Discordant lymphoma consisting of mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma and nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma in the right supraclavicular lymph nodes: a case report

Occurrence of Secondary Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas Among Our Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients: A Single-Centre Experience

Objective Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) arising as a secondary malignancy in patients treated for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is an infrequent and challenging clinical scenario. NHL can be presented synchronously with cHL or may develop later, sequentially, up to years after treatment for cHL. The relationship between the two lymphomas is unclear, and there are no clear guidelines for the management of these patients. We would like to find a better clinical understanding of this issue so this study investigates the occurrence and clinical characteristics of secondary NHL. Materials and methods In this retrospective cohort examination, we collected cHL cases when NHL occurred during or after the course of treating cHL. We performed the histopathologic revisions of the samples, and in every case where the quality of the sample was lower, we performed molecular examinations to find the association between cHL and NHL. We performed next-generation genome sequencing (NGS) and immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region gene (IgHV) clonality testing. Results In a cohort of 164 cHL patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2020, six patients were identified with NHL during rebiopsy prompted by lymphoma relapse or progression. Among these, five patients were diagnosed with post-germinal center-originated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (post-GC DLBCL), and one patient presented high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HG-BCL). The NHL manifestation differed in its timing: three cases emerged after successful cHL treatment, with at least 18 months of complete remission, while the other three patients faced primary refractory cHL. Notably, the primary refractory cases did not exhibit a confirmed clonal relationship between cHL and NHL, but NGS data raised the possibility of synchronous NHL in one case. In contrast, among the patients with sequentially occurring NHL, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of the IgHV gene affirmed a clonal connection between cHL and secondary DLBCL in one case, while the high morphological similarity suggested a potential clonality between the two lymphomas in another case. Conclusion This study reveals that secondary NHL may manifest both synchronously and sequentially following cHL. Our results suggest that synchronous NHL has a worse prognosis compared to sequential cases when the different lymphomas are not recognized at the time of diagnosis. As our data showed, in some cases, mutations that accompany the tumor cells throughout their clonal evolution can be identified, with additional mutations later on. In the future, next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based processing of liquid biopsy samples can overcome the limitations resulting from the spatial heterogeneity of lymphoid malignancies. Over the long term, this identification could lead to early patient selection and alternative treatment strategies, ultimately leading to improved prospects for cure.

In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Anticancer Activity of Ilama Leaves: An Edible and Medicinal Plant in Mexico

Ilama leaves are an important source of secondary metabolites with promising anticancer properties. Cancer is a disease that affects a great number of people worldwide. This work aimed to investigate the in vivo, in vitro and in silico anticancer properties of three acyclic terpenoids (geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate) isolated from petroleum ether extract of ilama leaves. Their cytotoxic activity against U-937 cells was assessed using flow cytometry to determine the type of cell death and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also, a morphological analysis of the lymph nodes and a molecular docking study using three proteins related with cancer as targets, namely, Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and VEGFR-2, were performed. The flow cytometry and histomorphological analysis revealed that geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate induced the death of U-937 cells by late apoptosis and necrosis. Geranylgeraniol and phytol induced a significant increase in ROS production. The molecular docking studies showed that geranylgeraniol had more affinity for Bcl-2 and VEGFR-2. In the case of farnesyl acetate, it showed the best affinity for Mcl-1. This study provides information that supports the anticancer potential of geranylgeraniol, phytol and farnesyl acetate as compounds for the treatment of cancer, particularly with the potential to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Promising Response to Lenalidomide-Combination Therapy in a Discordant Lymphoma Consisting of EBV-Positive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) complicated with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is extremely rare and typically shows an aggressive clinical course and unsatisfactory prognosis. Here, we describe the case of a 77-year-old man who was referred to the hospital because of repeated fever, night sweats, and weight loss. He was finally diagnosed with a discordant lymphoma consisting of AITL and DLBCL, with significantly different maximum standardized uptake values on positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Based on his complex illness and poor performance status, the patient received six cycles of lenalidomide combined with R-miniCHOP regimen and achieved complete remission with tolerable and controlled toxicity. He subsequently received lenalidomide maintenance therapy and achieved sustained remission. We consider the possible causes of this discordance involved AITL and EBV-positive DLBCL, and the possible mechanism of lenalidomide action in both T-cell and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Lenalidomide-combination therapy may be a preferable choice in patients with an EBV-associated discordant lymphoma.

Three coexisting lymphomas in a single patient: composite lymphoma derived from a common germinal center B-cell precursor and unrelated discordant lymphoma

Composite lymphoma (CL) is a rare disorder defined as the coexistence of two or more distinct lymphoma subtypes at a single anatomic site. Discordant lymphoma (DL), which is the simultaneous occurrence of two or more distinct lymphoma subtypes at different sites, is also rare. CL complicated with DL involving three distinct subtypes of lymphoma in the same patient is an extremely rare disease. Clonal relationships in CL and DL are commonly investigated by molecular analysis using mutational status with t(14;18)BCL2/IgH translocation and immunoglobulin heavy chain variable-region (IgV_H) gene rearrangement. A 73-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with systemic lymphadenopathy and was initially diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma based on pathological features of the biopsied esophageal tumor. However, the results of inguinal lymph node biopsy led to a revised pathological diagnosis CL consisting of Hodgkin lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. Three distinct coexisting lymphomas were identified in this individual patient. Molecular analysis revealed CL derived from common germinal center B-cell precursors, while clonal relationship between CL and DL was not clarified. This case suggests a mechanism underlying B-cell lymphoma pathogenesis involving two pivotal somatic mutations, t(14;18)BCL2/IgH translocation and IgV_H rearrangement.