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Immunological Aspects of Richter Syndrome: From Immune Dysfunction to Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041015. [PMID: 36831361 PMCID: PMC9954516 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Richter Syndrome (RS) is defined as the development of an aggressive lymphoma in patients with a previous or simultaneous diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Two pathological variants of RS are recognized: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)-type and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)-type RS. Different molecular mechanisms may explain the pathogenesis of DLBCL-type RS, including genetic lesions, modifications of immune regulators, and B cell receptor (BCR) pathway hyperactivation. Limited data are available for HL-type RS, and its development has been reported to be similar to de novo HL. In this review, we focus on the immune-related pathogenesis and immune system dysfunction of RS, which are linked to BCR over-reactivity, altered function of the immune system due to the underlying CLL, and specific features of the RS tumor microenvironment. The standard of care of this disease consists in chemoimmunotherapy, eventually followed by stem cell transplantation, but limited possibilities are offered to chemo-resistant patients, who represent the majority of RS cases. In order to address this unmet clinical need, several immunotherapeutic approaches have been developed, namely T cell engagement obtained with bispecific antibodies, PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade by the use of monoclonal antibodies, selective drug delivery with antibody-drug conjugates, and targeting malignant cells with anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor-T cells.
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2
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Richter Syndrome: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Druggable Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194644. [PMID: 36230566 PMCID: PMC9563287 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Richter syndrome (RS) represents the occurrence of an aggressive lymphoma, most commonly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Most cases of RS originate from the direct transformation of CLL, whereas 20% are de novo DLBCL arising as secondary malignancies. Multiple molecular mechanisms contribute to RS pathogenesis. B-cell receptor (BCR) overreactivity to multiple autoantigens is due to frequent stereotyped BCR configuration. Genetic lesions of TP53, CDKN2A, NOTCH1 and c-MYC deregulate DNA damage response, tumor suppression, apoptosis, cell cycle and proliferation. Hyperactivation of Akt and NOTCH1 signaling also plays a role. Altered expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and of other immune checkpoints leads to RS resistance to cytotoxicity exerted by T-cells. The molecular features of RS provide vulnerabilities for therapy. Targeting BCR signaling with noncovalent BTK inhibitors shows encouraging results, as does the combination of BCL2 inhibitors with chemoimmunotherapy. The association of immune checkpoint inhibitors with BCL2 inhibitors and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies is explored in early phase clinical trials with promising results. The development of patient-derived xenograft mice models reveals new molecular targets for RS, exemplified by ROR1. Although RS still represents an unmet medical need, understanding its biology is opening new avenues for precision medicine therapy.
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Iannello A, Deaglio S, Vaisitti T. Novel Approaches for the Treatment of Patients with Richter's Syndrome. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2022; 23:526-542. [PMID: 35294723 PMCID: PMC8989931 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-022-00973-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT In the last 10-15 years, the way to treat cancers has dramatically changed towards precision medicine approaches. These treatment options are mainly based on selective targeting against signaling pathways critical for or detrimentally activated in cancer cells in cancer cells, as well as exploiting molecules that are specifically expressed on neoplastic cells, also known as tumor-associated antigens. These considerations hold true also in the hematological field where a plethora of novel targeted agents have reached patients' bedside, significantly improving clinical responses. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an example of how targeted therapies, such as BTK, PI3K, or Bcl-2 inhibitors as well as anti-CD20 antibodies, have improved patients' management, even when adopted as frontline treatment. However, these advancements do not apply to Richter's syndrome (RS), the transformation of CLL into a very aggressive and fatal lymphoma, occurring in 2-10% of patients. RS is usually a fast-growing lymphoma of the diffuse large B cell or the Hodgkin's variant, with a dismal prognosis. Despite advancements in depicting and understanding the genetic background of RS and its pathogenesis, no significant clinical results have been registered. In the last couple of years, several studies have started to investigate the impact of novel drugs or drug combinations and some of them have opened for clinical trials, currently in phase I or II, whose results will be soon available. This review will present an overview of current and most recent therapeutic options in RS, discussing also how results coming from xenograft models may help in designing and identifying novel treatment opportunities to overcome the lack of effective therapies.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/etiology
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology
- Prognosis
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Iannello
- Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Deaglio
- Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Tiziana Vaisitti
- Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy
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Shen Y, Coyle L, Kerridge I, Stevenson W, Arthur C, McKinlay N, Fay K, Ward C, Greenwood M, Best OG, Solterbeck A, Guminski A, Shumack S, Mulligan SP. Second primary malignancies in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: Skin, solid organ, haematological and Richter's syndrome. EJHAEM 2022; 3:129-138. [PMID: 35846218 PMCID: PMC9175984 DOI: 10.1002/jha2.366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is invariably accompanied by some degree of immune failure, and CLL patients have a high rate of second primary malignancy (SPM) compared to the general population. We comprehensively documented the incidence of all forms of SPM including skin cancer (SC), solid organ malignancy (SOM), second haematological malignancy (SHM) and separately Richter's syndrome (RS) across all therapy eras. Among the 517 CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) patients, the overall incidence of SPMs with competing risks was SC 31.07%, SOM 25.99%, SHM 5.19% and RS 7.55%. Of the 216 treated patients, 106 (49.1%) had at least one form of SPM, and 63 of 106 (29.2% of treated patients) developed an SPM 1.5 years (median) after treatment for their CLL. Melanoma accounted for 30.3% of SC. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), including eight metastatic SCCs, was 1.8 times more than basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a reversal of the typical BCC:SCC ratio. The most common SOMs were prostate (6.4%) and breast (4.5%). SHM included seven acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and five myelodysplasia (MDS) of which eight (four AML, four MDS) were therapy-related. Any SPM occurred in 32.1% of 53 Monoclonal B-lymphocytosis (MBL) patients. Age-adjusted standardised rates of SPM (per 100,000) for CLL, MBL and the general Australian population were 2648, 1855 and 486.9, respectively. SPMs are a major health burden with 44.9% of CLL patients with having at least one SPM, and apart from SC, associated with significantly reduced overall survival. Dramatic improvements in CLL treatment and survival have occurred with immunochemotherapy and targeted therapies, but mitigating SPM burden will be important to sustain further progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandong Shen
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
- Kolling Institute of Medical ResearchRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Luke Coyle
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Ian Kerridge
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - William Stevenson
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Christopher Arthur
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Naomi McKinlay
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Keith Fay
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Christopher Ward
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Matthew Greenwood
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Oliver Giles Best
- College of Medicine and Public HealthFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Ann Solterbeck
- Statistical Revelations Pty LtdOcean GroveVictoriaAustralia
| | - Alexander Guminski
- Department of Medical OncologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Stephen Shumack
- Department of DermatologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Stephen P. Mulligan
- Department of HaematologyRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
- Kolling Institute of Medical ResearchRoyal North Shore HospitalSt LeonardsNew South WalesAustralia
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5
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[ALK positive anaplastic large T cell lymphoma as an unusual manifestation of Richter's syndrome: a case report and literature review]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2021; 42:1046-1049. [PMID: 35045680 PMCID: PMC8770880 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2021.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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6
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Richter Transformation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Update in the Era of Novel Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205141. [PMID: 34680290 PMCID: PMC8533993 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Richter transformation (RT) is a poorly understood complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with a dismal prognosis. It is associated with a switch in histopathology and biology, generally with a transformation of the original CLL clone to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or less frequently to Hodgkin's variant of Richter transformation (HVRT). It occurs in 2-10% of CLL patients, with an incidence rate of 0.5-1% per year, and may develop in treatment-naïve patients, although it is more common following therapy. In recent years, there has been a deeper understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of RT that involves the inactivation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene in 50-60% of cases and the activation of aberrations of NOTCH1 and MYC pathways in about 30% of cases. Compared to the preceding CLL, 80% of cases with DLBCL-RT and 30% of HVRT harbor the same IGHV-D-J rearrangements, indicating a clonal evolution of the disease, while the remaining cases represent de novo lymphomas that are clonally unrelated. Despite advances in understanding the molecular variations and the pathogenesis of the disease, there is still no significant improvement in patient outcomes. However, if no clinical trials were designed for patients with RT in the past, now there many studies for these patients that incorporate new drugs and novel combinations that are being explored. In this review, we summarize the new information accumulated on RT with special emphasis on results involving the novel therapy tested for this entity, which represents an unmet clinical need.
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7
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Augé H, Notarantonio AB, Morizot R, Quinquenel A, Fornecker LM, Hergalant S, Feugier P, Broséus J. Microenvironment Remodeling and Subsequent Clinical Implications in Diffuse Large B-Cell Histologic Variant of Richter Syndrome. Front Immunol 2020; 11:594841. [PMID: 33381116 PMCID: PMC7767850 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.594841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Richter Syndrome (RS) is defined as the development of an aggressive lymphoma in the context of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), with a Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) histology in 95% cases. RS genomic landscape shares only a few features with de novo DLBCLs and is marked by a wide spectrum of cytogenetic abnormalities. Little is known about RS microenvironment. Therapeutic options and efficacy are limited, leading to a 12 months median overall survival. The new targeted treatments usually effective in CLL fail to obtain long-term remissions in RS. Methods We reviewed available PubMed literature about RS genomics, PD-1/PD-L1 (Programmed Death 1/Programmed Death Ligand 1) pathway triggering and subsequent new therapeutic options. Results Data from about 207 patients from four landmark papers were compiled to build an overview of RS genomic lesions and point mutations. A number of these abnormalities may be involved in tumor microenvironment reshaping. T lymphocyte exhaustion through PD-L1 overexpression by tumor cells and subsequent PD-1/PD-L1 pathway triggering is frequently reported in solid cancers. This immune checkpoint inhibitor is also described in B lymphoid malignancies, particularly CLL: PD-1 expression is reported in a subset of prolymphocytes from the CLL lymph node proliferation centers. However, there is only few data about PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in RS. In RS, PD-1 expression is a hallmark of recently described « Regulatory B-cells », which interact with tumor microenvironment by producing inhibiting cytokines such as TGF-β and IL-10, impairing T lymphocytes anti-tumoral function. Based upon the discovery of high PD-1 expression on tumoral B lymphocyte from RS, immune checkpoint blockade therapies such as anti-PD-1 antibodies have been tested on small RS cohorts and provided heterogeneous but encouraging results. Conclusion RS genetic landscape and immune evasion mechanisms are being progressively unraveled. New protocols using targeted treatments such as checkpoint inhibitors as single agents or in combination with immunochemotherapy are currently being evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Augé
- Inserm UMRS1256 Nutrition-Génétique et Exposition aux Risque Environnementaux (N-GERE), Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France.,Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, service d'hématologie clinique, pôle spécialités médicales, Nancy, France
| | - Anne-Béatrice Notarantonio
- Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, service d'hématologie clinique, pôle spécialités médicales, Nancy, France.,UMR7365 Ingénierie Moléculaire et Physiopathologie Articulaire (IMOPA), CNRS, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Romain Morizot
- Inserm UMRS1256 Nutrition-Génétique et Exposition aux Risque Environnementaux (N-GERE), Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France.,Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, service d'hématologie clinique, pôle spécialités médicales, Nancy, France
| | - Anne Quinquenel
- Département d'hématologie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France.,Département d'hématologie clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Reims, Reims, France
| | - Luc-Matthieu Fornecker
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, IRFAC/UMR-S1113, Strasbourg, France.,Département d'hématologie clinique, Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sébastien Hergalant
- Inserm UMRS1256 Nutrition-Génétique et Exposition aux Risque Environnementaux (N-GERE), Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Pierre Feugier
- Inserm UMRS1256 Nutrition-Génétique et Exposition aux Risque Environnementaux (N-GERE), Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France.,Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, service d'hématologie clinique, pôle spécialités médicales, Nancy, France
| | - Julien Broséus
- Inserm UMRS1256 Nutrition-Génétique et Exposition aux Risque Environnementaux (N-GERE), Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France.,Université de Lorraine, CHRU-Nancy, service d'hématologie biologique, pôle laboratoires, Nancy, France
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8
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da Mata S, Melo D, Barroca H. A case of classical Hodgkin lymphoma-type of Richter transformation with prolonged survival: Fine needle aspiration findings and mimickers. Cytopathology 2020; 31:607-610. [PMID: 32492252 DOI: 10.1111/cyt.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara da Mata
- Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa, Francisco Gentil, E.P.E, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Daniel Melo
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Helena Barroca
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
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9
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Ben-Dali Y, Hleuhel MH, da Cunha-Bang C, Brieghel C, Poulsen CB, Clasen-Linde E, Bentzen HHN, Frederiksen H, Christiansen I, Nielsen LH, Enggaard L, Helleberg M, Clausen M, Frederiksen M, Pedersen RS, Niemann CU, Andersen MA. Richter's transformation in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a Nationwide Epidemiological Study. Leuk Lymphoma 2020; 61:1435-1444. [PMID: 32031030 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2020.1719092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Richter's transformation (RT) refers to the development of an aggressive lymphoma in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Approximately, 2-10% of patients with CLL develop RT, most often as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. To assess the incidence of RT, we examined risk factors for RT and death among patients with RT in a nationwide CLL cohort (from 2008 to 2016). Among 3772 patients, 113 had biopsy-proven RT. With a median follow-up of 4.3 years, the 5-year cumulative incidence of RT was 2.8%. Advanced Binet stage (B/C) (p<.001), unmutated IGHV (p<.001), and del(17p) (p<.001) were independently associated with risk of developing RT. Half of the patients with RT (49%) were treatment-naïve prior to transformation and demonstrated longer survival after RT compared to patients previously treated for CLL (6.1 vs. 2.8 years, p=.03). Whether this finding could be explained by a higher proportion of clonally unrelated RT among treatment-naïve patients, remain to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Ben-Dali
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mariam H Hleuhel
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Caspar da Cunha-Bang
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Haematology, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Christian Brieghel
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Erik Clasen-Linde
- Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans H N Bentzen
- Department of Haematology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Ilse Christiansen
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Linda H Nielsen
- Department of Haematology, Sydvestjysk Sygehus, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Lisbeth Enggaard
- Department of Haematology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Marie Helleberg
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Clausen
- Department of Haematology, Sygehus Lillebaelt, Vejle, Denmark
| | | | | | - Carsten U Niemann
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael A Andersen
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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10
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Drozd‐Sokołowska J, Zaucha JM, Żółtak T, Jamroziak K, Grzybowska‐Izydorczyk O, Witkowska M, Waszczuk‐Gajda A, Kaźmierczak M, Szczepaniak A, Subocz E, Knopińska‐Posłuszny W, Hołojda J, Kopińska A, Hus I, Rybka J, Wołowiec D, Kwiatkowski J, Hałaburda K, Smolewski P, Giebel S, Wiktor‐Jędrzejczak W. Hodgkin lymphoma transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia—A real life data from the Polish Lymphoma Research Group. Hematol Oncol 2019; 37:383-391. [DOI: 10.1002/hon.2624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Drozd‐Sokołowska
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases Medical University of Warsaw Warsaw Poland
| | - Jan Maciej Zaucha
- Department of Hematology and Transplantology Medical University of Gdańsk Gdańsk Poland
| | | | - Krzysztof Jamroziak
- Department of Hematology Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine Warsaw Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Witkowska
- Department of Experimental Hematology Medical University of Lodz Lodz Poland
| | - Anna Waszczuk‐Gajda
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Diseases Medical University of Warsaw Warsaw Poland
| | - Maciej Kaźmierczak
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan Poland
| | - Andrzej Szczepaniak
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poznan Poland
| | - Edyta Subocz
- Department of Hematology Military Institute of Medicine Warsaw Poland
| | - Wanda Knopińska‐Posłuszny
- Department of Hematology Independent Public Health Care Ministry of the Interior of Warmia and Mazury Oncology Center Olsztyn Poland
| | - Jadwiga Hołojda
- Department of Hematology Specialist District Hospital Legnica Poland
| | - Anna Kopińska
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Medical University of Silesia Katowice Poland
| | - Iwona Hus
- Independent Clinical Transplantology Unit Medical University of Lublin Lublin Poland
| | - Justyna Rybka
- Department of Hematology Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw Poland
| | - Dariusz Wołowiec
- Department of Hematology Wroclaw Medical University Wroclaw Poland
| | | | - Kazimierz Hałaburda
- Department of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine Warsaw Poland
| | - Piotr Smolewski
- Department of Experimental Hematology Medical University of Lodz Lodz Poland
| | - Sebastian Giebel
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Hematology‐Oncology Maria Sklodowska‐Curie Institute‐Cancer Center Gliwice Poland
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Puła B, Salomon-Perzyński A, Prochorec-Sobieszek M, Jamroziak K. Immunochemotherapy for Richter syndrome: current insights. Immunotargets Ther 2019; 8:1-14. [PMID: 30788335 PMCID: PMC6368420 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s167456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Richter syndrome (RS) is recognized as the development of a secondary and aggressive lymphoma during the clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). Most of such histological transformations are from RS to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL-RS, 90%) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL-RS, 10%). Histopathological examination is a prerequisite for diagnosis. It is crucial to assess the relationship between the RS clone and the underlying CLL/SLL because clonally related DLBCL-RS has a poor outcome, while clonally unrelated cases have a prognosis similar to de novo DLBCL. An anti-CD20 antibody-based immunochemotherapy is hitherto the frontline treatment of choice for DLBCL-RS; nonetheless, the results are unsatisfactory. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation should be offered to younger and fit patients as a consolidative treatment; however, the majority of the patients may not be qualified for this procedure. The HL-RS transformation has better outcomes than those of DLBCL-RS and can effectively be treated by the adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine regimen. Although novel agents are currently being investigated for RS, immunochemotherapy nevertheless remains a standard treatment for DLBCL-RS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Puła
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland,
| | | | - Monika Prochorec-Sobieszek
- Department of Diagnostic Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute - Oncology Center, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Jamroziak
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland,
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12
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Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis in a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Rapidly Progressing Peribronchovascular Pulmonary Infiltrates. Case Rep Pulmonol 2019; 2019:9870494. [PMID: 30805241 PMCID: PMC6363242 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9870494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG) is an EBV-associated angiodestructive lymphoproliferative disease with multiorgan involvement that predominantly affects the lungs. We present a case of a 72-year-old man with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia who presented with upper respiratory symptoms and multiple erythematous skin papules. Chest CT showed ill-defined, irregular solid pulmonary nodules with peripheral ground-glass opacities in a peribronchovascular distribution. The differential for this pattern of lung disease is vast which includes but is not limited to infection, vasculitis, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and Kaposi sarcoma. Subsequent PET/CT showed rapid progression of lung opacities and marked FDG uptake of pulmonary opacities and skin nodules, which raised the question of Richter syndrome. Wedge biopsy under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed. Pathology showed an extensive lymphoid infiltrate involving lymphatic and bronchovascular bundles and consisting of a mixture of large lymphocytes and inflammatory cells. Special stains showed that the large lymphocytes expressed B-cell markers and EBV virus. Overall, the findings were consistent with LG.
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13
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Xu L, Song JC, Sun XH, Gao ZF, Lv L, Zhu J. Richter's syndrome of the central nervous system diagnosed concurrently with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: A case report and literature review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e12701. [PMID: 30313065 PMCID: PMC6203471 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000012701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Central nervous system (CNS) infiltration of Richter's syndrome (RS) is rare and only a few cases were discussed. Of these published cases, either they were accompanied with lymph node involvement or with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). To our knowledge, this is the first published case of RS of the brain and meninges diagnosed concurrently with CLL in the absence of any evidence of lymphoma outside of the CNS. PATIENT CONCERNS A 67-year-old female presented with slurred speech, headache, and left-sided hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed an irregular lesion 30 mm in diameter in the right parietal lobe. The mass was totally removed and pathology revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of non-germinal center type by Hans' classification. The patient's leukocyte count was 12.1 × 109/L (76.9% lymphocytes), and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of blood revealed a clonal B-cell population (36.75% leukocytes) corresponding to the immunological CLL profile (Matutes score of 5/5). Bone marrow (BM) aspiration and biopsy also indicated CLL. The analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGH) and kappa chain gene (IGK) in the patient's BM and CNS tissue indicated that the DLBCL of the brain was derived from the CLL clone. DIAGNOSES RS of the CNS diagnosed concurrently with CLL. INTERVENTIONS The patient received intravenous chemotherapy (6.0 g methotrexate) and intrathecal chemotherapy (10 mg methotrexate, 50 mg cytarabine, 5 mg dexamethasone). OUTCOMES The patient returned to our department with left-sided hemiparesis and headache 2 weeks after the chemotherapy. Repeat MRI showed progression of the brain lesion. Her general condition deteriorated significantly with confusion and high fever, and she died within a few days at only 10 weeks after the onset of symptoms. LESSONS The survival of CNS-RS patients is very poor and and is always complicated with multiple and different genetic alterations. Because of chemotherapy insensitivity, a multidisciplinary treatment including surgery and radiotherapy together with novel agents may be an option to improving patient outcomes.
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MESH Headings
- Aged
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Central Nervous System/pathology
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Leukocyte Count
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Liye Xu
- Myeloma and Lymphoma Research Center
| | | | - Xiu Hua Sun
- Myeloma and Lymphoma Research Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province
| | - Zi Fen Gao
- Department of Pathology, Peking University, Third Hospital, Beijing
| | | | - Jie Zhu
- Flow Cytometry Center, Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Abstract
AbstractRichter syndrome (RS) is the development of an aggressive lymphoma in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Two pathologic variants of RS are recognized: namely, the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) variant and the rare Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) variant. Histologic documentation is mandatory to diagnose RS. The clinical suspicion of RS should be based on clinical signs and symptoms. Differential diagnosis between CLL progression and RS and choice of the biopsy site may take advantage of positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Molecular lesions of regulators of proliferation (CDKN2A, NOTCH1, MYC) and apoptosis (TP53) overall associate with ∼90% of DLBCL-type RS, whereas the biology of the HL-type RS is largely unknown. The prognosis of the DLBCL-type RS is unfavorable; the outcome of HL-type RS appears to be better. The most important RS prognostic factor is the clonal relationship between the CLL and the aggressive lymphoma clones, with clonally unrelated RS having a better prognosis. Rituximab-containing combination chemotherapy for DLBCL is the most widely used treatment in DLBCL-type RS. Fit patients who respond to induction therapy should be offered stem cell transplantation (SCT) to prolong survival. Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine is the preferred regimen for the HL-type RS, and SCT consolidation is less used in this condition.
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Khan M, Siddiqi R, Thompson PA. Approach to Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the era of novel therapies. Ann Hematol 2017; 97:1-15. [DOI: 10.1007/s00277-017-3149-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Eyre TA, Schuh A. An update for Richter syndrome - new directions and developments. Br J Haematol 2017; 178:508-520. [DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Toby A. Eyre
- Department of Haematology; Cancer and Haematology Centre; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust; Oxford UK
- Early Phase Clinical Trial Unit; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Churchill Hospital; Oxford UK
| | - Anna Schuh
- Department of Haematology; Cancer and Haematology Centre; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust; Oxford UK
- Early Phase Clinical Trial Unit; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Churchill Hospital; Oxford UK
- NIHR BRC Oxford Molecular Diagnostic Centre; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford UK
- Department of Oncology; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
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Magnano L, Montoto S, González-Barca E, Briones J, Sancho JM, Muntañola A, Salar A, Besalduch J, Escoda L, Moreno C, Domingo-Domenech E, Estany C, Oriol A, Altés A, Pedro C, Gardella S, Asensio A, Vivancos P, Fernández de Sevilla A, Ribera JM, Colomer D, Campo E, López-Guillermo A. Long-term safety and outcome of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and mitoxantrone (FCM) regimen in previously untreated patients with advanced follicular lymphoma: 12 years follow-up of a phase 2 trial. Ann Hematol 2017; 96:639-646. [DOI: 10.1007/s00277-017-2920-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
The term Richter syndrome (RS) indicates the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into an aggressive lymphoma. RS is a rare complication with an aggressive clinical course, bearing an unfavorable prognosis. In the majority of cases, CLL transforms into RS as diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and a clonal relation between the two processes can be found. However, clonally unrelated RS can occur and transformations to other histologies beside DLBCL have been described. Recent data have shed some light on genetic characteristics that can influence and drive the transformation from CLL to RS. This molecular information has not been translated yet into significant treatment advances, and currently the therapy regimens for RS continue to rely on intensive chemotherapy combinations followed by stem cell transplant in suitable candidates. Based on the rapid pace of discoveries in the field of hematological malignancies and on the recent revolution in the therapeutic landscape for CLL and B cell lymphomas, new therapeutic options for RS might be available in the upcoming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Vitale
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 428, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Alessandra Ferrajoli
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 428, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Cheah CY, Spagnolo D, Frost F, Cull G. Synchronous biphenotypic Richter syndrome with Epstein-Barr virus-positive nodal classical Hodgkin lymphoma and bone marrow diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Histopathology 2016; 69:707-10. [PMID: 27079556 DOI: 10.1111/his.12984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chan Y Cheah
- Department of Haematology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Pathwest Laboratory Medicine, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Dominic Spagnolo
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Department of Anatomical Pathology, Pathwest Laboratory Medicine Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Felicity Frost
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Department of Anatomical Pathology, Pathwest Laboratory Medicine Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Gavin Cull
- Department of Haematology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Pathwest Laboratory Medicine, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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Abstract
Recent investigations have provided an increasingly complete picture of the genetic landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). These analyses revealed that the CLL genome displays a high degree of heterogeneity between patients and within the same patient. In addition, they highlighted molecular mechanisms and functionally relevant biological programmes that may be important for the pathogenesis and therapeutic targeting of this disease. This Review focuses on recent insights into the understanding of CLL biology, with emphasis on the role of genetic lesions in the initiation and clinical progression of CLL. We also consider the translation of these findings into the development of risk-adapted and targeted therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fabbri
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | - Riccardo Dalla-Favera
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and New York, New York 10032, USA
- Departments of Genetics and Development and Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
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22
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Abstract
Richter syndrome (RS) is the development of an aggressive lymphoma in patients with a previous or concomitant diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The incidence rate RS is ~0.5% per year of observation. Two biomarkers (NOTCH1 mutations and subset 8 configuration of the B-cell receptor) may help identifying CLL patients at risk of RS to be considered for close monitoring and a careful biopsy policy. In the presence of clinical features suspicious of RS, diagnosis of transformation and choice of the site of biopsy may take advantage of fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). Molecular lesions of regulators of tumor suppression (TP53), cell cycle (CDKN2A), and cell proliferation (NOTCH1, MYC) overall account for ~90% of RS and may be responsible for the aggressive clinical phenotype observed in this disease because of the combined effect of chemoresistance and rapid disease kinetics. The prognosis of RS is generally highly unfavorable. However, the pattern of survival is not homogeneous and the most important prognostic factor is the clonal relationship between the CLL and the aggressive lymphoma clones. Rituximab-containing polychemotherapy represents the backbone for induction treatment in RS. Younger patients who respond to induction therapy should be offered stem cell transplant (SCT) to prolong survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Rossi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.
| | - Gianluca Gaidano
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
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Jamroziak K, Tadmor T, Robak T, Polliack A. Richter syndrome in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: updates on biology, clinical features and therapy. Leuk Lymphoma 2015; 56:1949-58. [PMID: 25356923 DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2014.979411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Richter syndrome (RS) or Richter transformation is the development of secondary aggressive lymphoma in the setting of underlying chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). Most frequently CLL transforms into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (90%) and rarely (10%) into Hodgkin lymphoma, termed Hodgkin variant of Richter syndrome (HvRS). RS is generally characterized by an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. In recent years, major advances have been made in understanding genetic events which relate to the progression of CLL or transformation into RS. Better understanding of the molecular pathways has revealed that RS is not a single homogeneous entity. The majority of cases are clonally related to the original CLL clone, while a minority develop from an unrelated clone. This review summarizes new data relating to the molecular biology and the genetic/epigenetic changes occurring during Richter transformation, and also considers the clinical features and therapy for both DLBCL-RS and Hodgkin variant-RS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Jamroziak
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine , Warsaw , Poland
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Benjamini O, Jain P, Trinh L, Qiao W, Strom SS, Lerner S, Wang X, Burger J, Ferrajoli A, Kantarjian H, O'Brien S, Wierda W, Estrov Z, Keating M. Second cancers in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who received frontline fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab therapy: distribution and clinical outcomes. Leuk Lymphoma 2014; 56:1643-50. [PMID: 25308294 DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2014.957203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are known to have an increased incidence of second cancers, but the contribution of commonly used frontline therapies to the incidence of second cancers is unclear. We report on the characteristics, incidence, outcomes and factors associated with second cancers in 234 patients receiving fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) based regimens in the frontline setting. The risk of second cancers was 2.38 times higher than the expected risk in the general population. Ninety-three patients (40%) had other cancers before and 66 patients (28%) after FCR. Rates of therapy related acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome (t-AML/MDS) (5.1%) and Richter transformation (RT) (9%) were high, while solid tumors were not increased. Overall survival of patients with second cancers after frontline FCR was shorter (median of 4.5 years) compared to patients with and without prior cancers. Second cancer risk after frontline FCR is mainly due to high rates of t-AML/MDS and RT, and as speculated the survival of affected patients is shorter.
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Tadmor T, Shvidel L, Bairey O, Goldschmidt N, Ruchlemer R, Fineman R, Rahimi-Levene N, Herishanu Y, Yuklea M, Arad A, Aviv A, Polliack A. Richter's transformation to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a retrospective study reporting clinical data, outcome, and the benefit of adding rituximab to chemotherapy, from the Israeli CLL Study Group. Am J Hematol 2014; 89:E218-22. [PMID: 25110869 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.23826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Richter's syndrome (RS) is the rare development of an aggressive lymphoid malignancy in a patient with pre-existing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Data on RS is sparse and mostly derived from case reports or small series of patients and only a few larger cohorts have been published. The purpose of this large retrospective study was to summarize our national experience with RS in CLL, examine possible risk factors, and analyze relevant demographic, laboratory and clinical parameters, including results of therapy and outcome. We first evaluated data obtained from 119 patients with RS diagnosed during 1971-2010 from 12 medical centers in Israel. The final cohort summarized consisted of 81 patients with RS who developed only diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after exclusion all cases with insufficient data and those who were not DLBCL. Median overall survival from time of diagnosis of RS was 8 months; after applying the Richter score, patients could be stratified into three prognostic groups, while all other clinical and laboratory parameters evaluated had no prognostic significance. Prior therapy for CLL had no impact on RS survival (P = 0.8) and patients with therapy "naïve" RS and those who had already received chemotherapy prior to developing RS, had the same survival. The addition of rituximab to chemotherapy for RS improved 2 years overall survival from 19% in the chemotherapy alone arm to 42% (P value of 0.001). Although prognosis of patients with RS remains dismal, this retrospective observation provides support for the use of chemo-immunotherapy in DLBCL-RS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Tadmor
- Hematology Unit, Bnai-Zion Medical Center; Haifa
| | - Lev Shvidel
- Department of Hematology; Kaplan Medical Center; Rehovot
| | - Osnat Bairey
- Department of Hematology; Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv
| | - Neta Goldschmidt
- Department of Hematology; Hadassah University Hospital; Jerusalem
| | - Rosa Ruchlemer
- Hematology Department; Shaare Zedek Medical Center; Jerusalem
| | - Riva Fineman
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation; Rambam Health Care Campus; Haifa
| | | | - Yair Herishanu
- Department of Hematology; Sourasky Medical Center; Tel-Aviv
| | - Mona Yuklea
- Hematology Department; Meir Medical Center; Kfar-Saba
| | - Ariela Arad
- Hematology department; Sanz Medical Center Laniado Hospital; Natanya
| | | | - Aaron Polliack
- Department of Hematology; Hadassah University Hospital; Jerusalem
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27
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Parikh SA, Kay NE, Shanafelt TD. How we treat Richter syndrome. Blood 2014; 123:1647-57. [PMID: 24421328 PMCID: PMC3954047 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2013-11-516229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Richter syndrome (RS) is defined as the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) into an aggressive lymphoma, most commonly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). RS occurs in approximately 2% to 10% of CLL patients during the course of their disease, with a transformation rate of 0.5% to 1% per year. A combination of germline genetic characteristics, clinical features (eg, advanced Rai stage), biologic (ζ-associated protein-70(+), CD38(+), CD49d(+)) and somatic genetic (del17p13.1 or del11q23.1) characteristics of CLL B cells, and certain CLL therapies are associated with higher risk of RS. Recent studies have also identified the crucial role of CDKN2A loss, TP53 disruption, C-MYC activation, and NOTCH1 mutations in the transformation from CLL to RS. An excisional lymph node biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis of RS; a (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan can help inform the optimal site for biopsy. Approximately 80% of DLBCL cases in patients with CLL are clonally related to the underlying CLL, and the median survival for these patients is approximately 1 year. In contrast, the remaining 20% of patients have a clonally unrelated DLBCL and have a prognosis similar to that of de novo DLBCL. For patients with clonally related DLBCL, induction therapy with either an anthracycline- or platinum-based regimen is the standard approach. Postremission stem cell transplantation should be considered for appropriate patients. This article summarizes our approach to the clinical management of CLL patients who develop RS.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/diagnosis
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/therapy
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prognosis
- Stem Cell Transplantation
- Transplantation, Autologous
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer A Parikh
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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Parikh SA, Rabe KG, Call TG, Zent CS, Habermann TM, Ding W, Leis JF, Schwager SM, Hanson CA, Macon WR, Kay NE, Slager SL, Shanafelt TD. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (Richter syndrome) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): a cohort study of newly diagnosed patients. Br J Haematol 2013; 162:774-82. [PMID: 23841899 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.12458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Nearly all information about patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who develop diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [Richter syndrome (RS)] is derived from retrospective case series or patients treated on clinical trials. We used the Mayo Clinic CLL Database to identify patients with newly diagnosed CLL between January 2000 and July 2011. Individuals who developed biopsy-proven RS during follow-up were identified. After a median follow-up of 4 years, 37/1641 (2·3%) CLL patients developed RS. The rate of RS was approximately 0·5%/year. Risk of RS was associated with advanced Rai stage at diagnosis (P < 0·001), high-risk genetic abnormalitites on fluorescence in situ hybridization (P < 0·0001), unmutated IGHV (P = 0·003), and expression of ZAP70 (P = 0·02) and CD38 (P = 0·001). The rate of RS doubled in patients after treatment for CLL (1%/year). Stereotyped B-cell receptors (odds-ratio = 4·2; P = 0·01) but not IGHV4-39 family usage was associated with increased risk of RS. Treatment with combination of purine analogues and alkylating agents increased the risk of RS three-fold (odds-ratio = 3·26, P = 0·0003). Median survival after RS diagnosis was 2·1 years. The RS prognosis score stratified patients into three risk groups with median survivals of 0·5 years, 2·1 years and not reached. Both underlying characteristics of the CLL clone and subsequent CLL therapy influence the risk of RS. Survival after RS remains poor and new therapies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer A Parikh
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Abstract
Transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to aggressive lymphoma is known as Richter syndrome (RS). In the CLL population considered as a whole, the prevalence of RS development ranges from 2 to 7 %. The most common pathologic phenotype at the time of RS transformation is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), while, in a small fraction of cases, the transformed phase shows pathologic features mimicking Hodgkin lymphoma. TP53 disruption and MYC activation cooperate as dual hits in driving DLBCL transformation. Two biomarkers (NOTCH1 mutations and usage of the immunoglobulin VH CDR3 subset 8) may help in identifying CLL patients at risk of DLBCL transformation to be considered for close monitoring and a careful biopsy policy. In the presence of clinical features suspicious of RS, diagnosis of transformation and choice of the site of biopsy may take advantage of (18)FDG PET/CT. The prognosis of RS transformation is generally highly unfavorable. However, the pattern of survival is not homogeneous and may be predicted on clinical and biological grounds. RS that are clonally unrelated to the paired CLL phase are biologically and clinically different from clonally related cases, and should be considered, and probably managed, as a de novo DLBCL arising in the context of CLL. Rituximab-containing polychemotherapy represents the backbone for induction treatment in patients with clonally related DLBCL transformation. Younger patients who respond to induction therapy should be offered stem cell transplant to prolong survival.
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