BCL-2 and MYC gain/amplification is correlated with central nervous system involvement in diffuse large B cell lymphoma at leukemic phase

High BECN1 Expression Negatively Correlates with BCL2 Expression and Predicts Better Prognosis in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Role of Autophagy

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is characterized by high molecular and clinical heterogeneity. Autophagy, a lysosome-driven catabolic process devoted to macromolecular turnover, is fundamental in maintaining normal hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors homeostasis, and its dysregulation plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of hematological malignancies. One main regulator of autophagy is BECLIN-1, which may interact alternatively with either BCL-2, thus allowing apoptosis, or PI3KC3, thus promoting autophagy. The altered expression of BCL2 and BECN1 correlates with lymphoma outcomes, but whether this is associated with dysregulated cross-talk between autophagy and apoptosis remains to be elucidated. Analysis of the TCGA database revealed that BCL2 and BECN1 mRNA expression were inversely correlated in DLBCL patients. In representative DLBCL cell lines exposed to doxorubicin, the cells highly expressing BCL-2 were resistant, while the ones highly expressing BECLIN-1 were sensitive, and this correlated with low and high autophagy flux, respectively. Venetoclax targeting of BCL-2 increased while the spautin-1-mediated inhibition of BECLIN-1-dependent autophagy reversed doxorubicin sensitivity in the former and in the latter, respectively. By interrogating the TCGA DLBCL dataset, we found that BCL2 and BECN1 acted as negative and positive prognostic markers for DLBCL, respectively. The differentially expressed gene analysis in the respective cohorts revealed that BCL2 positively correlated with oncogenic pathways (e.g., glucose transport, HIF1A signaling, JAK-STAT signaling, PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway) and negatively correlated with autophagy-related transcripts, while BECN1 showed the opposite trend. Notably, patients with high BECN1 expression displayed longer survival. Our data reveal, for the first time, that the modulation of BECLIN-1-dependent autophagy influences the prognosis of DLBCL patients and provide a mechanistic explanation supporting the therapeutic use of drugs that, by stimulating autophagy, can sensitize lymphoma cells to chemotherapy.

Leukemic High Grade B Cell Lymphoma is Associated With MYC Translocation, Double Hit/Triple Hit Status, Transformation, and CNS Disease Risk: The Mayo Clinic Experience

INTRODUCTION

Leukemic involvement in high grade B cell lymphoma (L-HGBL) is rare and has been sparsely described in the literature. We report our experience in a large single institution multicenter academic setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records of patients with HGBL who received care at Mayo Clinic between 2003 and 2020 were reviewed. L-HGBL was confirmed by peripheral blood smear and flow cytometry with corroboration from tissue and bone marrow biopsy findings.

RESULTS

Twenty patients met inclusion criteria. All patients had significant bone marrow involvement by HGBL. Leukemic involvement presented in 11 of 20 (55%) in the de novo and 9 of 20 (45%) in the relapsed setting. Seven of 20 patients had DLBCL, NOS, 6 of 20 had transformation (t-DLBCL), 3 of 20 had transformed double/triple hit lymphoma (t-DHL/THL), 2 of 20 had double hit lymphoma (DHL), and 2 of 20 had HGBL with intermediate features between DLBCL and Burkitt lymphoma. Nine of 15 patients had MYC translocation. Based on Hans criteria, 11 of 20 had germinal center B-cell (GCB) cell of origin (COO) and 9/20 had non-GCB COO. Five of 11 de novo patients experienced CNS relapse/progression. All de novo patients received anthracycline-based chemoimmunotherapy. Eighteen of 20 patients died of progressive disease. Median overall survival was significantly better in the de novo compared to relapsed group (8.9 months vs. 2.8 months, P = .01). COO, MYC status, DHL/THL status, HGBL subtype, or treatment group did not demonstrate a significant effect on overall survival.

CONCLUSION

L-HGBL carries a poor prognosis and is associated with MYC translocation, DHL/THL status, transformation, and high CNS risk. Novel therapeutic approaches are needed for L-HGBL.

[Dose-enhanced immunochemotherapy followed by first-line autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for young patients with high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma: an efficacy and prognostic factor analysis]

Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of dose-enhanced immunochemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in young patients with newly diagnosed high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to examine the clinical and survival data of young patients with high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma who received dose-enhanced immunochemotherapy and ASCT as first-line treatment between January 2011 and December 2018 in Blood Diseases Hospital. Results: A total of 63 patients were included in the study. The median age range was 40 (14-63) years old. In terms of the induction therapy regimen, 52 cases received R-DA-EP (D) OCH, and the remaining 11 received R-HyperCVAD/R-MA. Sixteen (25.4% ) patients achieved partial response in the mid-term efficacy assessment, and ten of them were evaluated as complete response after transplantation. The median follow-up was 50 (8-112) months, and the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were (83.9±4.7) % and (90.4±3.7) % , respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated that age-adjusted international prognostic index ≥2 scores was a negative prognostic factor for OS (P=0.039) , and bone marrow involvement (BMI) was an adverse prognostic factor for OS (P<0.001) and PFS (P=0.001) . However, multivariate analysis confirmed that BMI was the only independent negative predictor of OS (P=0.016) and PFS (P=0.001) . Conclusions: The use of dose-enhanced immunochemotherapy in combination with ASCT as first-line therapy in the treatment of young, high-risk aggressive B-cell lymphoma results in good long-term outcomes, and BMI remains an adverse prognostic factor.

A Clinical Triad with Fatal Implications: Recrudescent Diffuse Large B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Presenting in the Leukemic Phase with an Elevated Serum Lactic Acid Level and Dysregulation of the TP53 Tumor Suppressor Gene - A Case Report and Literature Review

Despite representing 30% to 40% of newly diagnosed cases of adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) rarely presents (1) in the leukemic phase (2) with dysregulation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene and (3) an elevated serum lactic acid level. In this case report and literature review, we highlight this unfortunate triad of poor prognostic features associated with an aggressive and fatal clinical course in a 53-year-old man with recrudescent DLBCL. A leukemic presentation of de novo or relapsed DLBCL is rare and may be related to differential expressions of adhesion molecules on cell surfaces. In addition, TP53 gene mutations are present in approximately 20% to 25% of DLBCL cases and foreshadow worse clinical outcomes. Finally, an elevated serum lactic acid level in DLBCL that is not clearly associated with sepsis syndrome is a poor prognostic factor for survival and manifests as type B lactic acidosis through the Warburg effect.

The Spectrum of MYC Alterations in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

MYC, as a powerful transcription factor, plays a vital role in various cancers. The clinical significance of MYC alterations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been investigated for a long time. In this study, we comprehensively summarize the different alterations of MYC in DLBCL, including MYC overexpression, MYC translocations, MYC mutations, and increased gene copy number of MYC. Noteworthy, lone MYC overexpression or MYC translocation is not significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes, and their detrimental effects depend on the genetic alterations of BCL2 or BCL6. Both double-expressor DLBCL (DE-DLBCL), defined as overexpression of MYC and BCL2 proteins, and double-hit lymphoma (DHL), defined as a dual translocation of MYC together with BCL2 or BCL6, represent the distinct subgroups of DLBCL with inferior clinical outcomes. The mechanism may be that MYC activation induces cell proliferation, without the threat of the apoptotic brake in the presence of BCL2 overexpression. In addition, most of MYC mutations are present with favorable prognosis, and the nonsignificant effect of MYC copy number amplification has been observed. It has been proved that cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone plus rituximab show limited effects for DHL or DE-DLBCL, and the rituximab plus dose-adjusted etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin seem to be efficacious for DHL. The novel therapy is urgently needed for clinical improvement in DHL and DE-DLBCL.

Cytogenomic characterization of double minute heterogeneity in therapy related acute myeloid leukemia

Breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy regimens containing alkylating agents and anthracyclines are at an increased risk for secondary myeloid malignancies, either acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Complex genomic changes (karyotypes and/or gene amplification) accompany the development of the secondary neoplasms. Here we present a unique case of a breast cancer patient who developed secondary AML within 18 months of treatment with trastuzumab, pertuzumab, docetaxel, carboplatin (TCHP) and radiation. Leukemia cells had catastrophic alterations in chromosomes 8, 11, and 17. Genetic abnormalities in the leukemia cells included amplification of MYC and KMT2A as double minutes, and deletion and mutational inactivation of TP53 Concurrent amplification of different genes at different levels and on different double minutes, we have named "double minute heterogeneity." Clinically, this case highlights the need to identify genes amplified in secondary myeloid malignancies by cytogenomic microarray (CMA) analysis since these may have therapeutic implications.

Leukemic phase and CSF involvement of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a complex karyotype including a TP53 deletion

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma in rare instances can present initially in a leukemic phase and mimic other lymphoid diseases. In such cases, advanced diagnostic testing including immunophenotyping, FISH analysis, and karyotyping can help determine the accurate diagnosis which is key in the management of the disease.

[Prognostic significance of proteins expression by immunohistochemical method in diffuse large B cell lymphoma]

Objective: To analyze the prognostic significance of TP53, Bcl-2, Bcl-6, Myc proteins expression by immunohistochemical method (IHC) in diffuse large B cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) . Methods: Clinical and pathologic data of 223 patients with DLBCL hospitalized in Zhejiang First Hospital from March 2009 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The 223 cases, a median age of 56 years old with a male predominance, had shown a 39.0% of TP53 positive expression, 38.6% of Myc, 69.1% of Bcl-2, 56.5% of Bcl-6, and 22.7% of Myc/Bcl-2 double expression. According to Hans' classification, 27.4% were GCB and 72.6% were non-GCB. With a median follow-up of 38 (2-97) months, the 3 and 5 years survival rates were 70% and 66% , respectively. By multivariate analysis, TP53 over-expression and Myc/Bcl-2 double expression were independently associated with poor outcomes. 3-year and 5-year overall survival were 59% and 57% for patients with TP53 positive, 77% and 71% for patients with TP53 negative expression. Patients with non-GCB subtype receiving chemotherapy combined with rituximab had a higher OS than those without rituximab. But rituximab did not improve the prognosis of patients with TP53 positive. Conclusion: Myc/Bcl-2 double expression and TP53 over-expression are poor prognosis for DLBCL patients. Patients with Myc/Bcl-2 double expression have shorter OS. Patients with non-GCB subtype who received chemotherapy combined with rituximab have a better OS than those without rituximab. But rituximab does not improve the prognosis of patients with TP53 positive.