Update on mantle cell lymphoma

Validation of predicted individual treatment effects in out of sample respondents

Personalized medicine promises the ability to improve patient outcomes by tailoring treatment recommendations to the likelihood that any given patient will respond well to a given treatment. It is important that predictions of treatment response be validated and replicated in independent data to support their use in clinical practice. In this paper, we propose and test an approach for validating predictions of individual treatment effects with continuous outcomes across samples that uses matching in a test (validation) sample to match individuals in the treatment and control arms based on their predicted treatment response and their predicted response under control. To examine the proposed validation approach, we conducted simulations where test data is generated from either an identical, similar, or unrelated process to the training data. We also examined the impact of nuisance variables. To demonstrate the use of this validation procedure in the context of predicting individual treatment effects in the treatment of alcohol use disorder, we apply our validation procedure using data from a clinical trial of combined behavioral and pharmacotherapy treatments. We find that the validation algorithm accurately confirms validation and lack of validation, and also provides insights into cases where test data were generated under similar, but not identical conditions. We also show that the presence of nuisance variables detrimentally impacts algorithm performance, which can be partially reduced though the use of variable selection methods. An advantage of the approach is that it can be widely applied to different predictive methods.

Knowledge, skills, and confidence gaps impacting treatment decision making in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma: a quantitative survey study in France, Germany, and the United States

BACKGROUND

With recent advancements in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), healthcare specialists may face challenges making treatment and management decisions based on latest evidence for the optimal care of patients with these conditions. This study aimed to identify specific knowledge, skills, and confidence gaps impacting the treatment of CLL and MCL, to inform future educational activities.

METHODS

Hematologists and hemato-oncologists (HCPs, n = 224) from France (academic settings), Germany, and the United States (academic and community settings) responded to a 15-minute quantitative needs assessment survey that measured perceived knowledge, skills, and confidence levels regarding different aspects of treatment and management of CLL and MCL patients, as well as clinical case questions. Descriptive statistics (cross tabulations) and Chi-square tests were conducted.

RESULTS

Four areas of educational need were identified: (1) sub-optimal knowledge of treatment guidelines; (2) sub-optimal knowledge of molecular testing to inform CLL/MCL treatment decisions; (3) sub-optimal skills when making treatment decisions according to patient profile (co-morbidities, molecular testing results); and (4) challenges balancing the risk of toxicities with benefits of treatment. Over one-third of the respondents reported skill gaps when selecting suitable treatment options and prescribing therapies and reported a lack in confidence to initiate and manage treatment. Larger gaps in knowledge of guidelines and skills in patient assessment were identified in MCL, compared to CLL.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests the need for continuing medical education specifically to improve knowledge of treatment guidelines, and to assist clinicians in developing skills and confidence when faced with clinical decision-making scenarios of patients with specific comorbidities and/or molecular test results, for example, through case-based learning activities.

Mantle cell lymphoma characterized by numerous diffuse polypoid lesions along the entire digestive tract: A case report

Primary mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in the gastrointestinal tract is rare, accounting for 4-9% of all reported cases of gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Furthermore, involvement of the entire gastrointestinal tract in MCL is rare. The present report describes an example of MCL characterized by numerous diffuse polypoid lesions along the whole digestive tract. In particular, there was a focus on the endoscopic presentation of the digestive tract. The patient initially received a treatment regimen of rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone. After two cycles of treatment, the regimen was changed to rituximab combined with etoposide, oxaliplatin and ifosfamide, with the addition of ibrutinib capsules. Patients with MCL have a poor prognosis; however, complete response can be achieved after treatment.

STAT5B Suppresses Ferroptosis by Promoting DCAF13 Transcription to Regulate p53/xCT Pathway to Promote Mantle Cell Lymphoma Progression

Objective

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mechanism by which STAT5B inhibits ferroptosis in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) by promoting DCAF13 transcriptional regulation of p53/xCT pathway.

Methods

The correlations between STAT5B, DCAF13 and ferroptosis in MCL were analyzed using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA, http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn/index.html). The expression levels and pairwise correlations of STAT5B, DCAF13, p53 and xCT in MCL patients were detected, respectively. STAT5B was silenced to confirm their criticality in MCL ferroptosis. the effects of blocking necrosis, apoptosis and ferroptosis on the anti-MCL effects of STAT5B were examined. Cells with STAT5B overexpression and/or DCAF13 silencing were constructed to confirm the involvement of DCAF13 in the STAT5B-regulated p53/xCT pathway. The regulation of p53 ubiquitination was confirmed by DCAF13 overexpression and MG132. The effects of silencing DCAF13 and MG132 on STAT5B overexpression on MCL was clarified by a tumor-bearing nude mouse model.

Results

DCAF13 was overexpressed in MCL and positively correlated with STAT5B, negatively correlated with p53, and positively correlated with xCT. Inhibition of ferroptosis alleviated the inhibitory effects of siSTAT5B on MCL, while inhibition of necrosis and apoptosis had few effects. Silencing of DCAF13 led to the blocking of STAT5B regulation of p53/xCT and ferroptosis. The changes in DCAF13 and the addition of MG132 did not have statistically significant effects on p53 mRNA. Elevation of DCAF13 resulted in downregulation of p53 protein levels, and this inhibition was reversed by MG132. In animal models, the promotion of MCL and the inhibition of ferroptosis by STAT5B. Silencing of DCAF13 blocked STAT5B inhibition of p53 and induction of xCT, GPX4, and GSH.

Conclusion

STAT5B suppresses ferroptosis by promoting DCAF13 transcription to regulate p53/xCT pathway to promote MCL progression.

The CDK9 inhibitor enitociclib overcomes resistance to BTK inhibition and CAR-T therapy in mantle cell lymphoma

Inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTKi) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy targeting CD19 are paradigm-shifting advances in treating patients with aggressive mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, clinical relapses following BTKi and CD19-directed CAR-T treatments are a fast-growing medical challenge. Development of novel therapies to overcome BTKi resistance (BTKi-R) and BTKi-CAR-T dual resistance (Dual-R) are urgently needed. Our single-cell RNA sequencing data revealed major transcriptomic reprogramming, with great enrichment of MYC-targets evolving as resistance to these therapies developed. Interestingly, cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), a critical component of the positive transcription elongation factor-b complex, was among the top upregulated genes in Dual-R vs. BTKi-R samples. We therefore hypothesized that targeting CDK9 may turn off MYC-driven tumor survival and drug resistance. Enitociclib (formerly VIP152) is a selective CDK9 inhibitor whose potency against MCL has not been assessed. In this study, we found that enitociclib was highly potent in targeting lymphoma cells, with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 32 to 172 nM in MCL and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell lines. It inhibited CDK9 phosphorylation and downstream events including de novo synthesis of the short-lived proteins c-MYC, MCL-1, and cyclin D1, and induced apoptosis in a caspase-3-dependent manner. Enitociclib potently inhibited in vivo tumor growth of cell line-derived and patient-derived xenografts having therapeutic resistance. Our data demonstrate the potency of enitociclib in overcoming therapeutic resistance in MCL models and provide evidence in favor of its clinical investigation.

Primary adrenal mantle cell lymphoma mimicking a non-functional retroperitoneal paraganglioma

Key Clinical Message

Patients presenting with abdominal pain and retroperitoneal mass in radiographic images may be in the early stages of primary adrenal mantle cell lymphoma, which requires histological studies for a definite diagnosis.

Abstract

This report presents a 37-year-old woman complaining of ambiguous abdominal pain, with imaging findings revealing a retroperitoneal abdominal mass on the left side of the aorta, and a possible diagnosis of non-functional retroperitoneal paraganglioma. Total laparoscopic excision was performed. Surprisingly, histological examinations revealed features in favor of mantle cell lymphoma.

Ibrutinib as first-line therapy for mantle cell lymphoma: a multicenter, real-world UK study

ABSTRACT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ibrutinib with or without rituximab was approved in England for initial treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) instead of immunochemotherapy. Because limited data are available in this setting, we conducted an observational cohort study evaluating safety and efficacy. Adults receiving ibrutinib with or without rituximab for untreated MCL were evaluated for treatment toxicity, response, and survival, including outcomes in high-risk MCL (TP53 mutation/deletion/p53 overexpression, blastoid/pleomorphic, or Ki67 ≥ 30%). A total of 149 patients from 43 participating centers were enrolled: 74.1% male, median age 75 years, 75.2% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status of 0 to 1, 36.2% high-risk, and 8.9% autologous transplant candidates. All patients received ≥1 cycle ibrutinib (median, 8 cycles), 39.0% with rituximab. Grade ≥3 toxicity occurred in 20.3%, and 33.8% required dose reductions/delays. At 15.6-month median follow-up, 41.6% discontinued ibrutinib, 8.1% due to toxicity. Of 104 response-assessed patients, overall (ORR) and complete response (CR) rates were 71.2% and 20.2%, respectively. ORR was 77.3% (low risk) vs 59.0% (high risk) (P = .05) and 78.7% (ibrutinib-rituximab) vs 64.9% (ibrutinib; P = .13). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 26.0 months (all patients); 13.7 months (high risk) vs not reached (NR) (low risk; hazard ratio [HR], 2.19; P = .004). Median overall survival was NR (all); 14.8 months (high risk) vs NR (low risk; HR, 2.36; P = .005). Median post-ibrutinib survival was 1.4 months, longer in 41.9% patients receiving subsequent treatment (median, 8.6 vs 0.6 months; HR, 0.36; P = .002). Ibrutinib with or without rituximab was effective and well tolerated as first-line treatment of MCL, including older and transplant-ineligible patients. PFS and OS were significantly inferior in one-third of patients with high-risk disease and those unsuitable for post-ibrutinib treatment, highlighting the need for novel approaches in these groups.

Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic profiles of mantle cell lymphoma cared for in a Moroccan center: a review of 14 cases

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) accounts for 3-10% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). We identified 14 patients with mantle cell lymphoma, with an average number of 3.5 new cases/year. A male predominance was observed with a sex ratio equal to 6. The average age of our patients was 64.4±14.1 years, with an average diagnostic delay of 6.57 months. Regarding the clinical presentation, adenopathy was the most reported physical sign (78.6%) followed by B symptoms (57.1%). Disseminated stages were the most frequent in our series: stages IV (78.5%) and III (7.1%) versus stages I (0%) and II (7.1%). The extra-ganglionic localizations observed were hepatic 5 cases (31.1%), pulmonary 04 cases (25%), medullary 4 cases (25%), pleural 2 cases (12.5%) and prostate 1 case (6.2%). All diagnosed cases are mantle cell lymphomas, of which 12 cases (85.7%) are classical and 2 cases (14.3%) indolent. The high-risk group is, according to international prognostic index (MIPI) MCL prognostic score, the most represented in our series: 0-3 = 6 cases (42.9%), 6-11 = 8 cases (57.1%). The therapeutic protocol chosen 1st line: 9 patients treated with R-DHAP, three with R-CHOP, one with DHAOX and one with R-CVP. Second line: two patients treated with R-DHAP, one after R-CHOP and the other after R-CVP. Two patients received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant at the end of the treatment. The evolution was marked by the death of 7 patients, 3 lost to follow-up and 4 still followed. Additionally, the study highlights characteristics and treatment patterns of mantle cell lymphoma, emphasizing its predominance in males, delayed diagnosis, frequent dissemination, and high-risk classification, with chemotherapy as the primary treatment modality and a challenging prognosis contributing to a comprehensive understanding of mantle cell lymphoma presentation and management.

miR-17-92 cluster-BTG2 axis regulates B-cell receptor signaling in mantle cell lymphoma

B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is critically activated and stable for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), but the underlying mechanism of the activated BCR signaling pathway is not clear. The pathogenic basis of miR-17-92 cluster remains unclear although the oncogenic microRNA (miRNA) miR-17-92 cluster is highly expressed in patients with MCL. We revealed that miR-17-92 cluster overexpression is partly dependent on SOX11 expression and chromatin acetylation of MIR17HG enhancer regions. Moreover, miR-17-92 cluster regulates not only cell proliferation but BCR signaling activation in MCL cell lines. To comprehensively identify miR-17-92 cluster target genes, we performed pulldown-seq, where target RNA of miRNA was captured using the biotinylated miRNA mimics and magnetic bead-coated streptavidin, and quantified using next-generation sequencing. The pulldown-seq identified novel miRNA target genes, including tumor suppressors such as BTG2 (miR-19b), CDKN2A (miR-17), SYNE1 (miR-20a), TET2 (miR-18, miR-19b, and miR-92a), TNFRSF10A (miR-92a), and TRAF3 (miR-17). Notably, the gene expression profile data of patients with MCL revealed that BTG2 expression was negatively associated with that of BCR signature genes, and low BTG2 expression was associated with poor overall survival. Moreover, BTG2 silencing in MCL cell lines significantly induced BCR signaling overactivation and cell proliferation. Our results suggest an oncogenic role of miR-17-92 cluster-activating BCR signaling throughout BTG2 deregulation in MCL. Furthermore, this may contribute to the prediction of the therapeutic efficacy and improved outcomes of MCL.

Phase 2 study of ibrutinib plus venetoclax in Japanese patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Despite high response rates to initial therapy, most patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) experience relapsed or refractory (R/R) disease. Here, we report the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of the Phase 2, single-arm M20-075 study (NCT04477486) of ibrutinib and venetoclax combination therapy in Japanese patients with R/R MCL.

METHODS

Patients received 560 mg ibrutinib and 400 mg venetoclax (after a 5-week ramp-up from 20 mg) once daily for up to 104 weeks. Primary endpoint was complete response (CR) rate by independent review committee (IRC). Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety including dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) assessment in the first six patients, and pharmacokinetic parameters. Full analysis set (FAS) comprised all treated patients. Per protocol set (PPS) excluded treated patients with non-evaluable disease at baseline by IRC.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients were treated (FAS n = 13; PPS, n = 12). Median age was 71 years, patients had a median of two prior treatments. After a median follow-up of 9.6 months, IRC-assessed CR rate and ORR were both 83% (PPS). All six MRD-evaluable patients had uMRD. Median DOR, PFS, and OS were unreached. The most common Grade ≥ 3 treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) was neutropenia (23%); 1 patient discontinued due to squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. No DLTs, tumor lysis syndrome, or deaths related to TEAEs were observed.

CONCLUSION

Ibrutinib plus venetoclax exhibited high response rates and a well-tolerated safety profile in Japanese patients with R/R MCL.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma Presenting as Cholecystitis and Nephromegaly

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) most commonly presents as lymphadenopathy (LAD), fevers, night sweats, weight loss, splenomegaly, and blood count abnormalities. While extranodal involvement as an initial presentation can occur, it is uncommon. At initial diagnosis, MCL most commonly presents as widespread, advanced stage III or IV lymphoma. Given advanced stage MCL at presentation, it is important for medical practitioners to recognize unusual extranodal presentations of MCL for earlier diagnosis and treatment planning. Here, we present a case of MCL initially presenting as cholecystitis and bilateral nephromegaly in a 53-year-old male patient.

Evolving treatment patterns and improved outcomes in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma: a prospective cohort study

Over the last two decades, the frontline therapy for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has evolved. However, the impact of subsequent lines of therapy on survival outcomes has not been well characterized. In this study, we investigated the treatment patterns and survival outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) MCL treated with second-line (2 L) therapy. Adult patients with newly diagnosed MCL from 2002 to 2015 were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Clinical characteristics, 2 L treatment details, and outcomes were compared between patients who received 2 L treatment between 2003-2009 (Era 1), 2010-2014 (Era 2), and 2015-2021 (Era 3). 2 L treatment was heterogenous in all eras, and there was a substantial shift in the pattern of 2 L therapy over time. The estimated 2-year EFS rate was 21% (95% CI, 13-35), 40% (95% CI, 30-53), and 51% (95% CI, 37-68) in Era 1-3 respectively, and the 5-year OS rate was 31% (95% CI, 21-45), 37% (95% CI, 27-50), and 67% (95% CI, 54-83) in Era 1-3, respectively. These results provide real-world evidence on evolving treatment patterns of 2 L therapy based on the era of relapse. The changes in 2 L treatment correlated with improved EFS and OS, suggesting that treatment advances are associated with improved outcomes in patients with R/R MCL.

The implication of next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis and clinical management of non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Next generation sequencing (NGS) is a technology that broadens the horizon of knowledge of several somatic pathologies, especially in oncological and oncohematological pathology. In the case of NHL, the understanding of the mechanisms of tumorigenesis, tumor proliferation and the identification of genetic markers specific to different lymphoma subtypes led to more accurate classification and diagnosis. Similarly, the data obtained through NGS allowed the identification of recurrent somatic mutations that can serve as therapeutic targets that can be inhibited and thus reducing the rate of resistant cases. The article's purpose is to offer a comprehensive overview of the best ways of integrating of next-generation sequencing technologies for diagnosis, prognosis, classification, and selection of optimal therapy from the perspective of tailor-made medicine.

The kava chalcone flavokawain B exerts inhibitory activity and synergizes with BCL-2 inhibition in malignant B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

B-cell lymphoma, which originates from B cells at diverse differentiation stages, is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma with tremendous treatment challenges and unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Flavokawain B (FKB), a naturally occurring chalcone extracted from kava, possesses promising anticancer properties. However, evidence on the effects of FKB on hematological malignancies, particularly lymphomas, remains scarce.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the antilymphoma effect of FKB and its underlying mechanisms.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS

Proliferation assays, flow cytometry, and western blotting were employed to determine whether and how FKB affected B-cell lymphoma cell lines in vitro. Xenograft mouse models were established to evaluate the antilymphoma efficacy of FKB in vivo.

RESULTS

FKB reduced the viability of a panel of B-cell lymphoma cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mitochondrial apoptosis was markedly induced by FKB, as evidenced by an increased percentage of annexin V-positive cells, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. Moreover, FKB inhibited BCL-XL expression and synergized with the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199. Mechanistically, FKB treatment decreased the phosphorylation of Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), and ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6). Pharmacological blockage of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, or GSK3β potentiated the activity of FKB, indicating the involvement of the PI3K/Akt cascade in FKB-mediated inhibitory effects. In mouse xenograft models, the intraperitoneal administration of FKB significantly decreased lymphoma growth, accompanied by diminished mitosis and Ki-67 staining of tumor tissues.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate the robust therapeutic potential of FKB in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma.

The addition of rituximab to chemotherapy improves overall survival in mantle cell lymphoma-a pooled trials analysis

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a distinct subtype of B-cell lymphoma and commonly used induction immunochemotherapies include the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab. However, efficacy data for rituximab regarding overall survival (OS) in first line MCL therapy remain conflicting.We report long-term outcomes of a pooled trials analysis comparing Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicine, Vincristine, Prednisone (CHOP) to R-CHOP in MCL to confirm efficacy on failure free survival (FFS) and OS in relevant subgroups. Untreated, adult MCL patients of two prospective trials assigned to CHOP or R-CHOP were included. Primary endpoints were FFS and OS, secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR), secondary malignancies and OS after relapse. Between 1996 and 2003, 385 MCL patients were assigned to CHOP (201) or R-CHOP (184). After a median follow-up of 13.4 years, the addition of Rituximab significantly improved FFS (1.36 vs. 2.07 years, HR 0.62 (0.50-0.77)), OS (4.84 vs. 5.81 years, HR 0.78 (0.61-0.99)) and DOR (1.48 vs. 2.08 years, HR 0.67 (0.53-0.86)). Furthermore, Rituximab improved survival across different MCL risk groups. In a post-hoc analysis of OS after relapse comparing patients receiving chemotherapy with / without rituximab, rituximab maintained efficacy with a median OS of 3.10 vs. 2.11 years (HR 0.70, 0.54-0.91). The rate of secondary malignancies was 0.5 and 3.9% for hematological and 7 and 8% for non-hematological malignancies for CHOP and R-CHOP patients, respectively. We present mature results of a pooled MCL cohort, demonstrating prolonged FFS, OS and DOR for the combined immuno-chemotherapy, confirming the standard of care in first line treatment.

Synchronous rectal adenocarcinoma and intestinal mantle cell lymphoma: A case report

BACKGROUND

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare malignancy, accounting for about 0.2% of malignant colorectal tumors. MCL synchronous with rectal adenocarcinoma is extremely rare. We know of only a few cases reported in the literature. We describe the case of a patient with synchronous rectal adenocarcinoma and intestinal MCL.

CASE SUMMARY

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to abdominal pain and hematochezia over the past month. The patient was diagnosed with middle rectal cancer cT2N0M0 and underwent surgery. However, we found a large tumor in the small intestine during surgery. The patient underwent total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer and resectioning of the ileal segment containing the large mass. Pathology and immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of both rectal adenocarcinoma and pathognomonic MCL stage IIE presenting as multiple lymphomatous polyposis. The patient subsequently underwent RDHAP/RCHOP chemotherapy and was maintained with rituximab. A Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET/CT) scan showed that the disease responded well to treatment without tumor-increased metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract.

CONCLUSION

Synchronous rectal adenocarcinoma and intestinal MCL presenting as multiple lymphomatous polyposis are extremely rare. MCL is often discovered fortuitously when rectal cancer is diagnosed. The coexistence of these tumors poses treatment challenges.

Redefining Precision Management of r/r Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Novel Antibodies Take on CART and BMT in the Quest for Future Treatment Strategies

The treatment paradigms for patients with relapsed large B-cell lymphoma are expanding. Chimeric antigen receptor technology (CAR-T) has revolutionized the management of these patients. Novel bispecific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates, used as chemotherapy-free single agents or in combination with other novel therapeutics, have been quickly introduced into the real-world setting. With such a paradigm shift, patients have an improved chance of better outcomes with unpredictable complete remission rates. Additionally, the excellent tolerance of new antibodies targeting B-cell lymphomas is another motivation to broaden its use in relapsed and refractory patients. With the increasing number of approved therapy approaches, future research needs to focus on optimizing the sequence and developing new combination strategies for these antibodies, both among themselves and with other agents. Clinical, pathological, and genetic risk profiling can assist in identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from these costly therapeutic options. However, new combinations may lead to new side effects, which we must learn to deal with. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on several innovative antibodies for the precision management of large B-cell lymphoma. It explores various treatment strategies, such as CAR-T vs. ASCT, naked antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, and bispecific T-cell engagers, as well as discussing the challenges and future perspectives of novel treatment strategies. We also delve into resistance mechanisms and factors that may affect decision making. Moreover, each section provides a detailed analysis of the available literature and ongoing clinical trials.

A multicenter analysis of the outcomes with venetoclax in patients with relapsed mantle cell lymphoma

To report the activity of venetoclax in patients with relapsed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), we identified 81 patients treated with venetoclax monotherapy (n = 50, 62%) or in combination with a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) (n = 16, 20%), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (n = 11, 14%), or other active agents at 12 US academic medical centers. Patients had high-risk disease features including Ki67 >30% (61%), blastoid/pleomorphic histology (29%), complex karyotype (34%), and TP53 alterations (49%), and received a median of 3 prior treatments including BTKis in 91%. Venetoclax alone or in combination resulted in an overall response rate (ORR) of 40% and median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 3.7 and 12.5 months, respectively. The receipt of ≤3 prior treatments was associated with higher odds of response to venetoclax in a univariable analysis. In a multivariable analysis, having a high-risk Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index score before receiving venetoclax and disease relapse or progression within 24 months of diagnosis were associated with inferior OS whereas the use of venetoclax in combination was associated with superior OS. Although most patients (61%) had low risk for tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), 12.3% of patients developed TLS despite the implementation of several mitigation strategies. In conclusion, venetoclax resulted in good ORR but short PFS in patients with MCL who are at high risk, and may have a better role in earlier lines of treatment and/or in conation with other active agents. TLS remains an important risk in patients with MCL who initiate treatment with venetoclax.

Health resource utilization and costs of care for adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma in the United States: a retrospective claims analysis

OBJECTIVES

We assessed real-world healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among US patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (R/R MCL) by line of therapy (LoT).

METHODS

We selected patients from MarketScan® (1/1/2016-12/31/2020): ≥1 claims of MCL-indicated first line (1L) therapies, ≥1 diagnoses of MCL pre-index date (1L initiation date), ≥6-month continuous enrollment pre-index date, second line (2L) therapy initiation, ≥18 years old at 2L, and no clinical trial enrollment. Outcomes included time to next treatment (TTNT), all-cause HRU, and costs.

RESULTS

The cohort (N = 142) was 77.5% male, aged 62 years (median). Sixty-six percent and 23% advanced to 3L and 4L+, respectively. Mean (median) TTNT was 9.7 (5.9), 9.3 (5.0), and 6.3 (4.2) months for 2L, 3L, and 4L+, respectively. Mean (median) per patient per month (PPPM) costs were $29,999 ($21,313), $29,352 ($20,033), and $30,633 ($23,662) for 2L, 3L, and 4L+, respectively. Among those who received Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mean (median) PPPM costs were $24,702 ($17,203), $31,801 ($20,363), and $36,710 ($25,899) for 2L, 3L, and 4L+, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

During the period ending in 2020, patients relapsed frequently, incurring high HRU and costs across LoTs. More effective treatments with long-lasting remissions in R/R MCL may reduce healthcare burden.

NOTCH Signaling in Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Biological and Clinical Implications

Despite major progress in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) therapeutics, MCL remains a deadly disease with a median survival not exceeding four years. No single driver genetic lesion has been described to solely give rise to MCL. The hallmark translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32) requires additional genetic alterations for the malignant transformation. A short list of recurrently mutated genes including ATM, CCND1, UBR5, TP53, BIRC3, NOTCH1, NOTCH2, and TRAF2 recently emerged as contributors to the pathogenesis of MCL. Notably, NOTCH1 and NOTCH2 were found to be mutated in multiple B cell lymphomas, including 5-10% of MCL, with most of these mutations occurring within the PEST domain of the protein. The NOTCH genes play a critical role in the early and late phases of normal B cell differentiation. In MCL, mutations in the PEST domain stabilize NOTCH proteins, rendering them resistant to degradation, which subsequently results in the upregulation of genes involved in angiogenesis, cell cycle progression, and cell migration and adhesion. At the clinical level, mutated NOTCH genes are associated with aggressive features in MCL, such as the blastoid and pleomorphic variants, a shorter response to treatment, and inferior survival. In this article, we explore in detail the role of NOTCH signaling in MCL biology and the ongoing efforts toward targeted therapeutic interventions.

Real-world treatment and outcome patterns of patients with mantle cell lymphoma in China: A large, multicenter retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an uncommon heterogeneous subtype of B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and clinical features in MCL appear regional characteristics. MCL treatment opinions are not uniform between countries or regions within Asia and China, and Asian patient-specific data for MCL treatment are fewer. The study aims to explore the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns and prognosis of MCL patients in China.

METHODS

A total of 805 patients diagnosed with MCL between April 1999 and December 2019 at 19 comprehensive hospitals in China were included in this retrospective analysis. Kaplan-Meier method coupled with the log-rank test was used for univariate analysis, and COX proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis (MVA). p < 0.05 was consided statistically significant. All outputs were produced using R version 4.1.0.

RESULTS

The median age of the cohort was 60.0 years with a male-to-female ratio of 3.36:1. Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 30.9% and 65.0%, respectively. High-intermediate/high-risk group according to MIPI-c, without high-dose cytarabine, lack of Auto-SCT as consolidation and maintenance treatment and SD/PD in initial treatment remained statistically relevant to poor PFS on MVA, and ki67 ≥50%, B symptoms, high-intermediate/high risk group according to MIPI-c, without high-dose cytarabine, lack of maintenance treatment, SD/PD in initial treatment and relapse/refractory state were independently associated with poorer OS on MVA.

CONCLUSIONS

First-line high dose cytarabine exposure, auto-SCT as consolidation therapy obtained survival benefits in Chinese population. Our study further confirmed the value of maintenance treatment and explored the application of new drug treatment and bendamustine in R/R MCL patients.

Bendamustine/Rituximab Plus Cytarabine/Rituximab, With or Without Acalabrutinib, for the Initial Treatment of Transplant-Eligible Mantle Cell Lymphoma Patients: Pooled Data From Two Pilot Studies

INTRODUCTION

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a moderately aggressive lymphoma subtype, generally viewed as incurable. For younger, fit patients, the standard of care remains various high-dose cytarabine-based induction regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplant and 3 years of rituximab maintenance. Despite reasonably good outcomes, with median progression-free survival in the range of 7 to 9 years, most patients eventually relapse, indicating a need to improve the safety and tolerability of remission induction strategies.

METHODS

Given the impressive activity of bendamustine/rituximab (BR) in older patients with MCL, we developed an induction regimen modeled after the Nordic Regimen but substituted BR in place of R-CHOP. In a second pilot study, we incorporated the second-generation Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), acalabrutinib, into the regimen. The primary endpoint of both studies was stem cell mobilization success rate.

RESULTS

All patients successfully underwent stem cell harvest in both studies.

CONCLUSION

The experience from our single institution pilot study suggested that sequential rather than alternating BR and cytarabine/rituximab (CR) was easier to administer from the standpoint of toxicities and subsequent dose modifications. Safety and efficacy data from the 2 pilot studies, FitMCL 1.0 and 2.0, were similar. The pilot studies provided preliminary safety data supporting the development of the NCTN trial EA4181, assessing three different induction regimens with or without acalabrutinib.

Comprehensive FISH testing using FFPE tissue microarray of primary lymph node tissue identifies secondary cytogenetic abnormalities in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), is characterised by the reciprocal translocation t(11;14) resulting in CCND1-IGH gene fusion and subsequent upregulation of the CCND1 gene. Rearrangements of MYC and losses of CDKN2A and TP53 have been identified as biomarkers informing prognostic and potentially therapeutic information however these are not routinely assessed in MCL investigation. We aimed to identify additional cytogenetic changes using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) on formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) primary lymph node tissue microarrays in a cohort of 28 patients diagnosed with MCL between 2004 and 2019. FISH results were compared with corresponding immunohistochemistry (IHC) biomarkers to determine if IHC was a reliable screening tool to direct FISH testing.

METHOD

FFPE lymph node tissue samples were constructed into tissue microarrays (TMA) which were stained with 7 immunohistochemical biomarkers: Cyclin D1, c-Myc, p16, ATM, p53, Bcl-6 and Bcl-2. The same TMAs were hybridised with FISH probes for the corresponding genes; CCND1-IGH, MYC, CDKN2A, ATM, TP53, BCL6 and BCL2. FISH and the corresponding IHC biomarkers were analysed to determine if secondary cytogenetic changes could be identified and if IHC could be used as a reliable, inexpensive predictor of FISH abnormalities to potentially direct FISH testing.

RESULTS

CCND1-IGH fusion was detected in 27/28 (96%) of samples. Additional cytogenetic changes were identified by FISH in 15/28 (54%) of samples. Two additional abnormalities were detected in 2/28 (7%) samples. Cyclin D1 IHC overexpression was an excellent predictor of CCND1-IGH fusion. MYC and ATM IHC were useful screening tests to direct FISH testing and identified cases with poor prognostic features including blastoid change. IHC did not show clear concordance with FISH for other biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

FISH using FFPE primary lymph node tissue can detect secondary cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with MCL which are associated with an inferior prognosis. An expanded FISH panel including MYC, CDKN2A, TP53 and ATM should be considered in cases where anomalous IHC expression or is seen for these markers or if the patient appears to have the blastoid variant of the disease.

Roles of PI3Kγ and PI3Kδ in mantle cell lymphoma proliferation and migration contributing to efficacy of the PI3Kγ/δ inhibitor duvelisib

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is incurable with existing therapies, and therefore presents a significant unmet clinical need. The ability of this disease to overcome therapy, including those that target the B cell receptor pathway which has a pathogenic role in MCL, highlights the need to develop new treatment strategies. Herein, we demonstrate that a distinguishing feature of lymph node resident MCL cells is the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ), a PI3K isoform that is not highly expressed in other B cells or B-cell malignancies. By exploring the role of PI3K in MCL using different PI3K isoform inhibitors, we provide evidence that duvelisib, a dual PI3Kδ/γ inhibitor, has a greater effect than PI3Kδ- and PI3Kγ-selective inhibitors in blocking the proliferation of primary MCL cells and MCL cell lines, and in inhibiting tumour growth in a mouse xenograft model. In addition, we demonstrated that PI3Kδ/γ signalling is critical for migration of primary MCL cells and cell lines. Our data indicates that aberrant expression of PI3Kγ is a critical feature of MCL pathogenesis. Thus, we suggest that the dual PI3Kδ/γ duvelisib would be effective for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma.

p53 directly downregulates the expression of CDC20 to exert anti-tumor activity in mantle cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Cell cycle dysregulation characterized by cyclin D1 overexpression is common in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), while mitotic disorder was less studied. Cell division cycle 20 homologue (CDC20), an essential mitotic regulator, was highly expressed in various tumors. Another common abnormality in MCL is p53 inactivation. Little was known about the role of CDC20 in MCL tumorigenesis and the regulatory relationship between p53 and CDC20 in MCL.

METHODS

CDC20 expression was detected in MCL patients and MCL cell lines harboring mutant p53 (Jeko and Mino cells) and wild-type p53 (Z138 and JVM2 cells). Z138 and JVM2 cells were treated with CDC20 inhibitor apcin, p53 agonist nutlin-3a, or in combination, and then cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, cell migration and invasion were determined by CCK-8, flow cytometry and Transwell assays. The regulatory mechanism between p53 and CDC20 was revealed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and CUT&Tag technology. The anti-tumor effect, safety and tolerability of nutlin-3a and apcin were investigated in vivo in the Z138-driven xenograft tumor model.

RESULTS

CDC20 was overexpressed in MCL patients and cell lines compared with their respective controls. The typical immunohistochemical marker of MCL patients, cyclin D1, was positively correlated with CDC20 expression. CDC20 high expression indicated unfavorable clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in MCL patients. In Z138 and JVM2 cells, either apcin or nutlin-3a treatment could inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induce cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. GEO analysis, RT-qPCR and WB results showed that p53 expression was negatively correlated with CDC20 expression in MCL patients, Z138 and JVM2 cells, while this relationship was not observed in p53-mutant cells. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and CUT&Tag assay revealed mechanistically that CDC20 was transcriptionally repressed by p53 through directly binding p53 to CDC20 promoter from - 492 to + 101 bp. Moreover, combined treatment of nutlin-3a and apcin showed better anti-tumor effect than single treatment in Z138 and JVM2 cells. Administration of nutlin-3a/apcin alone or in combination confirmed their efficacy and safety in tumor-bearing mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study validates the essential role of p53 and CDC20 in MCL tumorigenesis, and provides a new insight for MCL therapeutics through dual-targeting p53 and CDC20.

Long-Term Survival of Patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma after Total Body Irradiation, High-Dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplantation: A Monocenter Study

INTRODUCTION

In patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), long-term remissions can be achieved by stem cell transplantation (SCT). Different conditioning treatment protocols exist with or without total body irradiation (TBI). There are few data published on the role of TBI before autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) or allogenic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). We report on the long-term survival data of patients treated by TBI prior to autologous or allogenic SCT at our center.

PATIENTS

In a retrospective analysis, the data of patients treated at the University Hospital of Muenster from May 2004 to February 2015 were collected and evaluated. For the analysis, all data of patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with MCL and underwent TBI prior to stem cell transplantation (SCT) were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 22 patients (19 men and 3 women) were treated with a TBI-based conditioning prior to SCT. The median age at initial diagnosis was 57.5 years (38-65 years). Seventeen patients had Ann Arbor stage IV, two patients had Ann Arbor stage III, and three patients Ann Arbor stage II disease. AutoSCT was performed in 19 patients and alloSCT was performed in 3 patients. In 18 patients, autoSCT was applied as part of first-line therapy, and in one patient after relapse. Two patients received alloSCT after relapse of MCL, and one patient received alloSCT during first-line therapy after an inadequate treatment response. TBI was performed in 12 patients with 10 Gy and in 6 patients with 12 Gy, these patients subsequently received autoSCT. In the group of four patients who received TBI with four Gy, four patients subsequently received alloSCT and one patient received autoSCT. Median overall survival after autoSCT and previous TBI was 11.4 years (142 months). In total, 11 out of 19 patients treated with autoSCT lived longer than 6.8 years (82-202 months). After alloSCT and previous TBI, the median overall survival was 3.25 years (14-59 months).

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of patients with advanced MCL survived remarkably longer than 11.4 years after high-dose chemotherapy, TBI, and SCT. The present results of multimodal treatment support the published reports that TBI-based high-dose therapy followed by autoSCT is highly effective in this prognostically unfavorable disease situation.

Impact of Pre-transplant Induction Therapy on Outcomes of Patients Who Undergo Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Mantle Cell Lymphoma in First Complete Remission

Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with poor prognosis and continue to be challenging to treat. The choice of first line induction regimen remains a topic of debate due paucity of clinical trials. We retrospectively evaluated 66 patients diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma who achieved first complete response after induction chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant. Treatment groups were divided into low-intensity versus high-intensity regimens. Our data showed the intensity of induction regimen does not impact posttransplant outcomes of mantle cell lymphoma who underwent autologous stem cell transplant in first complete response.

CD5-Negative Primary Mantle Cell Lymphoma Presenting with a Bilateral Conjunctival Mass: A Potential Diagnostic Pitfall

Mantle cell lymphoma is a B-cell malignancy, which, in its classic form, usually involves lymph nodes and extranodal sites, and, among the extranodal sites, the gastrointestinal tract and the Waldeyer's ring are most prevalent. MCL is rarely reported in the ocular adnexa, a site more frequently affected by extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, which is a form of low-grade malignancy. The diagnosis of MCL presenting in the ocular adnexa requires special attention as its rarity in this location combined with the not uncommon CD5 negativity of the disease when occurring in the ocular adnexa, may lead the pathologist to overlook the diagnosis and misinterpret MCL as marginal zone B cell lymphoma, which has a totally different behavior. Herein, we present a case of primary bilateral conjunctival CD5-negative MCL in a patient having no other sites affected by lymphoma and we discuss possible diagnostic pitfalls.

[18F]FDG-PET/CT volumetric parameters can predict outcome in untreated mantle cell lymphoma

Several studies have shown a strong predictive value for pretreatment [¹⁸F]FDG-PET/CT metabolic parameters in different lymphoma subtypes. However, few publications exist concerning the role of metabolic parameters in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). We retrospectively investigated the prognostic value of baseline metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and lesion dissemination in untreated MCL. We compared it to currently used prognostic factors such as stage, mantle cell lymphoma international prognostic index (MIPI) and KI-67. We report that a higher baseline MTV is a risk factor for worse overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, MTV was significantly associated with DSS, but not with OS and PFS. We found no correlation between lesion dissemination and outcome. The MIPI score remains the strongest predictor of outcome. These results show that MTV is an important prognostic tool and can improve patient risk stratification at staging of untreated MCL.

The Therapeutic Synergy of Selinexor and Venetoclax in Mantle Cell Lymphoma Through Induction of DNA Damage and Perturbation of the DNA Damage Response

Introduction: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) can be stratified into blastoid and classical subtypes based on morphological features, with the former subtype having a poorer prognosis. Despite recent advances in targeted approaches, including multiple bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors which yield impressive clinical responses and improve prognoses, MCL remains an incurable disease with frequent relapses. Additional therapeutic interventions are therefore unmet medical needs for the management of patients with MCL. Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis assays were employed to analyze the therapeutic interaction of venetoclax combined with selinexor in MCL cells. Western blot was used to investigate the potential mechanism of action for the synergy of venetoclax in combination with selinexor in MCL cells. Results: In this study, we revealed that both blastoid and classical MCL cells were vulnerable to the cytotoxic effects of selinexor, a well-established XPO1 inhibitor, manifested by loss of cell viability and induction of cell apoptosis. Moreover, our data indicated that the addition of venetoclax to selinexor showed synergistically decreased cell viabilities and increased cell deaths in blastoid and classical MCL cells compared to each single drug treatment. Either selinexor or venetoclax treatment alone decreased MCL1 expressions and increased BAX levels in MCL cells, and these effects were further enhanced by their combined regimen. Mechanistically, our findings demonstrated that induction of DNA damage and inactivation of DNA damage response were involved in the synergistic interaction of the drug combination regimen. Conclusion: Collectively, this study might provide a potential attractive therapy option for the treatment of MCL. However, the conclusion needs additional experimental validation in in vivo models and clinical evaluations are mandatory.

Unusual Presentation of Leukemic-Phase Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare subtype of B-cell lymphoma that can present in a variety of ways, including the leukemic phase, where it can occasionally be mistaken for acute leukemia due to the unusually high or rapidly growing number of leukocytes and the presence of circulating cancer cells that are morphologically similar to leukemic blasts in myeloid or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We present the case of an 83-year-old Yemeni woman with multiple comorbidities who presented with abdominal pain and constitutional symptoms. She was found to have diffuse lymphadenopathy on clinical and radiological assessments. Her white blood cell count at presentation was 221 × 10⁹/L with marked monocytosis (72.8%). Lymph node biopsy and bone marrow studies, including CCND1/IGH molecular studies, confirmed MCL, the pleomorphic subtype. The patient was deemed unfit for standard-of-care chemotherapy and was started on single-agent rituximab with a slow introduction to ibrutinib but succumbed to death after two weeks of ibrutinib 280 mg daily. This case serves as a reminder to keep an open mind and take into account atypical disease presentations when formulating differential diagnoses to prevent late diagnosis and any unnecessary intervention that can postpone appropriate therapy.

A decade of approved first-in-class small molecule orphan drugs: Achievements, challenges and perspectives

In the past decade (2011-2020), there was a growing interest in the discovery and development of orphan drugs for the treatment of rare diseases. However, rare diseases only account for a population of 0.65‰-1‰ which usually occur with previously unknown biological mechanisms and lack of specific therapeutics, thus to increase the demands for the first-in-class (FIC) drugs with new biological targets or mechanisms. Considering the achievements in the past 10 years, a total of 410 drugs were approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which contained 151 FIC drugs and 184 orphan drugs, contributing to make up significant numbers of the approvals. Notably, more than 50% of FIC drugs are developed as orphan drugs and some of them have already been milestones in drug development. In this review, we aim to discuss the FIC small molecules for the development of orphan drugs case by case and highlight the R&D strategy with novel targets and scientific breakthroughs.

Clinicopathologic Features and Treatment of CD10-Positive Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare and aggressive non-Hodgkin’s B cell lymphoma characterized by the translocation t(11;14) (q13;32) and overexpression of CCND1. MCL is immunophenotypically identified as CD20⁺, CD5⁺, CyclinD1+, CD43⁺, CD10⁻, BCL6⁻, and CD23⁻. It is often distinguished from B cell lymphomas of germinal center cell origin by the absence of CD10 expression. Here we report the unique clinicopathologic features of a patient with CD10⁺ MCL with gastrointestinal involvement and review current literature identifying this unique immunophenotype.

CircCTNNA1 is Upregulated in Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Predicts Poor Survival by Sponging miR-34a to Increase Cell Proliferation

Background

It was reported that circular RNA (circRNA) circCTNNA1 plays an oncogenic role in colorectal cancer, while its role in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of circCTNNA1 in MCL.

Methods

Samples of B lymphocytes were collected from 56 MCL patients and 56 healthy controls. The expression of circCTNNA1 and miR-34a in these samples were determined by RT-qPCR. The direct interaction between circCTNNA1 and miR-34a in MCL cells was detected using RNA-RNA pulldown assay. Overexpression assays were performed to study the interactions between circCTNNA1 and miR-34a. Cell proliferation was assessed with BrdU assay.

Results

The results showed that circCTNNA1 was upregulated in MCL and high expression levels of circCTNNA1 predicted the poor survival of MCL patients. MiR-34a was downregulated in MCL and inversely correlated with circCTNNA1. CircCTNNA1 was predicted to interact with miR-34a, and the interaction between them was confirmed by RNA pull-down assay. Interestingly, overexpression of circCTNNA1 and miR-34a did not affect the expression of each other. Cell proliferation analysis showed that overexpression of circCTNNA1 reversed the inhibitory effects of overexpression of miR-34a on cell proliferation.

Conclusion

Upregulation of circCTNNA1 in MCL predicts poor survival of patients and it may sponge miR-34a to promote cancer cell proliferation.

The potential of pirtobrutinib in multiple B-cell malignancies

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a critical downstream signaling element from the B-cell receptor (BCR) that has been effectively inhibited in B-cell cancers by irreversible, covalent inhibitors including ibrutinib and acalabrutinib. All FDA-approved covalent BTK inhibitors rely on binding to the cysteine 481 (C481) amino acid within the active site of BTK, thus rendering it inert. While covalent BTK inhibitors have been very successful in multiple B-cell malignancies, improving both overall survival and progression-free survival relative to chemoimmunotherapy in phase 3 trials, they can be limited by intolerance and disease progression. Pirtobrutinib is a novel, highly selective, and non-covalent BTK inhibitor that binds independently of C481, and in a recent, first-in-human phase 1/2 clinical trial was shown to be extremely well tolerated and lead to remissions in relapsed/refractory patients with multiple B-cell malignancies. Here, we review the pharmacologic rationale for pursuing non-covalent BTK inhibitors, the clinical need for such inhibitors, existing safety, and resistance mechanism data for pirtobrutinib, and the forthcoming clinical trials that seek to define the clinical utility of pirtobrutinib, which has the potential to fulfill multiple areas of unmet clinical need for patients with B-cell malignancies.

CD24 Is a Potential Immunotherapeutic Target for Mantle Cell Lymphoma

CD24 and its ligand Siglec-10 were described as an innate immune checkpoint in carcinoma. Here, we investigated this axis in B-cell lymphoma by assessing CD24 expression and evaluating pro-phagocytic effects of CD24 antibody treatment in comparison to hallmark immune checkpoint CD47. In mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and follicular lymphoma patients, high mRNA expression of CD24 correlated with poor overall survival, whereas CD47 expression did not. Conversely, CD24 expression did not correlate with survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), whereas CD47 did. CD24 was also highly expressed on MCL cell lines, where treatment with CD24 antibody clones SN3 or ML5 potently induced phagocytosis, with SN3 yielding >90% removal of MCL cells and triggering phagocytosis of primary patient-derived MCL cells by autologous macrophages. Treatment with CD24 mAb was superior to CD47 mAb in MCL and was comparable in magnitude to the effect observed in carcinoma lines. Reversely, CD24 mAb treatment was less effective than CD47 mAb treatment in DLBCL. Finally, phagocytic activity of clone SN3 appeared at least partly independent of antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), suggesting CD24/Siglec-10 checkpoint activity, whereas clone ML5 solely induced ADCP. In conclusion, CD24 is an immunotherapeutic target of potential clinical relevance for MCL, but not DLBCL.

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 3rd 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.

New Directions for Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2022

Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is clinically and biologically heterogeneous. Risk stratification at the time of diagnosis is critical. One of the most powerful prognostic indices is the Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index-Combined, which integrates an estimate of proliferation (Ki67 index) with the standard Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index clinical factors. In addition, the presence of TP53 mutation is associated with suboptimal response to intensive chemoimmunotherapy and particularly dismal survival outcomes. Given their excellent activity in the relapsed/refractory setting, increasingly, biologically targeted therapeutics-such as covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, lenalidomide, and venetoclax-are being incorporated into "chemotherapy-free" regimens and in combination with established chemoimmunotherapy backbones for treatment-naïve mantle cell lymphoma. In addition, risk-adapted treatment programs are increasingly being studied. These programs tailor treatment according to baseline prognostic factors (e.g., presence of TP53 mutation) and may incorporate biomarkers of response such as minimal residual disease assessment. Although still investigational, these studies present an opportunity to move beyond the biology-agnostic, historical fitness-based treatment selection paradigm and toward a more personalized, tailored treatment approach in mantle cell lymphoma. After Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor failure, many promising standard or investigational therapies exist, including CAR T-cell therapy (including brexucabtagene autoleucel and lisocabtagene maraleucel), bispecific antibody therapy targeting CD20-CD3, zilovertamab vedotin (an antibody-drug conjugate that targets ROR1), and the noncovalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor pirtobrutinib. These new therapies show promising efficacy, even among high-risk patients, and will likely translate to improvements in survival outcomes for patients with progressive mantle cell lymphoma following treatment with a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Mantle cell lymphoma with aseptic meningitis mimicking hydrocephalus on brain imaging

An 83-year-old man underwent head computed tomography (CT) to investigate cognitive decline and gait disturbance and was admitted to undergo a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test for suspected idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus. He had a history of chemotherapy for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), but CT on admission showed no evidence of recurrence. After admission, his level of consciousness rapidly deteriorated and CSF examination suggested infiltration of MCL into the central nervous system (CNS). Although CNS involvement in MCL is rare, this case demonstrates that even if recurrence of MCL is not suspected based on CT findings.

Novel treatments in B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

The improved understanding of lymphoma biology and recent advances in the field of cancer immunology have paved the way for the development of many effective small molecule inhibitors and immunotherapies in B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. This article reviews novel treatments that have been approved recently by the US Food and Drug Administration and are now routinely used in clinical practice. It discusses their mechanisms of action, efficacy and safety, current therapeutic roles, and future directions in the treatment paradigm of different types of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It also reviews other exciting novel treatments that are not yet approved but have unique mechanisms of action and have shown encouraging early results.

Bendamustine or high-dose cytarabine-based induction with rituximab in transplant-eligible mantle cell lymphoma

The objective of this study was to explore differences in outcomes between first-line R-B and R-CHOP/R-DHAP in transplant-eligible patients with MCL. A population-based cohort of 97 patients aged 18-65 years with stage II-IV MCL, consecutively treated with R-B was retrospectively identified at BC Cancer. Baseline characteristics, response rates, and outcomes were compared to the cohort of 232 MCL patients randomized to the R-CHOP/R-DHAP arm of the MCL Younger trial. The primary aim was to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of the progression-free survival (PFS) comparison between both groups, adjusted for MCL International Prognostic Index (MIPI), Ki67 index, and blastoid/pleomorphic morphology. Secondary endpoints included response rate, event free survival, overall survival, and time to next treatment. Ann Arbor stage, lactate dehydrogenase, MIPI, blastoid morphology, and MCL35 assignments were similar between both groups. The overall response rate (ORR) to R-B was 90% (54% complete response [CR]); 77% of patients proceeded to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and 78% received maintenance rituximab (MR). The ORR to R-CHOP/R-DHAP was 94% (54% CR); 78% proceeded to ASCT and 2% received MR. There were no differences in PFS in unadjusted (HR 0.87 [95% CI 0.53-1.41], p=0.56) or adjusted (HR 0.79 [95% CI 0.45-1.37], p=0.40) comparisons. There were no clear differences in secondary endpoints in unadjusted or adjusted analyses. This retrospective adjusted comparison of two independent cohorts of younger patients with MCL suggests that R-B with ASCT and maintenance rituximab is a feasible and effective first-line treatment, with outcomes comparable to R-CHOP/R-DHAP with ASCT.

Prognostic Value of Heterogeneity Index Derived from Baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Objectives

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) represents a group of highly heterogeneous tumors, leading to a poor prognosis. Early prognosis prediction may guide the choice of therapeutic regimen. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the potential application value of heterogeneity index (HI) in predicting the prognosis of MCL.

Methods

A total of 83 patients with histologically proven MCL who underwent baseline fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) were retrospectively enrolled. The clinicopathologic index and PET/CT metabolic parameters containing maximum and mean standard uptake value (SUVmax and SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and HI were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the optimal cutoff values of the parameters for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to assess relationships between risk factors and recurrence. Kaplan–Meier plots were applied for survival analyses.

Results

In univariate analyses, age [HR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.20–5.24, p = 0.041 for body weight (BW)] and HI-BW (HR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.00–17.38, p = 0.050) were significantly correlated with PFS. In multivariate analyses, age (HR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.25–5.47, p = 0.011 for BW) and HI-BW (HR = 4.41, 95% CI = 1.06–18.41, p = 0.042) were independent predictors for PFS, but not for OS. B symptoms (HR = 5.00, 95% CI = 1.16–21.65, p = 0.031 for BW) were an independent prognostic factor for OS, but not for PFS. The other clinicopathologic index and PET/CT metabolic parameters were not related to outcome survival in MCL.

Conclusion

The age and HI derived from baseline PET/CT parameters were significantly correlated with PFS in MCL patients.

Targeting Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma for Imaging and Therapy Using C-X-C Chemokine Receptor Type 4 Radioligands

PURPOSE

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is associated with poor survival. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is a useful target for imaging and radioligand therapy of MCL, using a novel pair of radioligands, [68Ga]Ga and [177Lu]Lu-BL02.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We performed a retrospective analysis of 146 patients with MCL to evaluate CXCR4 expression and its correlation with outcomes. Guided by in silico methods, we designed BL02, a new radioligand labelled with 68Ga or 177Lu for PET imaging and therapy, respectively. We performed imaging and biodistribution studies in xenograft models with varying CXCR4 expression. We evaluated [177Lu]Lu-BL02 in MCL models, and evaluated its potential for therapy in Z138 MCL xenografts.

RESULTS

Phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated CXCR4 expression were correlated with poor survival in patients with MCL and characterized by unique underlying molecular signatures. [68Ga]Ga-BL02 uptake correlated with CXCR4 expression, and localized lesions in a metastatic xenograft model. [177Lu]Lu-BL02 showed high uptake in MCL xenografts. Therapy studies with a single dose in the Z138 model showed tumor regression and improved survival compared with a control group. Upon regrowth, the treated mice experienced concurrent metastasis alongside localized xenograft regrowth, and recurrent lesions showed enhanced CXCR4 signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

CXCR4 is an independent factor of poor prognosis for MCL and a promising target for imaging and radioligand therapy. [68Ga]Ga-BL02 showed high contrast to visualize CXCR4-expressing xenografts for PET imaging and [177Lu]Lu-BL02 induced rapid tumor regression in a preclinical model of MCL.

Stem cell transplant for mantle cell lymphoma in Taiwan

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B-cell lymphoma featuring an aggressive course and a progressive relapsing pattern. International guidelines recommend early consolidative autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT) for eligible patients while reserving allogeneic SCT (allo-SCT) as therapy for refractory cases. Since data describing the implementation of transplants in the Asian population with MCL are limited, we aimed to analyze post-SCT outcomes of 99 MCL patients from the Taiwan Bone Marrow Transplant Registry database. The median age was 56 years, and 11% of the patients had blastoid variant MCL. Ninety-four patients received auto-SCT, while 13 patients received allo-SCT, eight of which received allo-SCT after failing auto-SCT. Before auto-SCT, 52% of the patients were in their first complete remission (CR1). Overall, 37 patients (39%) relapsed after auto-SCT. The median post-auto-SCT progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 43.6 months and not reached, respectively. Blastoid variant MCL, transplant not received in CR1, and disease progression within 12 months post-auto-SCT independently predicted inferior OS in multivariable analysis. The median post-allo-SCT OS was 74 months. Two patients (15%) died of MCL recurrence post-allo-SCT. Three patients with refractory diseases were salvaged with ibrutinib or venetoclax to allo-SCT. Treatment strategies incorporating novel agents warrant further optimization.

Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Beyond BTK Inhibitors

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) with historically poor outcomes. Virtually all patients will eventually experience refractory or relapsed (R/R) disease, with a virulent course of resistance and serial relapses, making treatment challenging. The available therapies for R/R MCL are not curative with conventional therapy, their goal being to palliate and prolong survival. A variety of agents approved for R/R MCL, including Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi), changed the treatment landscape of R/R MCL. In the pre-BTKi era, the median progression-free survival (PFS) in R/R disease was 4-9 months. With the introduction of ibrutinib, the median PFS improved to 13-14.6 months. Despite these impressive results, the duration of response is limited, and resistance to BTKi inevitably develops in a subset of patients. Outcomes after progression on BTKi are extremely poor, with a median overall survival (OS) of 6 to 10 months. Certain therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, have shown promising results after BTKi failure. The preferred combination and sequencing of therapies beyond BTKi remain unestablished and are currently being investigated. In this review, we describe the current evidence for the available treatment of R/R MCL after progression on BTKi.

Prognostic Role of Pre-Treatment Metabolic Parameters and Sarcopenia Derived by 2-[18F]-FDG PET/CT in Elderly Mantle Cell Lymphoma

The goal of this retrospective study was to analyze and compare the prognostic role of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-[¹⁸F]-FDG PET/CT) features and sarcopenia, estimated by CT of PET in elderly (≥65 years) Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL). We recruited 53 patients, who underwent pre-treatment 2-[¹⁸F]-FDG PET/CT and end-of-treatment PET/CT, and the main semiquantitative parameters were calculated. Sarcopenia was measured as skeletal muscle index (SMI, cm²/m²) and derived by low-dose PET/CT images at the L3 level. Specific cut-offs for SMI were calculated by receiver operator curve and divided by gender. Metabolic response was evaluated at end-of-treatment PET/CT, applying the Deauville score. Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS) were calculated for the whole population and for different subgroups, defined as per different sarcopenia cut-off levels. The specific cut-offs to define sarcopenia were 53 cm²/m² for male and 45.6 cm²/m² for female. Thirty-two (60%) patients were defined as sarcopenic. The 3-year and 5-year PFS rates were 29% and 23%, while the 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 43% and 33%. Metabolic response, total metabolic tumor volume (tMTV), total lesion glycolysis (tTLG) and sarcopenia were independent prognostic factors for PFS. Considering OS, no variable was significantly associated. Combination between PET features and sarcopenia may help to predict PFS.