Complete remission after first-line radio-chemotherapy as predictor of survival in extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma

Clinical efficacy of cisplatin, dexamethasone, gemcitabine and pegaspargase (DDGP) in the initial treatment of advanced stage (stage III-IV) extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, and its correlation with Epstein-Barr virus

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the DDGP regimen in treating extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma and investigate the correlation between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-DNA variation after treatment and the clinical efficacy of NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Methods: Sixty-four patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma received DDGP regimen-based chemotherapy. Short-term and long-term clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were observed. The relationship between EBV-DNA changes before and after therapy and clinical efficacy was investigated.

Results: After the DDGP regimen was used as the initial treatment, the short-term clinical efficacy included 39 complete remission (CR) (60.94%), 12 partial remission (PR) (18.75%), 2 stable disease (SD) (3.13%) and 11 progressive disease (PD) (17.18%). Objective response rate (ORR) was 79.69% and 82.82% for disease control rate (DCR). 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 62.00% and 3-year overall survive (OS) was 74.90%. Hemocytopenia was the predominant adverse effect. Between EBV-DNA positive group and its negative counterpart, a significant difference was noted in OS (P=0.046), but no difference in ORR, DCR or PFS was observed. In the EBV-DNA positive group, ORR, DCR, PFS and OS were higher for patients whose EBV-DNA copy number decreased within a normal range than patients remained positive (93.33% versus 61.53%, P=0.041 for ORR; 93.33% versus 61.53%, P=0.041 for DCR, P=0.003 for PFS, P=0.017 for OS). The main adverse reactions included bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal reaction and coagulation dysfunction, which were mitigated and treated after expectant or dose-decrement treatment.

Conclusion: DDGP regimen can significantly improve the clinical prognosis of NK/T-cell lymphoma patients with tolerable adverse reactions. The variation in EBV-DNA is correlated with clinical efficacy and prognosis, which provides a theoretical basis for NK/T-cell lymphoma therapy.

Clinical trial: In November 2011, this clinical trial was registered on the website: www.ClinicalTrials.gov (No. NCT01501149).

Characteristics, Prognostic Factors, and Survival of Patients with NK/T-Cell Lymphoma of Non-upper Aerodigestive Tract: A 17-Year Single-Center Experience

Purpose

The extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) of non-upper aerodigestive tract (NUAT) was found to have clinical heterogeneity compared with NKTCL of the upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) in small scale studies. We conducted this study in a much larger cohort to analyze the clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, treatment modality, and clinical outcomes of patients with NUAT-NKTCL.

Materials and Methods

From January 2001 to December 2017, a total of 757 NKTCL patients were identified and included in this study, including 92 NUAT-NKTCL patients (12.2%) and 665 UAT-NKTCLpatients (87.8%).

Results

NUAT-NKTCL patients had relatively poorer performance status, more unfavorable prognostic factors, and more advanced stage, compared with UAT-NKTCL patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 34.7% for NUAT-NKTCL, which was significantly worse than UAT-NKTCL (64.2%, p<0.001). The median OS duration was 30.9 months for NUAT-NKTCL. Multivariate analysis showed that presence with B symptoms and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase independently predicted worse OS. International prognostic index score and prognostic index of natural killer lymphoma score still had prognostic values in NUAT-NKTCL, while the Ann Arbor system could not accurately predict the OS.

Conclusion

NUAT-NKTCL is a distinctive subtype of NKTCL in many aspects. Patients with NUAT-NKTCL have relatively poorer performance status, more unfavorable prognostic factors, more advanced stage, and poorer prognosis.

The DDGP (cisplatin, dexamethasone, gemcitabine, and pegaspargase) regimen for treatment of extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

Extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKL) is a high invasive disease with poor prognosis. Since there is no consensus on standard chemotherapy, we developed an original chemotherapeutic DDGP (cisplatin, dexamethasone, gemcitabine, and pegaspargase) regimen. We retrospectively analyzed 80 patients who received DDGP chemotherapy. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) and secondary end points were overall survival (OS), complete response rate (CRR), and overall response rate (ORR). The one-year PFS and OS rates were 86.0% and 88.6%, and the 2-year PFS and OS rates were 81.40% and 87.1%, respectively. The ORR and CRR of DDGP chemotherapy were 91.3% and 60.0%. The major adverse events were myelosuppression, digestive tract toxicities, and coagulation disorder. No treatment-related deaths were observed. Our results suggest that the DDGP regimen is a high effective and safe treatment for ENKL.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphomas

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), originally discovered through its association with Burkitt lymphoma, is now aetiologically linked to a remarkably wide range of lymphoproliferative lesions and malignant lymphomas of B-, T- and NK-cell origin. Some occur as rare accidents of virus persistence in the B lymphoid system, while others arise as a result of viral entry into unnatural target cells. The early finding that EBV is a potent B-cell growth transforming agent hinted at a simple oncogenic mechanism by which this virus could promote lymphomagenesis. In reality, the pathogenesis of EBV-associated lymphomas involves a complex interplay between different patterns of viral gene expression and cellular genetic changes. Here we review recent developments in our understanding of EBV-associated lymphomagenesis in both the immunocompetent and immunocompromised host.This article is part of the themed issue 'Human oncogenic viruses'.

Treatment of relapsed extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma with bortezomib plus fludarabine

Extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma (ENKL) is a rare entity, associated with an aggressive clinical behavior and poor prognosis. The optimal treatment strategies, particularly for relapsed patients, have not been clearly determined. A 40-year-old female ENKL patient with orbital involvement as the first presentation was initially suspected to have an orbital pseudotumor. When the patient developed disease progression following treatment with methylprednisolone, biopsy of the orbital mass was performed. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimen was consistent with the diagnosis of ENKL (Ann Arbor stage IE). The patient was then treated with radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy with dexamethasone, methotrexate, ifosfamide, L-asparaginase and etoposide (SMILE regimen). Despite an initial good response, the patient developed disease relapse and progression (stage IIIE). Subsequently, treatment was switched to a novel regimen comprising bortezomib and fludarabine as salvage therapy for two courses. A positron emission tomography scan revealed disappearance of the orbital tumor. The patient then received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. At the last follow-up (March 2017), the patient remained disease-free.

Clinical analysis of 42 cases of EBV-positive mature T/NK-cell neoplasms

The pathogenesis of Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV⁺) mature T-cell and natural killer (NK)-cell neoplasms is challenging to understand. The clinical features are diverse, with no typical manifestation. Therefore, it is important to analyze the association of the clinical characteristics and prognoses of patients with various factors associated with EBV⁺ T/NK-cell neoplasms, particularly extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, systemic EBV⁺ T/NK cell lymphoproliferative disorders, aggressive NK cell leukemia and EBV⁺ peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Therefore, 42 cases of EBV⁺ T/NK-cell neoplasms with information on age, gender, fever, LDH level, complete blood count (CBC) and immunophenotype (CD5/CD20) were retrospectively analyzed to examine the clinical features, prognoses and related factors. It was found that patients ≤60 years old accounted for 86% of cases. The frequency of stage III/IV disease was higher in groups with pancytopenia (P=0.005), high LDH level (P=0.020), CD5-expression status (P=0.031) and fever (P=0.024). There were significant differences in the mean International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores according to the presence or absence of fever (P=0.022), elevated or normal lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (P=0.001), and pancytopenia or normal complete blood count (CBC; P=0.046). Analysis of overall survival showed that CD5 expression, CBC, IPI scores and LDH levels were factors associated with OS. CD5 expression (P=0.003), CBC (P=0.003) and IPI scores (P=0.017) were identified to be important risk factors on the basis of Cox regression analysis. The mean survival time was longer in the CD5⁺, CD20⁺ and normal CBC groups, and there was no clear difference in survival time according to LDH level or fever. In summary, CD5 and CD20 may be prognostic factors in EBV⁺ T/NK lymphoid neoplasms, and CBC and fever are most likely to influence the IPI score and Ann Arbor stage.

Extranodal NK/T Cell Lymphoma with Destruction of the Uvulae: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION

Extranodal Natural Killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) nasal type is a rare but well-known disease with poor prognosis. NKTCL is more prevalent in Asia and comprises about 7-10% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases in this region. The characteristic clinical pattern of NKTCL is the destruction of the midline structures of the mid-face.

CASE REPORT

The present study examines a case of NKTCL in a 23-year-old man with a destructive ulcer of the palate and uvulae. Based on immunohistochemical results, after three months of delay, the definitive diagnosis was revealed to be Extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma. Following the third cycle of chemotherapy, the patient died due to sepsis and infection.

CONCLUSION

It is very common to misdiagnose NKTCL with other clinical conditions such as necrotizing stomatitis, deep fungal ulcers, Wegener's Granulomatosis disease, etc. Delay in diagnosis can worsen the course of the disease and its prognosis.

Clinical characteristics and treatment of 69 patients with extranodal natural killer T-cell lymphoma

This study was conducted to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics and survival of patients with extranodal natural killer-T cell lymphoma (ENKL) and compare different treatment regimens. The univariate analysis demonstrated that survival was worse for patients with extranasal primary tumors, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) scores of ≥2, International Prognostic Index (IPI) scores of 3–5, Ann Arbor stage III and IV disease, B symptoms, lymph node involvement and absence of radiotherapy. The Cox analysis demonstrated that ECOG PS score, stage, IPI, presence of B symptoms and radiotherapy were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). The effect of diverse therapies on survival was then analyzed, and it was found that the 5-year survival rate of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy differed significantly from that of patients who received chemotherapy alone [hazard ratio (HR)=0.347, P=0.0203], but did not differ significantly from the survival of patients treated with radiotherapy alone (HR=1.534, P=0.6371). A subgroup analysis revealed a difference between the radiotherapy and non-radiotherapy groups for patients with extranasal-type stage III/IV disease. It was concluded that ECOG score, stage, IPI, presence of B symptoms and radiotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with ENKL. The addition of radiotherapy achieved better outcomes compared with chemotherapy alone, but no difference was observed between chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy. Patients with advanced-stage disease may also benefit from radiotherapy.

Comparative Study of L-Asparaginase-Based LOP Regimen Over CHOP Regimen Before Radiotherapy for Stage IIE Extranodal Nasal Type NK/T Cell Lymphoma: A Study of 2 Centers

BACKGROUND

In this study we evaluated the efficacy of an L-asparaginase-based LOP (L-asparaginase, vincristine, and dexamethasone) regimen in extranodal Natural Killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) patients in the Guizhou province of China.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-eight patients were treated with the LOP (L-asparaginase, vincristine and dexamethasone) regimen chemotherapy (CT) and 32 patients with the CHOP (cyclophosphamide, tetrahydropyanyl adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone) regimen. These patients then received involved-field radiotherapy (RT) with the doses of DT = 49-59 Gy.

RESULTS

A significant improvement of clinical end points with the LOP regimen was noticed compared with the CHOP regimen: 33 (68.8%) versus 16 (50.0%) for complete responses; 10 (20.8%) versus 5 (15.6%) for partial responses. There were statistical differences in objective response rates (43 [89.6%] for LOP vs. 21 [65.6%] for CHOP; P = .009), 3 years of overall survival (42 [87.5%] for LOP vs. 20 [62.5%] for CHOP; P = .006) and progression-free survival (32 [79.2%] for LOP vs. 16 [50.0%] for CHOP; P = .007).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the LOP regimen is safe and much more efficient than the CHOP regimen for stage IIE ENKTL patients. They indicate that the LOP regimen is a satisfying alternative protocol among the other L-asparaginase-based regimens reported so far, such as SMILE (dexamethasone, methotrexate, ifosfamide, L-asparaginase, and etoposide), GELOX (gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and L-asparaginase), CHOP-L, and sandwich (CT, then RT, then CT).

Clinical features and survival of extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma with and without hemophagocytic syndrome

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) (NK/T-LAHS) is a heterogeneous and life-threatening disease, which warrants investigation of its risk factors and clinical features. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 202 patients with extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma and compared the characteristics and survival of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma patients with and without HPS. The cumulative incidence of NK/T-LAHS was 11.4 % (23/202). In a multivariate logistic regression model, younger age (p = 0.012), bone marrow involvement (p = 0.012), and reduced serum albumin (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for developing HPS in patients with extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma. The survival of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma patients was aggravated when complicated with HPS, with an overall 2-year survival of 72.1 and 30.4 %, respectively (p < 0.001). Six patients with HPS onset at lymphoma diagnosis tended to have a poor performance status (p = 0.040), while the rate of elevated bilirubin was significantly higher in 17 patients with HPS onset at lymphoma relapse (p = 0.045). After HPS onset, treatment response was poor (response rate, 17.4 %) and survival was dismal with a median of 26 days. Univariate analysis showed that patients with lactate dehydrogenase >1000 U/L (p = 0.048) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (p = 0.004) had shorter survival time. Extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma was frequently complicated with HPS, and survival was discouraging in this circumstance. Intensive chemotherapy regimens including L-asparaginase or pegaspargase and allogeneic stem cell transplantation should be investigated.

L-asparaginase-based regimen as a first-line treatment for newly diagnosed nasal type extranodal natural killer cell/T-cell lymphoma

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of an L-asparaginase-based regimen and a CHOP regimen followed by radiotherapy as first-line treatments for newly diagnosed nasal type extranodal natural killer cell/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL). A total of 69 patients received the CHOP regimen as the first-line treatment and 112 patients received the L-asparaginase-based regimen. All patients received radical radiotherapy following two cycles of chemotherapy. The overall response rates of the L-asparaginase-based and CHOP treatment groups were 90.18 and 72.46%, respectively (P=0.002). The one, two, and five-year overall survival (OS) rates and progression-free survival (PFS) rates of the L-asparaginase group were 96.0, 88.3, 65.1, 94.2, 79.8 and 50.0%, respectively. The one, two, and five-year OS and PFS rates of the CHOP group were 82.6, 61.9, 25.8, 63.8, 44.0 and 21.0%, respectively (P<0.001). Compared with CHOP treatment, L-asparaginase-based chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy was a safe and highly effective treatment for newly diagnosed ENKTL.

Five-year analysis from phase 2 trial of "sandwich" chemoradiotherapy in newly diagnosed, stage IE to IIE, nasal type, extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma

The “sandwich” protocol, was first proposed by us and comprised of l‐asparaginase, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy with radiotherapy, results in 2‐year overall survival and progression‐free survival rates that surpass traditional therapies for patients with newly diagnosed, stage IE‐IIE, nasal type, extranodal natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma. The results had been published by cancer. These patients were followed up over a median period of 67 months, for which updates and the results of prognostic factors analyses are presented. The 5‐year overall survival and progress‐free survival rates were both 64%. The highest rates of death occurred during the first 6 months, and between the second and third year after enrollment. The initial therapeutic response (odds ratio = 5.83; P = 0.001) and B symptoms (odds ratio = 6.13; P = 0.043) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. However, the international prognostic index was not significant for progress‐free survival and overall survival. There were no severe long‐term side effects. These results indicate that the “sandwich” protocol may benefit the long‐term survival of patients with newly diagnosed stage IE‐IIE, nasal type, extranodal natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma. However, additional studies with larger samples are required to confirm these results. This study is registered at www.Chictr.org (ChicTR‐TNC‐09000394).

A TNM Staging System for Nasal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma

Ann Arbor stage has limited utility in the prognostication and treatment decision making in patients with NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL), as NKTCL is almost exclusively extranodal and the majority is localized at presentation for which radiotherapy is the most important treatment and local invasiveness is the most important prognostic factor. In this study, we attempted to establish a TNM (Tumor-Node-Metastasis) staging system for nasal NKTCL (N-NKTCL). The staging rules of other head and neck cancers were used as reference along with the data of our 271 eligible patients. The primary tumor was classified into T1 to T4, and cervical lymph node metastasis was classified into N0 to N2 according to the extent of involvement. Any lesions outside the head and neck were classified as M1. N-NKTCL thereby was classified into four stages: stage I comprised T1-2N0M0; stage II comprised T1-2N1M0 and T3N0M0; stage III comprised T3N1M0, T1-3N2M0, and T4N0-2M0; and stage IV comprised TanyNanyM1. This staging system showed excellent performance in prognosticating survival. In the current series, the 5-year survival rates of patients with stages I, II, III, and IV N-NKTCL were 92%, 64%, 23%, and 0, respectively. Moreover, the predictive value of several currently used factors was abrogated in the presence of the TNM stage. The TNM staging system is highly effective in stratifying tumor burden and survival risk, which may have significant implications in the treatment decision making for patients with N-NKTCL.

Clinical study of l-asparaginase in the treatment of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, (ENKTL) is a rare distinct entity of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is prevalent in Asia and Latin America but rare in North America and Europe. ENKTL represents an aggressive clinical course and a poor prognosis especially for advanced disease. There is no standard chemotherapeutic regimen for ENKTL. Recently, the efficacy of l-asparaginase in ENKTL has been confirmed. A series of l-asparaginase-containing chemotherapeutic regimens have been studied in clinical trials and have significantly improved the efficacy and prognosis for patients with ENKTL. This review will focus on pharmacology of l-asparaginase, the efficacy of a series of l-asparaginase-containing regimens in the treatment of ENKTL and future clinical study directions of l-asparaginase-containing regimens in ENKTL. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Treatment outcome of patients with advanced stage natural killer/T-cell lymphoma: elucidating the effects of asparaginase and postchemotherapeutic radiotherapy

The prognosis of advanced stage natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) remains relatively disappointing, and the optimal treatment strategy for this disease has yet to be discovered. Seventy-three patients with Ann Arbor stage III or IV NKTCL were retrospectively reviewed. The treatment efficacies of asparaginase-containing and asparaginase-absent chemotherapy regimens were compared, and the effects of postchemotherapeutic radiotherapy were explored. The overall response rate (ORR) of the asparaginase-containing regimens was marginally higher than that of the asparaginase-absent regimens (56.5 vs 32.6 %, P = 0.057). However, no significant difference was observed in 2-year overall survival (OS) (38.3 vs 22.7 %, P = 0.418) or 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) (25.4 vs 14.9 %, P = 0.134) between the asparaginase-containing and asparaginase-absent groups. Postchemotherapeutic radiotherapy was associated with a significantly prolonged survival (2-year OS 57.5 vs 14.5 %, P < 0.001; 2-year PFS 46.3 vs 8.4 %, P < 0.001) and was an independent predictor of both OS and PFS. Radiotherapy significantly improved the prognosis among the patients who exhibited complete or partial remission after initial chemotherapy (2-year OS 81.5 vs 40.2 %, P = 0.002; 2-year PFS 65.6 vs 23.4 %, P = 0.008) but failed to provide a significant survival advantage among those who experienced stable or progressive disease after initial chemotherapy. In conclusion, the use of asparaginase did not significantly improve survival for the treatment of patients with stage III/IV NKTCL. Postchemotherapeutic radiotherapy provided additional prognostic benefits to patients who responded well to the initial chemotherapy, which requires further validation in future prospective studies using larger sample sizes.

Characteristics of TCRζ, ZAP-70, and FcɛRIγ gene expression in patients with T- and NK/T-cell lymphoma

Abnormal expression of key signaling molecules and defective T-cell function play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of T-cell immunodeficiency in hematological malignancies. To understand the molecular basis of T-cell signaling abnormalities and TCRζ chain deficiencies in T- and NK/T-cell lymphoma, the expression level of the TCRζ, ZAP-70, and FcɛRIγ genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 25 patients with T-cell lymphoma, 16 patients with NK/T-cell lymphoma (NK/T-CL), and 26 healthy individuals was determined. In addition, their relationship with disease stage and TCRζ 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) splice variants was analyzed in this study. The expression level of all three genes was significantly altered with disease progression, and a decreasing trend was found in patients compared with healthy controls. TCRζ and ZAP-70 were significantly positively related in all samples, and a negative relationship between TCRζ and FcɛRIγ was significantly lost in NK/T-CL patients. Moreover, distinct expression patterns were defined for patient groups with different TCRζ 3'UTR isoforms. In conclusion, a lower expression pattern for all three genes may indicate a weaker immune status based on reduced TCRζ and ZAP-70 expression without the complementary effects of FcɛRIγ, while aberrant TCRζ 3'UTR splicing may contribute to T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling regulation in T cells from patients with T- and NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Concurrent IMRT and weekly cisplatin followed by GDP chemotherapy in newly diagnosed, stage IE to IIE, nasal, extranodal NK/T-Cell lymphoma

On the basis of the benefits of frontline radiation in early-stage, extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL), we conducted the trial of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by three cycles of gemcitabine, dexamethasone and cisplatin (GDP). Thirty-two patients with newly diagnosed, stage IE to IIE, nasal ENKTL received CCRT (that is, all patients received intensity-modulated radiotherapy 56 Gy and cisplatin 30 mg/m² weekly, 3–5 weeks). Three cycles of GDP (gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² intravenously (i.v.) on days 1 and 8, dexamethasone 40 mg orally on days 1–4 and cisplatin 75 mg/m² i.v. on day 1 (GDP), every 21 days as an outpatient were scheduled after CCRT. All patients completed CCRT, which resulted in 100% response that included 24 complete responses (CRs) and eight partial responses. The CR rate after CCRT was 75.0% (that is, 24 of 32 responses). Twenty-eight of the 32 patients completed the planned three cycles of GDP, whereas four patients did not because they withdrew (n=1) or because they had an infection (n=3). The overall response rate and the CR rate were 90.6% (that is, 29 of 32 responses) and 84.4% (that is, 27 of 32 responses), respectively. Only two patient experienced grade 3 toxicity during CCRT (nausea), whereas 13 of the 30 patients experienced grade 4 neutropenia. The estimated 3-year overall survival and progression-free rates were 87.50% and 84.38%, respectively. In conclusion, CCRT followed by GDP chemotherapy can be a feasible and effective treatment strategy for stage IE to IIE nasal ENKTL.

Treatment outcome of radiotherapy alone versus radiochemotherapy in IE/IIE extranodal nasal-type natural killer/T cell lymphoma: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have revealed conflicting findings concerning the efficacy of radiotherapy (RT) and radiochemotherapy (RCT) in IE/IIE extranodal nasal-type natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL). In this study, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to address this issue.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EmBase, BISOS, Clinical Trials and some Chinese databases for relevant studies, and 2 prospective and 15 retrospective studies involving a total of 1595 patients met our inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis showed no significant differences in complete remission (CR) [odds ratio (OR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-1.72, p = 0.65], 5-year overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR) 1.11, 95% CI 0.85-1.45, p = 0.43] and 5-year progression free survival (PFS) (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.75-1.53, p = 0.70) in patients who received RT versus RCT. Furthermore, the addition of CT decreased neither systemic failure (SL) (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.47-1.21, p = 0.24) nor locoregional failure (LF) (OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.68-2.01, p = 0. 57).

CONCLUSIONS

RCT did not have an obvious advantage over RT for treating IE/IIE ENKTL.

FCGR3A 158V/F polymorphism and response to frontline R-CHOP therapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

The influence of Fc gamma receptor IIIA (FCGR3A) 158V/F polymorphisms on the response to rituximab (R) plus CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone; R-CHOP) therapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is uncertain. Thus, a retrospective study and a meta-analysis were performed to examine the possible correlation between FCGR3A 158V/F polymorphism and the response rate of R-CHOP regimen in patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL. The genotypes of FCGR3A 158V/F in 164 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP were determined in this retrospective study. Additionally, a meta-analysis of current and previously published studies was conducted. Overall response rate (complete and partial response, ORR) and complete response rate (CR) were evaluated. The results of our retrospective study showed lack of correlation between FCGR3A 158V/F polymorphism and ORR (p=0.78) or CR (p=0.76) with R-CHOP therapy. A meta-analysis of 731 cases also showed lack of significant association of ORR and CR in all genetic models with FCGR3A 158V/F polymorphism. In survival analysis, the homozygous F genotype correlated with a shorter progression-free survival than that of non-F/F genotype (p=0.05), this was significant for the non-GC subset of DLBCL (p=0.04), but no association was found between overall survival and FCGR3A 158V/F polymorphism. Further analysis with nonsuperiority test (p<0.0001) suggested that FCGR3A 158V/F polymorphism was not associated with better ORR or CR in newly diagnosed DLBCL patient treated with R-CHOP. No clear relationship was found between FCGR3A 158V/F polymorphism and response to frontline R-CHOP therapy in patients with DLBCL.

Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome: A case report

Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a rare and fatal disease with no optimal treatment. The present study reports the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment process of three patients with relapsed NK/T-cell lymphoma-associated HPS. All of the patients were classified as Ann Arbor stage IV and presented with a poor performance status. Two patients were successfully treated with a pegaspargase-containing combination regimen and one patient succumbed due to serious complications. These cases indicate that for patients with a history of lymphoma, the diagnosis of HPS should be considered when patients present with progressive high fever, pancytopenia and liver dysfunction. Early identification and effective treatments, including pegaspargase-based regimens are essential for an enhanced prognosis.

Extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphomas with extranasal disease in non-endemic regions are disseminated or have nasal primary: a study of 84 cases from India

Abstract We report a study of 84 extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphomas (ENKTCLs) from India to understand the disease pattern. Sixty-one patients had nasal disease and three had Waldeyer's ring tumors, while 20 had extranasal sites of presentation, namely: cervix (n = 1), oral cavity (n = 3), orbit (n = 3), liver (n = 1), ileum (n = 1), and soft tissue and lymph nodes (n = 9). Staging of patients with extranasal disease revealed that either they had disseminated disease or the nasal mass was missed during the initial staging. Extranasal presentation, performance status (PS), international prognostic index (IPI), Korean prognostic index, marrow involvement, radiotherapy and type of chemotherapy affected overall survival, while lymphopenia, performance status, radiotherapy and type of chemotherapy impacted disease-free survival. In the multivariate analysis, IPI and response to chemotherapy emerged as significant prognostic factors. Thus most patients with extranasal ENKTCL have a nasal lesion or disseminated disease and pure extranasal disease is uncommon in non-endemic regions.

An information retrieval system for computerized patient records in the context of a daily hospital practice: the example of the Léon Bérard Cancer Center (France)

BACKGROUND

A full-text search tool was introduced into the daily practice of Léon Bérard Center (France), a health care facility devoted to treatment of cancer. This tool was integrated into the hospital information system by the IT department having been granted full autonomy to improve the system.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the development and various uses of a tool for full-text search of computerized patient records.

METHODS

The technology is based on Solr, an open-source search engine. It is a web-based application that processes HTTP requests and returns HTTP responses. A data processing pipeline that retrieves data from different repositories, normalizes, cleans and publishes it to Solr, was integrated in the information system of the Leon Bérard center. The IT department developed also user interfaces to allow users to access the search engine within the computerized medical record of the patient.

RESULTS

From January to May 2013, 500 queries were launched per month by an average of 140 different users. Several usages of the tool were described, as follows: medical management of patients, medical research, and improving the traceability of medical care in medical records. The sensitivity of the tool for detecting the medical records of patients diagnosed with both breast cancer and diabetes was 83.0%, and its positive predictive value was 48.7% (gold standard: manual screening by a clinical research assistant).

CONCLUSION

The project demonstrates that the introduction of full-text-search tools allowed practitioners to use unstructured medical information for various purposes.

Pathogenesis and treatment of extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKL) is one of the uncommon subtypes of malignant lymphoma, and predominantly occurs in the nasal or paranasal areas and less frequently in the skin. Previously, its prognosis was poor due to the expression of P-glycoprotein, which actively exports several anticancer agents outside the lymphoma cells. However, in recent years, novel therapeutic approaches such as simultaneous chemoradiotherapy or l-asparaginase-based regimens including SMILE (steroid, methotrexate, ifosfamide, l-asparaginase, and etoposide) improved the response to therapy and survival of ENKL patients. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is present in lymphoma cells of almost all patients, accounting for the pathogenesis of ENKL. Fragmented EBV-DNA is released from tumor cells, and can be detected in the peripheral blood of patients. The EBV-DNA copy numbers are associated with tumor burden, and can predict the prognosis of ENKL, as well as the toxicity against chemotherapy. Based on this recent progress, ENKL is currently categorized as a lymphoma with intermediate prognosis, but the overall treatment results are not satisfactory. Further improvement of the prognosis of ENKL is therefore warranted, including the optimal use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

The significance of combining radiotherapy with chemotherapy for early stage extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Radiotherapy is regarded as a primary treatment for early stage extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL). However, whether combined modality treatment (CMT) comprising radiotherapy and chemotherapy is necessary remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies was performed to evaluate the significance of combining radiotherapy with chemotherapy for early stage ENKTL. Comparison of CMT and radiotherapy alone (RT) showed no significant difference by the measurement of complete response (CR) (odds ratio [OR] 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.58; p = 0.73), 5-year overall survival rate (OS) (HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.45-1.19; p = 0.21) and progression-free survival rate (PFS) (HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.50-1.17; p = 0.21). Additional chemotherapy did not decrease systemic failure (OR 1.52; 95% CI 0.97-2.40; p = 0.07), as well as locoregional failure (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.52-1.73; p = 0.85). The results may support the assertion that the combination of radiotherapy with chemotherapy cannot improve treatment outcomes, but rather it increases adverse effects and financial costs. However, these results should be interpreted with caution.

A prospective phase II study of L-asparaginase- CHOP plus radiation in newly diagnosed extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

PURPOSE

To explore the efficacy and safety of L-asparaginase in newly-diagnosed extranodal nature killer (NK)/T -cell lymphoma (ENKTL), we conducted a prospective phase II study of L-asparaginase, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (CHOP-L) regimen in combination with radiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with newly diagnosed ENKTL and an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2 were eligible for enrollment. Treatment included 6-8 cycles of CHOP-L (cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m(2) day 1; vincristine, 1.4 mg/m(2) day 1 (maximal dose 2 mg), doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2) day 1; dexamethasone 10 mg days 1-8; L-asparaginase 6000 u/m(2) days 2-8). Radiotherapy was scheduled after 4-6 cycles of CHOP-L regimen, depending on stage and primary anatomic site. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) rate.

RESULTS

A total of 38 eligible patients were enrolled. The median age was 40.5 years (range, 15 to 71 years). Their clinical characteristics were male to female ratio, 24:14; Ann Arbor stage I, 20; II, 11; III, 3; IV, 4. CR and overall response rates were 81.6% (95% CI, 69.3% to 93.9%) and 84.2%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 25 months, the 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival and disease-free survival rates were 80.1% (95%CI, 73.3% to 86.9%), 81% (95%CI, 74.5% to 87.5%) and 93.6% (95%CI, 89.3% to 97.9%), respectively. The major adverse events were myelosuppression, liver dysfunction, and digestive tract toxicities. Grade 3 to 4 leukopenia and neutropenia were 76.3% and 84.2%, respectively. No treatment-related death was observed.

CONCLUSION

CHOP-L chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy is a safe and highly effective treatment for newly diagnosed ENKTL.