Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disease during imatinib mesylate treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia

Viral Infections and Incidence of Reactivations in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients

BACKGROUND

Viral infections remain a significant problem for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who undergo stem cell transplants (SCTs). These infections often result from the reactivation of latent viruses. However, our understanding of the risk of viral reactivation in CML patients who have not undergone SCT is limited, and there is a scarcity of data on this topic. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized the treatment of CML as it is highly successful and has transformed the prognosis of patients with CML. However, TKI may be associated with an increased risk of infections.

SUMMARY

We have performed a literature search for publications related to viral infections and their reactivations in patients with CML using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for the period 2001-2022. The population consisted of patients over 18 years old with a diagnosis of CML and no history of bone marrow transplantation. In an analysis of 41 patients, with 25 males and 16 females, M:F ratio of 1.56:1, and a median age of 50. Age ranged from 22 to 79 years. Most patients with reported viral infections or reactivations were in the chronic phase (CP) of CML, with 22 patients (76%) in the CP, 6 patients (21%) in the accelerated phase, and 1 patient (3%) in the blast phase. Most cases with reported outcomes responded to treatment for CML; only one had refractory disease and 8 cases (32%) had major molecular response. Imatinib was the most used TKI in 31 patients (77%). The most reported viral reactivations were herpes zoster in 17 cases (41%), followed by hepatitis B reactivation in 15 cases (37%).

KEY MESSAGES

This review sheds light on the importance of having a hepatitis B serology checked before starting TKI therapy and close monitoring for viral infections and reactivations in patients with CML.

Effect of sorafenib maintenance on Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus infections in patients with FLT3-ITD AML undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Use of kinase inhibitors such as dasatinib and imatinib might increase the risk of opportunistic infections, especially Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. However, the effect of sorafenib on EBV and CMV infections remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sorafenib maintenance post-transplantation on the incidence and mortality of EBV and CMV infections in patients with FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia.

METHODS

This was a follow-up of our randomized controlled trial undertaken at seven hospitals in China. The primary endpoint was EBV and CMV infections within 3 years post-transplantation. Secondary endpoints included the cumulative incidences of relapse, non-relapse mortality (NRM), overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-free/relapse-free survival (GRFS) at 3 years.

RESULTS

Two hundred two patients were assigned to sorafenib maintenance (n=100) or non-maintenance (control, n=102). Median extended follow-up post-transplantation was 36.8 (range, 2.5-67.1) months. The 3-year cumulative incidences of EBV-DNAemia and EBV-associated diseases were 24.0% (95% CI: 16.1-32.8%) and 5.0% (1.8-10.6%) in the sorafenib group, and 24.5% (16.6-33.2%) and 5.9% (2.4-11.6%) in the control group (P=0.937; P=0.771). The 3-year cumulative incidences of CMV-DNAemia and CMV-associated diseases were 56.0% (45.6-65.1%) and 8.0% (3.7-14.4%) in the sorafenib group, and 52.9% (42.7-62.1%) and 8.8% (4.3-15.3%) in the control group (P=0.997; P=0.826). The 3-year cumulative mortality of EBV- and CMV-associated diseases was 0.0% (0.0-0.0%) and 2.0% (0.4-6.4%) in the sorafenib group, and 1.0% (0.1-4.8%) and 2.0% (0.4-6.3%) in the control group (P=0.322, P=0.980). The 3-year cumulative incidences of relapse, NRM, OS, LFS, and GRFS were 13.0%, 11.1%, 79.0%, 75.9%, and 65.8% in the sorafenib group and 34.8%, 12.7%, 61.4%, 52.5%, and 46.6% in the control group, respectively (P<0.001, P=0.656, P=0.005, P<0.001, P=0.003). The reconstitution of T lymphocyte subsets, B lymphocytes, and natural killer cells was similar between the two groups (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Sorafenib maintenance post-transplantation does not increase the incidence and mortality of EBV and CMV infections, demonstrating a favorable safety profile.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02474290 . Registered on June 14, 2015.

HHV8-Negative Effusion-Based Large B Cell Lymphoma Arising in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients under Dasatinib Treatment: A Report of Two Cases

Simple Summary

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the treatment of choice for BCR-ABL1-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Dasatinib is a second generation TKI frequently associated with pleural effusion in up to 33% of patients. Here, we describe two cases of HHV8-negative large B cell effusion-based lymphoma (EBL) confined to the pleura, incidentally, diagnosed in patients presenting with dasatinib-related pleural effusion. One patient is alive and is in remission at 17 months from diagnosis, while unfortunately the other patient died of progressive disease and novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related pneumonia 16 months from diagnosis. These cases of large B cell EBL in patients receiving dasatinib raise concern about a possible association and we strongly recommend cytological investigation in patients with persistent/relapsing pleural effusion under dasatinib to improve the knowledge about this entity.

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the treatment of choice for BCR-ABL1-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Although TKIs have substantially improved prognosis of CML patients, their use is not free of adverse effects. Dasatinib is a second generation TKI frequently associated with pleural effusion in up to 33% of patients. This results in symptoms as dyspnea, cough and chest pain that may require therapy discontinuation. In the present report, we describe two exceptional cases of HHV8-negative large B-cell effusion-based lymphoma (EBL) confined to the pleura, incidentally, diagnosed in patients presenting with dasatinib-related pleural effusion. One patient (case 1) is alive and is in remission at 17 months from large B-cell EBL diagnosis while unfortunately the other patient (case 2) died of progressive disease and COVID-19 pneumonia 16 months from large B-cell EBL diagnosis. These cases raise concern about a possible association between large B-cell EBL and dasatinib, and the different clinical outcome of the two cases poses a challenge in treatment decision. For this reason, we strongly recommend cytological investigation in patients with persistent/relapsing pleural effusion under dasatinib, primarily to validate its possible association with lymphoma development and to improve the knowledge about this entity.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease during dasatinib treatment occurred 10 years after umbilical cord blood transplantation

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is defined as a lymphoma that occurs after solid-organ or hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), caused by immunosuppression and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation. It is an important post-transplant complication that can be fatal. After HSCT, most PTLD occurs within 2 years. Recent evidence suggests that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are expected to be effective maintenance therapy after HSCT for Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemia. However, it is unclear whether the use of TKIs might pose a risk of developing PTLD after HSCT. We present the first case of late-onset PTLD during dasatinib treatment, which occurred 10 years after umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT). A 59-year-old man who received CBT for chronic myeloid leukemia blast phase needed long-term dasatinib therapy for molecular relapse. Ten years after CBT, he developed diffuse-large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We observed chimerism of the DLBCL sample, which indicated complete donor type and EBV-DNA, and the patient was diagnosed with PTLD. Because of treatment resistance, he died 6 months after PTLD onset. Although he received no long-term administration of immunosuppressive agents, he received long-term dasatinib treatment, which suggests that prolonged dasatinib use after CBT caused EBV reactivation and led to PTLD. Our case suggests that the potential contribution of molecular-targeted agents after HSCT to the development of PTLD should be carefully considered.