marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is an incurable B-cell malignancy dependent on B-cell receptor signaling. The phase 2 PCYC-1121 study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of single-agent ibrutinib 560 mg/d in 63 patients with relapsed/refractory MZL treated with prior rituximab (RTX) or rituximab-based chemoimmunotherapy (RTX-CIT). We report the final analysis of PCYC-1121 with median follow-up of 33.1 months (range: 1.4-44.6). Overall response rate (ORR) was 58%; median duration of response (DOR) was 27.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.1 to not estimable [NE]); median progression-free survival (PFS) was 15.7 months (95% CI: 12.2-30.4); and median overall survival (OS) was not reached (95% CI: NE to NE). Patients with prior RTX treatment had better outcomes (ORR: 81%; median DOR: not reached [95% CI: 12.2 to NE]; median PFS: 30.4 months [95% CI: 22.1 to NE]; median OS: not reached [95% CI: 30.3 to NE]) vs those with prior RTX-CIT treatment (ORR: 51%; DOR: 12.4 months [95% CI: 2.8 to NE]; PFS: 13.8 months [95% CI: 8.3-22.5]; OS: not reached [95% CI: NE to NE]). ORRs were 63%, 47%, and 62% for extranodal, nodal, and splenic subtypes, respectively. With up to 45 months of ibrutinib treatment, the safety profile remained consistent with prior reports. The most common grade ≥3 event was anemia (16%). Exploratory biomarker analysis showed NF-κB pathway gene mutations correlated with outcomes. Final analysis of PCYC-1121 demonstrated long-term safety and efficacy of ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory MZL, regardless of prior treatment or MZL subtype. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01980628.

Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma: No Longer Just a Sidekick

The Oncology Grand Rounds series is designed to place original reports published in the Journal into clinical context. A case presentation is followed by a description of diagnostic and management challenges, a review of the relevant literature, and a summary of the authors’ suggested management approaches. The goal of this series is to help readers better understand how to apply the results of key studies, including those published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, to patients seen in their own clinical practice.

A 51-year-old healthy female with good performance status presented for gynecologic surgery for a benign condition. A preprocedure chest x-ray showed a right lower lobe infiltrate. A subsequent computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest with contrast revealed a large consolidative right lower lobe mass with surrounding inflammation ( Fig 1A ). Bronchoscopy with biopsy revealed a low-grade lymphoma with the following immunophenotype: CD45+, CD20+, BCL2+, CD10 negative, CD5 negative, cyclin D1 negative, and Ki-67 index of less than 5%. Morphology and immunohistochemistry were most consistent with pulmonary extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (ENMZL; Fig 2 ). The patient was asymptomatic and denied fevers, sweats, weight loss, shortness of breath or dyspnea on exertion, or cough. Her history was notable for exposure to parrots over several months before presentation. Complete staging with a CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis with contrast redemonstrated disease that was localized to the chest with mild compression of the pulmonary vasculature but no other evidence of lymphoma. She was referred to discuss management of stage IAE pulmonary ENMZL lymphoma.

A single center experience: rituximab plus cladribine is an effective and safe first-line therapy for unresectable bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma is a relatively rare form of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). To date, the standard systemic treatment for this disease is still under debate, and few data are accessible for newly diagnosed unresectable BALT lymphoma presented with advanced disease. The combination of rituximab (R) and cladribine (2-CdA) has shown some activity in indolent B-NHL, but its usage has not been tested in disseminated BALT lymphoma so far.

METHODS

An observational retrospective study was performed on homogeneous data of 8 patients with biopsy-proven stage IV BALT lymphoma to assess the efficacy and the safety of R-2-CdA therapy. All but one of the patients received six courses of R-2-CdA regimen consisted of rituximab 375 mg/m² IV day 1 and cladribine 0.1 mg/kg IV days 1-4 every 21 days; one patient completed 4 cycles and received additional R maintenance.

RESULTS

A high overall response rate (ORR) was observed (100%), with 2 patients (25%) achieved a complete remission (CR), the remaining (75%) a partial response. Improvement of pulmonary function was observed in all tested patients. Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were leukocytopenia and neutropenia in 3 patients (37.5%), diarrhea in one (12.5%). Estimated two-year progression-free survival (PFS) and 2-yr overall survival (OS) were 80.0% (95% CI, 20.3-96.7%) and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

R-2-CdA therapy demonstrated high activity and tolerable toxicity in chemotherapy-naïve patients with unresectable BALT lymphoma of advanced stage. Although further large-scale study is needed for consolidation, R-2-CdA regimen could be a good first-line therapy option for patients with unresectable BALT lymphoma.

Targeting Bruton tyrosine kinase with ibrutinib in relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma

Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is a heterogeneous B-cell malignancy for which no standard treatment exists. MZL is frequently linked to chronic infection, which may induce B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, resulting in aberrant B-cell survival and proliferation. We conducted a multicenter, open-label, phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ibrutinib in previously treated MZL. Patients with histologically confirmed MZL of all subtypes who received ≥1 prior therapy with an anti-CD20 antibody-containing regimen were treated with 560 mg ibrutinib orally once daily until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was independent review committee-assessed overall response rate (ORR) by 2007 International Working Group criteria. Among 63 enrolled patients, median age was 66 years (range, 30-92). Median number of prior systemic therapies was 2 (range, 1-9), and 63% received ≥1 prior chemoimmunotherapy. In 60 evaluable patients, ORR was 48% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35-62). With median follow-up of 19.4 months, median duration of response was not reached (95% CI, 16.7 to not estimable), and median progression-free survival was 14.2 months (95% CI, 8.3 to not estimable). Grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs; >5%) included anemia, pneumonia, and fatigue. Serious AEs of any grade occurred in 44%, with grade 3-4 pneumonia being the most common (8%). Rates of discontinuation and dose reductions due to AEs were 17% and 10%, respectively. Single-agent ibrutinib induced durable responses with a favorable benefit-risk profile in patients with previously treated MZL, confirming the role of BCR signaling in this malignancy. As the only approved therapy, ibrutinib provides a treatment option without chemotherapy for MZL. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01980628.

Ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphoma: Clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment

Ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphoma (OAML) represents 1-2% of all non Hodgkin lymphomas. In the last few years many advances in understanding the pathogenesis and the molecular basis involved in its development have been done. Many potential risk factors have been proposed; a dysregulation of immune response in association with a chronic antigenic stimulation, have been hypothesized as possible pathogenic mechanism. In particular, Chlamydia psittaci infection has been related to OAML arising, and eradicating antibiotic therapy has been addressed as a safe and cost-effective approach. Management of OAML is still heterogeneous and matter of debate. There is no consensus about the best upfront treatment and therapeutic decision should take into account several patient-, lymphoma- and treatment-related factors. Novel agents and chemotherapy-free strategies are being investigated to reduce side effects and improve tumor control. This review is focused in recent knowledge improvements in this lymphoma.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment of marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma)

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) accounts for 7% to 8% of newly diagnosed lymphomas. Because of its association with infectious causes, such as Helicobacter pylori (HP) or Chlamydophila psittaci (CP), and autoimmune diseases, it has become the paradigm of an antigen-driven malignancy. MALT lymphoma usually displays an indolent course, and watch-and-wait strategies are justified initially in a certain percentage of patients. In patients with gastric MALT lymphoma or ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma, antibiotic therapy against HP or CP, respectively, is the first-line management of choice, resulting in lymphoma response rates from 75% to 80% after HP eradication and from 33% to 65% after antibiotic therapy for CP. In patients who have localized disease that is refractory to antibiotics, radiation is widely applied in various centers with excellent local control, whereas systemic therapies are increasingly being applied, at least in Europe, because of the potentially systemic nature of the disease. Therefore, the objective of this review is to briefly summarize the clinicopathologic characteristics of this distinct type of lymphoma along with current data on management strategies.

Long-term safety and activity of cladribine in patients with extranodal B-cell marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma

The purine analogue 2-chloro-deoxyadenosine (2-CDA, cladribine) +/- rituximab has been successfully tested in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT lymphoma) patients. However, studies using cladribine in other indications have reported the potential for prolonged hematological side effects and secondary hematologic and non-hematologic malignancies. To date, there have been no data on long-term effects of cladribine in MALT lymphoma patients. We have analyzed a large number of 49 patients treated with cladribine at our institution 1997-2011. All patients were treated within clinical trials and had undergone a standardized follow-up protocol minimizing a potential bias in the detection of late sequels and relapses. After a median follow-up time of 61 months (interquartile range: 43-72) for 49 analyzed patients, 35 (71%) are alive, while 14 (29%) have died. In the entire collective, three cases (6%) of prolonged pancytopenia including manifest myelodysplastic syndrome in one patient (2%), three cases (6%) of secondary lymphoid malignancies, and five cases (10%) of non-hematologic cancers were documented. In terms of outcome, 42/49 (86%) patients responded to cladribine-containing treatment, and only 10/42 (24%) responding patients needed further treatment after a median time to progression of 14 months (interquartile range, 8-34). Currently, 25/35 (71%) patients being alive are in ongoing complete remission and 2/35 (6%) in ongoing stable disease, respectively. Eight patients (23%) are free of lymphoma after second-line therapy, with the median overall survival not having been reached. Our data suggest that cladribine might be safely applied in patients with MALT lymphoma, also in terms of long-term toxicities. These data also confirm the potential of cladribine to induce durable remissions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Survival of patients with gastric lymphoma in Germany and in the United States

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study aims to examine survival for gastric lymphomas and its main subtypes, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT), and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), in Germany and in the United States.

METHODS

Data for patients diagnosed in 1997-2010 were used from 10 population-based German cancer registries and compared to the data from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 13 registries database. Patients age 15-74 diagnosed with gastric lymphomas were included in the analysis. Period analysis and modeled period analysis were used to estimate 5-year and 10-year relative survival (RS) in 2002-2010 and survival trends from 2002-2004 to 2008-2010.

RESULTS

Overall, the database included 1534 and 2688 patients diagnosed with gastric lymphoma in 1997-2010 in Germany and in the United States, respectively. Survival was substantially higher for MALT (5-year and 10-year RS: 89.0% and 80.9% in Germany, 93.8% and 86.8% in the United States) than for DLBCL (67.5% and 59.2% in Germany, and 65.3% and 54.7% in the United States) in 2002-2010. Survival was slightly higher among female patients and decreased by age for gastric lymphomas combined and its main subtypes. A slight, nonsignificant, increase in the 5-year RS for gastric lymphomas combined was observed in Germany and the United States, with increases in 5-year RS between 2002-2004 and 2008-2010 from 77.1% to 81.0% and from 77.3% to 82.0%, respectively. Five-year RS of MALT exceeded 90% in 2008-2010 in both countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Five-year RS of MALT meanwhile exceeds 90% in both Germany and the United States, but DLBCL has remained below 70% in both countries.

MALT Lymphoma of the Bladder: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The presentation of a MALT lymphoma in the bladder is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, the optimal treatment of primary MALT confined to the bladder remains to be defined. Here, we report a case of a 65-year-old female with primary MALT lymphoma treated with definitive radiation therapy. The patient received a total dose of 30 Gy in 20 equal daily fractions to the bladder and tolerated the treatment well. In addition, we have extensively reviewed the relevant literature to better define the optimal management of this rare disease. In conclusion, primary MALT lymphoma of the bladder represents a rare malignancy with excellent prognosis if detected at an early stage. For early stage disease, definitive radiation represents an excellent treatment modality with a minimal side-effect profile.

Chemoimmunotherapy for Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue-Type Lymphoma: A Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Biological treatments, chemoimmunotherapy, and radiotherapy are associated with excellent disease control in both gastric and extragastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. Systemic treatment approaches with both oral and i.v. agents are being increasingly studied, not only for patients with disseminated MALT lymphoma, but also for those with localized disease. To date, however, recommendations for the use of available systemic modalities have not been clearly defined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present report reviews the current data on systemic treatment options for patients with MALT lymphoma and provides recommendations for their use in everyday practice.

RESULTS

Different chemotherapeutic agents, including anthracyclines, alkylators, and purine analogs, have been successfully tested in patients with MALT lymphoma. Reducing side effects while maintaining efficacy should be the main goal in treating these indolent lymphomas. From the data from the largest trial performed to date, the combination of chlorambucil plus rituximab (R) appears to be active as first-line treatment. Similarly, R-bendamustine also seems to be highly effective, but a longer follow-up period is needed. R-monotherapy results in lower remission rates, but seems a suitable option for less fit patients. New immunotherapeutic agents such as lenalidomide (with or without rituximab) or clarithromycin show solid activity but have not yet been validated in larger collectives.

CONCLUSION

Patients with MALT lymphoma should be treated within prospective trials to further define optimal therapeutic strategies. Systemic treatment is a reasonable option with potentially curative intent in everyday practice. Based on the efficacy and safety data from available studies, the present review provides recommendations for the use of systemic strategies.

Helicobacter pylori-negative gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas: A review

Since Isaacson and Wright first reported on the extra-nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the stomach in 1983, following studies have clarified many aspects of this disease. We now know that the stomach is the most affected organ by this disease, and approximately 90% of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are related to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This implies that approximately 10% of gastric MALT lymphomas occur independent of H. pylori infection. The pathogenesis of these H. pylori-negative gastric MALT lymphomas remains unclear. To date, there have been several speculations. One possibility is that genetic alterations result in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Among these alterations, t(11;18)(q21;q21) is more frequently observed in H. pylori-negative gastric MALT lymphomas, and such translocation results in the synthesis of fusion protein API2-MALT1, which causes canonical and noncanonical NF-κB activation. Another possibility is infection with bacteria other than H. pylori. This could explain why H. pylori eradication therapy can cure some proportions of H. pylori-negative gastric MALT lymphoma patients, although the bacteria responsible for MALT lymphomagenesis are yet to be defined. Recent advances in endoscopy suggest magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging as a useful tool for both detecting gastric MALT lymphoma lesions and judging the response to treatment. A certain proportion of H. pylori-negative gastric MALT lymphoma patients respond to eradication therapy; hence, H. pylori eradication therapy could be considered as a first-line treatment for gastric MALT lymphomas regardless of their H. pylori infection status.

Lymphoma of the urinary bladder

Background. Lymphoma of the urinary bladder (LUB) is rare. Aims. To review the literature on LUB. Methods. Various internet databases were used. Results. LUB can be either primary or secondary. The tumour has female predominance; most cases occur in middle-age women. Secondary LUB occurs in 10% to 25% of leukemias/lymphomas and in advanced-stage systemic lymphoma. Less than 100 cases have been reported. MALT typically affects adults older than 60 years; 75% are female. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is also common and may arise from transformation of MALT. LUB presents with haematuria, dysuria, urinary frequency, nocturia, and abdominal or back pain. Macroscopic examination of LUBs show large discrete tumours centred in the dome or lateral walls of the bladder. Positive staining of LUB varies by the subtype of lymphoma; B-cell lymphomas are CD20 positive. MALT lymphoma is positively stained for CD20, CD19, and FMC7 and negatively stained for CD5, CD10, and CD11c. LUB stains negatively with Pan-keratin, vimentin, CK20, and CK7. MALT lymphoma exhibits t(11; 18)(q21: 21). Radiotherapy is an effective treatment for the MALT type of LUB with no recurrence. Conclusions. LUB is diagnosed by its characteristic morphology and immunohistochemical characteristics. Radiotherapy is a useful treatment.

Treatment of gastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone

There is no standard treatment for patients with gastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) who are resistant to, or ineligible for, anti-Helicobacter pylori (anti-HP) therapy. In this study, we investigated the activity of the rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (R-CVP) regimen in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma. Patients were included provided they had untreated gastric MALT lymphoma (except for anti-HP therapy) and were resistant to, or ineligible for, anti-HP therapy. Treatment plan consisted of six to eight 21-day cycles of the R-CVP chemotherapy regimen. Toxicity, response, relapse and survival were evaluated. Twenty patients (12 women and 8 men) were included in the analyses with median age of 59 years. Thirteen patients (65%) had stage I tumours, and seven patients (35%) had stages II-IV tumours. The overall response rate was 100%, with 19 (95%) complete responses and one (5%) partial response. Regimen toxicity was mild and mainly hematological, and no cases of gastric bleeding or perforation occurred. After a median follow-up of 56.3 months, three patients had relapsed, and 19 patients remained alive (specific lymphoma survival 100%), of whom 17 had no evidence of disease. In our experience, the R-CVP regimen is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for patients with gastric MALT lymphoma who are resistant to, or ineligible for, anti-HP therapy.

Two tracheal BALT lymphoma patients successfully treated with chemotherapy including rituximab

Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma of the trachea, an important differential diagnosis for tracheal tumors, is a rare disease with characteristic bronchoscopic findings. In this study, we reviewed 2 cases of patients who were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis, with tumors in the trachea and left main bronchus, putting them at high risk for asphyxia. Chemotherapies including rituximab were administered, and complete remission was confirmed in both cases. Because tracheal tumors often have a pernicious course, it might be beneficial to initiate a chemotherapeutic treatment regimen instead of adopting the "wait-and-see" approach in patients with symptomatic tracheal BALT lymphoma.

Stage IV intramucosal gastric marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type

A 45-year-old woman with no symptoms underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. A discolored area was noted at the greater curvature of the gastric upper body. Endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated thickening of the second sonographic layer indicating that the depth of invasion was confined to the mucosa. A urea breath test and anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody test were negative. A computed tomography scan showed a consolidation at the right lung. Gastric biopsy and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) demonstrated a monotonous proliferation of atypical small lymphocytes. A diagnosis of gastric marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type (MALT lymphoma) was made. The clinical stage was stage IV. A genetic analysis showed rearrangement of the joining region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and identical clones in both lesions. An API2-MALT1 fusion gene was detected in the gastric lesion. After H. pylori eradication treatment, combination treatment with rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) was performed; 6 months later an endoscopy revealed complete disappearance of the lesion. Multiple gastric biopsies showed no infiltrating atypical lymphocytes. Similarly, the lesion in the lung showed complete remission (CR) on CT and TBLB. This report shows that a gastric MALT lymphoma located in the mucosa and disseminated to the lung maintained CR by R-CHOP.

Helicobacter pylori infection, chronic inflammation, and genomic transformations in gastric MALT lymphoma

Nowadays, it is believed that the main role in the development of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma plays Helicobacter pylori infection. This world-wide distributed bacteria is in charge of most cases of not only upper gastrointestinal tract disorders but also some of extragastric problems. Constant stimulation of the immune system causes a B-lymphocytes proliferation, which is considered to be responsible for the neoplastic transformation. On the other hand, there are 10%–20% of patients who do not respond to Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment. This group has often a chromosome translocation, which suggests that there is another unknown, so far, pathogenetic mechanism of MALT lymphoma. Majority of genetic abnormalities are connected with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, which activates the uncontrolled proliferation of neoplastic cells. Translocations already described in studies are t(11;18)(q21;q21), which is the most common, t(14;18)(q32;q21), t(14;18)(q32;q21), and t(3;14)(p14.1;q32). This non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is an indolent type originated outside lymph nodes. In more than 50% of cases, it occurs in the stomach. Occasionally, it can be found in salivary and thyroid gland, lung, breast, bladder, skin, or any other place in the human body. This paper is a review of the current knowledge on etiology, pathogenesis, treatment, and follow-up of gastric MALT lymphoma.

Marginal zone lymphoma: old, new, targeted, and epigenetic therapies

Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is an indolent B-cell lymphoma arising from marginal zone B-cells present in lymph nodes and extranodal tissues. MZL comprises 5-17% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in adults. The World Health Organization categorizes MZL into three distinct types based on their site of impact: (1) splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL); (2) nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL); (3) extranodal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, which can be subdivided into gastric and nongastric. The subgroups of MZL share some common features but are different in their biology and behavior. Owing to the rarity of MZL there are few randomized trials available comparing various treatment options and therefore treatment is controversial, lacking standard guidelines. Treatment should be patient tailored and can range from a 'watchful waiting' approach for asymptomatic patients without cytopenias to surgery or localized radiation therapy. Rituximab in combination with chemotherapy has resulted in longer failure-free survival than chemotherapy alone in patients with SMZL. Helicobacter pylori positive gastric MALT shows a good response rate to triple antibiotic therapy. Newer therapies such as bendamustine, everolimus, lenalidomide, vorinostat and phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors are in clinical trials for patients with relapsed or refractory MZL and have shown promising results. We are presently conducting clinical trials testing the efficacy of the epigenetic activity of cladribine as a hypomethylating agent in combination with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) vorinostat and rituximab in patients with MZL. Further studies with the newer agents should be done both in newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory MZL to streamline the care and to avoid the use of toxic chemotherapies as initial treatment.

[Six cases of pulmonary MALT lymphoma: a heterogeneous therapeutic management]

Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas (PMALT) account for around 1% of lymphomas. Clinical and radiological presentations, and the treatment of six PMALT were collected from 1993 to 2008. All patients received chemotherapy before disease progression. Two patients had a lobectomy and one received thoracic radiotherapy. In 2008, all the patients were alive and three were in remission. A "watch and wait" strategy is widely accepted for stable, asymptomatic patients and patients with low tumour mass. Surgery may be proposed for symptomatic patients who have localised PMALT. When a chemotherapy treatment is to be suggested, chlorambucil-based chemotherapy is preferred. There may be room for rituximab alone or in combination, but this remains to be precisely defined. Several larger studies are currently ongoing to assess the role of monoclonal antibodies and chemotherapy in MALT lymphomas. Subgroup analysis should help us to define the optimal treatment for PMALT.

90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) in heavily pretreated patients with mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

Radioimmunotherapy using (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan has predominantly been used in patients with follicular lymphoma, but little is known about its activity in patients with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). A total of six patients progressing/relapsing following conventional therapy for MALT lymphoma were treated with (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan at our institution. Two patients had gastric MALT lymphoma, one suffered from orbital MALT lymphoma, and two had cutaneous MALT lymphoma, while one patient had a widely disseminated lymphoma involving the stomach, lungs, lymph nodes, and salivary glands. All patients were at least in third relapse following various forms of therapy including Helicobacter pylori-eradication, radiation, chemotherapy, and application of rituximab. Following two doses of rituximab at 250 mg/m(2) at an interval of 1 week, (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan was given immediately at a dose of 0.4 mCi/kg body weight. Treatment was well tolerated apart from one episode of pneumonia requiring hospitalization. Four patients developed a complete remission (ongoing now for 4, 16, 23, and 24 months), one patient had a partial response lasting for 5 months, and one patient had stable disease for 13 months. After a follow-up of 9-29 months, all patients are alive. Application of (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan is active and safe in heavily pretreated patients with MALT lymphoma.

Relapsed or refractory nongastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma: multicenter retrospective analysis of 92 cases

Over its long survival duration, marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZL) routinely involves frequent relapses. In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis to identify the clinical features and outcomes of relapsed or refractory MZL. From 1995 to 2008, a total of 92 patients with relapsed MZL were retrospectively analyzed. The median age of our subjects was 53.5 years (range: 23-82 years). The most common primary sites of involvement were the orbit and ocular adnexa (28.3%) followed by the lymph node and lymphatic organs (23.9%), and multiple mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) sites (13.0%). The median time to relapse from initial diagnosis was 25.5 months. Of the 53 patients with Stage I or II at diagnosis, 42 patients (79.2%) evidenced locoregional recurrence. Among these locoregional relapsed patients, 27 patients achieved CR (54.1%) or PR (18.9%). In addition to the 39 patients initially in advanced Stage III or IV, a total of 50 patients were in advanced stage at relapse. Among those patients with advanced stage at relapse, 44 patients were treated. The overall response rate was 54.5% (24 patients), with 18 CRs and 6 PRs. The median time to progression (TTP) was 34.1 months (95% CI: 11.3-56.9 months) and the estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) was 84.3%. The majority of them was controlled well with salvage treatment, and could achieve prolonged survival. However, patients' refractory to initial therapy and advanced relapse evidenced shorter TTP and OS. Thus, we need to consider more aggressive treatment in cases of refractory MZL or advanced relapsed MZL.

A phase II study of bortezomib in patients with MALT lymphoma

We have performed a phase II study to evaluate bortezomib in patients with MALT-lymphoma. Sixteen patients entered the trial, 4 had gastric MALT-lymphoma, 7 of the ocular adnexa, one of the colon, and 2 of the parotid, and one patient each the lung and the breast. Bortezomib was given at 1.5 mg/m(2) days 1, 4, 8 and 11; repeated every 21 days. The overall response rate was 80% (13/16); 7 patients achieved complete remission (43%), 6 partial response (37%) and 3 stable disease. After a median follow-up of 23 months (range; 8-26), all patients are alive and 4 have relapsed. Fifteen patients required dose reductions due to either neuropathy (7 patients) or diarrhea (8 patients). Bortezomib appears to be active in patients with MALT-lymphoma. However, an unexpectedly high rate of toxicities was seen, warranting assessment of combination schedules with bortezomib at a lower dose than given in our study.

Systemic lymphoproliferative diseases

With advancements in diagnosis and treatment for lymphoma, it is important that physicians be up to date in the management of these lymphoproliferative disorders, their associated complications, and the complications of treatment. The importance of a thorough examination of the oro-facial complex and neck on all patients cannot be overemphasized. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons continue to make significant contributions in what has become a multidisciplinary approach to managing lymphoproliferative disease.

Effect of L-carnitine against acute mitoxantrone toxicity in mice

Various experiments were performed in our laboratory to define a possible role for carnitine derivatives in mitoxantrone (MX) therapy. We report here the results of the effect of L-carnitine (LCAR) on the lethal toxicity of MX in mice. MX was administered intravenously at doses of 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 or 17 mg kg−1 either alone or in combination with LCAR at a single intravenous dose of 200 mg kg−1. The dependence of the probability of death on various doses was evaluated for the MX-LCAR combination compared to MX alone. From these experiments, the following lethal dose fifty (LD50) values were calculated: LD50 for MX alone was 15.2 mg kg−1, whereas in combination with LCAR it increases to 21.8 mg kg−1. The relative toxicity given as the ratio of the LD50 of both MX alone and the combination of MX-LCAR was 69.7%. The results of our experiments unequivocally show the effect of LCAR on acute toxic doses of MX.

Primary extranodal lymphomas of stomach: clinical presentation, diagnostic pitfalls and management

Gastrointestinal lymphoma is the most common form of extranodal lymphoma, accounting for 30%-40% of cases. The most commonly involved site is the stomach (60%-75% of cases), followed by the small bowel, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum. The most common histological subtypes are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Helicobacter pylori infection has been implicated in the pathogenesis of MALT gastric lymphoma, but its role in gastric diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is controversial. The therapeutic approach for patients with gastric NHL has been revised over the last 10 years. Conservative treatment with anthracycline-based chemotherapy alone or in combination with involved-field radiotherapy has replaced gastrectomy as standard therapy in cases with DLBCL. Additionally, MALT lymphomas are mainly treated with antibiotics alone, which can induce lasting remissions in those cases associated with H. pylori infection. Nevertheless, various therapeutic aspects for primary gastric lymphomas are still controversial and several questions remain unanswered. Among others, the role of rituximab, consolidation radiotherapy as well as H. pylori eradication in histological aggressive subtypes warrants better clarification.

Pathology and clinical course of MALT lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation

BACKGROUND

The feature of plasmacytic differentiation (PCD) is present in up to 30% of patients diagnosed with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. To date, the influence of PCD on the clinical course of MALT lymphoma has not been assessed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Therefore, we have retrospectively analysed the clinical characteristics and the course of the disease in 34 (25%) patients with PCD as compared with 101 (75%) MALT lymphoma patients without this histological feature.

RESULTS

Patients with PCD had significantly more extragastric lymphomas [28 of 34 (82%) versus 54 of 101 (53%), P = 0.003] and a significantly lower rate of t(11;18) [2 of 26 (8%) versus 22 of 72 (31%), P = 0.02]. There was no significant difference of age at diagnosis (62 versus 64 years, P = 0.64), relapse rate (48% versus 37%, P = 0.27), estimated median time to progression (43 versus 65 months, P = 0.14), monoclonal gammopathy (50% versus 44%, P = 0.63), t(14;18) involving IGH/MALT 1 (11% versus 8%, P = 0.68), trisomy 3 (31% versus 27%, P = 0.69), trisomy 18 (8% versus 10%, P = 0.74) and the presence of autoimmune diseases between both groups (53% versus 37%, P = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we found that PCD is predominantly found in extragastric MALT lymphoma but has no significant impact on clinical course and prognosis.

Therapy of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a relatively common lymphoma and comprises approximately 7% of all newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is mainly located in the stomach and has become a focus of interest due to its unique pathophysiological link with Helicobacter pylori (HP) and the consecutive response to HP eradication therapy. In view of this, HP eradication has become standard treatment for patients with localised disease, and recent data have suggested that HP-negative patients might benefit from antibiotic treatment. In case of non-response, however, the standard approach in such patients is unclear. Both radiation and chemotherapy have shown promising results, and at present there is only one randomised study, which nevertheless suggests chemotherapy as management of choice. The objective of this review is, therefore, to summarise and evaluate the data available for treatment of gastric MALT lymphoma and to highlight potential focus for further research.