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Nickles M, Hunt S, Turcios-Escobar S, Babwah A, Mobayed N, Murga-Zamalloa C, Bain M, Quigley J, Rubinstein P, Galvez C. Richter Syndrome Presenting as Subcutaneous Nodules and a Dermal Plaque. Am J Dermatopathol 2024; 46:443-446. [PMID: 38648045 DOI: 10.1097/dad.0000000000002720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Richter syndrome (RS) describes a phenomenon in which a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) develops an aggressive lymphoma, most commonly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Reports of cutaneous RS remain exceedingly rare. We report a 61-year-old woman with relapsed/refractory CLL presenting with several subcutaneous nodules on her arms and legs and a single dermal plaque on her abdomen. Skin biopsy revealed a diagnosis of DLBCL, ABC-type, and her clinical status rapidly deteriorated following diagnosis. We review the variety of clinical presentations of cutaneous RS, its association with CLL, risk factors for RS development in CLL patients, and the distinctive histopathologic and immunophenotypic features of DLBCL. We hope to highlight the importance of prompt skin biopsy in patients with CLL presenting with progressive skin lesions and increase awareness of this aggressive clinical syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Nickles
- Department of Dermatology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
| | - Samantha Hunt
- Department of Dermatology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Amaara Babwah
- Department of Hematology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; and
| | - Nisreen Mobayed
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Michelle Bain
- Department of Dermatology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
| | - John Quigley
- Department of Hematology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; and
| | - Paul Rubinstein
- Department of Hematology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; and
| | - Carlos Galvez
- Department of Hematology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL; and
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2
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Dondi F, Bertagna F. Applications of 18F-Fluorodesoxyglucose PET Imaging in Leukemia. PET Clin 2024:S1556-8598(24)00053-1. [PMID: 38909010 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpet.2024.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
The main finding that 18F-FDG PET imaging can reveal in patients with leukemias is the presence of bone marrow (BM) infiltration in both acute or chronic forms. This ability can influence and guide the use of BM biopsy but also assess to therapy response. Additionally 18F-FDG PET imaging has been reported as particularly useful for the diagnosis of leukemias in patients with non specific symptoms. In the case of acute leukemias it revealed also a role for the evaluation of extramedullary forms while in the case of chronic forms a role for the assessment of Richter transformation has been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Dondi
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy.
| | - Francesco Bertagna
- Nuclear Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Brescia and ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy
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3
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Turk A, Čeh E, Calin GA, Kunej T. Multiple omics levels of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:293. [PMID: 38906881 PMCID: PMC11192936 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02068-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoproliferative malignancy characterized by the proliferation of functionally mature but incompetent B cells. It is the most prevalent type of leukemia in Western populations, accounting for approximately 25% of new leukemia cases. While recent advances, such as ibrutinib and venetoclax treatment have improved patient outlook, aggressive forms of CLL such as Richter transformation still pose a significant challenge. This discrepancy may be due to the heterogeneity of factors contributing to CLL development at multiple -omics levels. However, information on the omics of CLL is fragmented, hindering multi-omics-based research into potential treatment options. To address this, we aggregated and presented a selection of important aspects of various omics levels of the disease in this review. The purpose of the present literature analysis is to portray examples of CLL studies from different omics levels, including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, epitranscriptomics, proteomics, epiproteomics, metabolomics, glycomics and lipidomics, as well as those identified by multi-omics approaches. The review includes the list of 102 CLL-associated genes with relevant genomics information. While single-omics studies yield substantial and useful data, they omit a significant level of complex biological interplay present in the disease. As multi-omics studies integrate several different layers of data, they may be better suited for complex diseases such as CLL and have thus far yielded promising results. Future multi-omics studies may assist clinicians in improved treatment choices based on CLL subtypes as well as allow the identification of novel biomarkers and targets for treatments.
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Grants
- P4-0220 Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RS (Slovenian Research Agency)
- Dr. Calin is the Felix L. Haas Endowed Professor in Basic Science. Work in G.A.C.’s laboratory is supported by NCI grants 1R01 CA182905-01 and 1R01CA222007-01A1, NIGMS grant 1R01GM122775-01, DoD Idea Award W81XWH-21-1-0030, a Team DOD grant in Gastric Cancer W81XWH-21-1-0715, a Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Moonshot Flagship project, a CLL Global Research Foundation 2019 grant, a CLL Global Research Foundation 2020 grant, a CLL Global Research Foundation 2022 grant, The G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation, two grants from Torrey Coast Foundation, an Institutional Research Grant and Development Grant associated with the Brain SPORE 2P50CA127001.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Turk
- Clinical Institute of Genomic Medicine, University Clinical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Čeh
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - George A Calin
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Division of Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Tanja Kunej
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Kittai AS, Bond D, Huang Y, Bhat SA, Blyth E, Byrd JC, Chavez JC, Davids MS, Dela Cruz JP, Dowling MR, Duffy C, Ho C, Jacobson C, Jaglowski S, Jain N, Lin KH, Miller C, McCarthy C, Omer Z, Parry E, Rai M, Rogers KA, Saha A, Schachter L, Scott H, Senapati J, Shadman M, Siddiqi T, Stephens DM, Vanguru V, Wierda W, Woyach JA, Thompson PA. Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Richter Transformation: An International, Multicenter, Retrospective Study. J Clin Oncol 2024; 42:2071-2079. [PMID: 38552193 DOI: 10.1200/jco.24.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Outcomes for Richter transformation (RT) are poor with current therapies. The efficacy and safety of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) for RT are not established. METHODS We performed an international multicenter retrospective study of patients with RT who received CAR-T. Patient, disease, and treatment characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics, and modeling analyses were used to determine association with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). PFS and OS were estimated from the date of CAR-T infusion. RESULTS Sixty-nine patients were identified. The median age at CAR-T infusion was 64 years (range, 27-80). Patients had a median of four (range, 1-15) previous lines of therapy for CLL and/or RT, including previous Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor and/or BCL2 inhibitor therapy in 58 (84%) patients. The CAR-T product administered was axicabtagene ciloleucel in 44 patients (64%), tisagenlecleucel in 17 patients (25%), lisocabtagene maraleucel in seven patients (10%), and brexucabtagene autoleucel in one patient (1%). Eleven patients (16%) and 25 patients (37%) experienced grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, respectively. The overall response rate was 63%, with 46% attaining a complete response (CR). After a median follow-up of 24 months, the median PFS was 4.7 months (95% CI, 2.0 to 6.9); the 2-year PFS was 29% (95% CI, 18 to 41). The median OS was 8.5 months (95% CI, 5.1 to 25.4); the 2-year OS was 38% (95% CI, 26 to 50). The median duration of response was 27.6 months (95% CI, 14.5 to not reached) for patients achieving CR. CONCLUSION CAR-T demonstrates clinical efficacy for patients with RT.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Retrospective Studies
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Aged
- Adult
- Female
- Antigens, CD19/therapeutic use
- Antigens, CD19/immunology
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/adverse effects
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Aged, 80 and over
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/therapeutic use
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/mortality
- Progression-Free Survival
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S Kittai
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - David Bond
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Ying Huang
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Seema A Bhat
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Emily Blyth
- Blood Transplant and Cell Therapies Program, Westmead Hospital Department of Haematology, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - John C Byrd
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Julio C Chavez
- Department of Malignant Hematology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Matthew S Davids
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jamie P Dela Cruz
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Mark R Dowling
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Caitlyn Duffy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Carrie Ho
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Caron Jacobson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Nitin Jain
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Kevin H Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Cecelia Miller
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Christine McCarthy
- Department of Hematology, Department of Clinical Informatics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Zulfa Omer
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Erin Parry
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Manoj Rai
- Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Kerry A Rogers
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Aditi Saha
- Department of Malignant Hematology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Levanto Schachter
- Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Hamish Scott
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jayastu Senapati
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Mazyar Shadman
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tanya Siddiqi
- Department of Hematology/HCT, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA
| | - Deborah M Stephens
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Vinay Vanguru
- Institute of Haematology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW, Australia
| | - William Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | - Philip A Thompson
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Hampel PJ, Swaminathan M, Rogers KA, Parry EM, Burger JA, Davids MS, Ding W, Ferrajoli A, Hyak JM, Jain N, Kenderian SS, Wang Y, Wierda WG, Woyach JA, Parikh SA, Thompson PA. A multicenter study of venetoclax-based treatment for patients with Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood Adv 2024; 8:2342-2350. [PMID: 38537065 PMCID: PMC11127193 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023012080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who develop Richter transformation (RT) have a poor prognosis when treated with chemoimmunotherapy regimens used for de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Venetoclax, a BCL2 inhibitor, has single-agent efficacy in patients with RT and is potentially synergistic with chemoimmunotherapy. In this multicenter, retrospective study, we evaluated 62 patients with RT who received venetoclax-based treatment outside of a clinical trial, in combination with a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi; n=28), rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (R-CHOP) (n=13), or intensive chemoimmunotherapy other than R-CHOP (n=21). The best overall and complete response rates were 36%/25%, 54%/46%, and 52%/38%, respectively. The median progression-free and overall survival estimates for the same treatment groups were 4.9/14.3 months, 14.9 months/not reached, and 3.3/9 months, respectively. CLL with del(17p) was associated with a lower complete response rate in the total cohort (odds ratio [OR] 0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04-0.6; p=0.01) and venetoclax-naïve subgroup (OR 0.13; 95%CI 0.02-0.66; p=0.01). TP53 mutated CLL was associated with a lower complete response rate (OR 0.15; 95%CI 0.03-0.74; p=0.02) and shorter progression-free survival (hazard ratio 3.1; 95%CI 1.21-7.95; p=0.02) only in venetoclax-naïve subgroup. No other clinical or baseline characteristics, including prior venetoclax treatment for CLL, showed statistically significant association with outcomes. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia events were most frequent with intensive chemoimmunotherapy + venetoclax; grade 3-4 infection rates were similar across treatment groups. In this difficult-to-treat RT patient population, venetoclax-based combination regimens achieved high response rates, with durable remission and survival observed in a subset of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Hampel
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Mahesh Swaminathan
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Kerry A. Rogers
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Erin M. Parry
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jan A. Burger
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Matthew S. Davids
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Wei Ding
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Alessandra Ferrajoli
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | - Nitin Jain
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Saad S. Kenderian
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Yucai Wang
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - William G. Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | - Sameer A. Parikh
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Philip A. Thompson
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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6
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Qin S, Jiang R, Dai L, Miao Y, Sha Y, Qiu T, Ding C, Wang Z, Shi C, Xia Y, Fan L, Xu W, Li J, Zhu H. Venetoclax plus dose-adjusted R-EPOCH (VR-DA-EPOCH) or G-EPOCH bridging to subsequent cellular therapy for the patients with transformed lymphoma a single center clinical experience. Ann Hematol 2024; 103:1635-1642. [PMID: 38246951 PMCID: PMC11009738 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05618-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Indolent lymphoma, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and follicular lymphoma (FL), can undergo histological transformation into an aggressive subtype, typically diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The prognosis of transformed lymphoma is poor. In this study, we reported the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of venetoclax, dose-adjusted rituximab or obinutuzumab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (VR-DA-EPOCH or VG-DA-EPOCH) in 11 patients with biopsy-proven histology transformation into DLBCL, including 8 patients with RT and 3 with transformed FL (tFL). The study was conducted between October 2019 and March 2023 at our single center. The median age of participants at enrolment was 53 years. Six patients (85.7%, 6/7) achieved complete remission (CR) at the end of treatment. The best overall response rate (ORR) and CR rate were both 72.7%, respectively. Two patients received autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT) while two patients received ASCT concurrently with CAR-T therapy for consolidation. With a median follow-up of 13.5 (range, 2.4-29.8) months after enrollment, the median event-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 9.4, 11.5, and 17.5 months, respectively. Hematologic toxicities of grade ≥3 consisted of neutropenia (90.9%, 10/11), thrombocytopenia (63.6%, 7/11), and febrile neutropenia (54.5%, 6/11). In conclusion, VR-DA-EPOCH or VG-DA-EPOCH was a promising strategy to achieve an early remission, bridging to cellular therapy within this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuchao Qin
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Luomengjia Dai
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Miao
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yeqin Sha
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tonglu Qiu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chongyang Ding
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuanbing Shi
- Department of Pathology, Pukou People's Hospital, Nanjing, 211800, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Xia
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Fan
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianyong Li
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huayuan Zhu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.
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Bajwa A, Habib A, Kittai AS. Treatment of Richter's Transformation with Novel Therapies. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2024; 19:45-55. [PMID: 38194201 PMCID: PMC10894755 DOI: 10.1007/s11899-023-00721-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review presents recently published clinical trial data and ongoing investigations regarding the treatment of Richter's transformation (RT). RECENT FINDINGS Recently, numerous approaches have been investigated for the treatment of RT including: traditional chemoimmunotherapy regimens combined with targeted agents such as BTKi and BCL2i; immunotherapy combined with targeted agents; non-covalent BTKis; bispecific T cell engagers; and CART therapy. In addition, various novel targeted agents are currently being studied for the treatment of RT in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Standard of care treatment with chemoimmunotherapy for RT has limited efficacy in achieving durable remissions. Here, we review recent data on the use of combination treatments and targeted agents in RT. Although some progress has been made in the investigation to optimize treatment of RT, further study is needed to evaluate long term outcomes of recently published trials and test efficacy of upcoming novel agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amneet Bajwa
- The Ohio State University, 2121 Kenney Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Alma Habib
- The Ohio State University, 2121 Kenney Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Adam S Kittai
- The Ohio State University, 2121 Kenney Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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8
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Pham N, Coombs CC, O'Brien S. Are we closer to a standard of care for Richter's syndrome? Novel treatments on the horizon. Expert Rev Hematol 2024; 17:117-126. [PMID: 38693662 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2024.2350528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The therapeutic landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) has significantly evolved over the past decade with dramatically improved outcomes with the introduction of targeted therapies. This unfortunately has not been the case for Richter transformation (RT), the histologic transformation to a more aggressive lymphoma, most typically diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). As such, RT continues to be one of the most challenging complications of CLL/SLL. Historically, RT has a poor response to treatment, with a minority reaching complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS) being less than a year. AREAS COVERED The focus of this review is to discuss the effectiveness of commonly used regimens, and review existing data for emerging regimens being examined in ongoing clinical trials to improve prognosis and outcomes in patients with RT. Despite extensive efforts to optimize therapies for RT, there is still no generalized consensus on either first-line treatment regimens or regimens in the relapsed/refractory setting. RT continues to carry a high mortality rate without durable response to current therapeutic agents. EXPERT OPINION Ongoing and future research may identify novel treatment approaches that will eventually improve outcomes for patients with RT. The optimal care for RT patients is a clinical trial, when feasible.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/mortality
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/mortality
- Standard of Care
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Treatment Outcome
- Disease Management
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Affiliation(s)
- Nghia Pham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Catherine C Coombs
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Susan O'Brien
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at University of California, Irvine, USA
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9
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Ahn IE, Davids MS. Therapeutic targeting of apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Semin Hematol 2024; 61:109-118. [PMID: 38538512 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2024.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic targeting of apoptosis with small molecule B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) inhibition with venetoclax is highly efficacious in CLL, leading to sustained deep responses, particularly among patients with treatment-naïve disease with favorable prognostic markers. Patients with unfavorable genetic characteristics such as TP53 aberration and unmutated IGHV may also derive durable benefits, but their remission duration after time-limited venetoclax-containing combination therapy is shorter, particularly in patients with relapsed/refractory disease. Emerging data indicate that the context of disease progression after initial treatment with venetoclax may define the success of re-treatment with venetoclax. Specifically, continuous venetoclax exposure may select for resistant disease due to genetic mechanisms such as BCL2 mutations and functional resistance mechanisms such as hyperphosphorylation of BCL-2 family proteins, which decrease the affinity of venetoclax binding to the target or lead to increased MCL-1 dependence and concomitant decrease in BCL-2 dependence. These patients may be best served by switching to a different class of targeted agents at the time of progression. In contrast, relapsed CLL that arises while being off therapy after a period of time-limited venetoclax-based regimens maintains sensitivity to re-treatment with venetoclax for the majority of patients. Novel strategies related to therapeutic targeting of apoptosis include next-generation BCL-2 inhibitors with improved potency and pharmacokinetic profiles, direct targeting of anti-apoptotic BH3 family proteins beyond BCL-2 such as MCL-1, and indirect targeting of MCL-1 through mechanisms such as small molecule cyclin-dependent kinase 9 inhibitors.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism
- Sulfonamides/therapeutic use
- Sulfonamides/pharmacology
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
- Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Inhye E Ahn
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Matthew S Davids
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
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10
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Barrett A, Appleby N, Dreau H, Fox CP, Munir T, Eyre TA. Richter's transformation: Transforming the clinical landscape. Blood Rev 2024; 64:101163. [PMID: 38097488 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2023.101163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Richter transformation (RT) represents an aggressive histological transformation from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, most often to a large B cell lymphoma. It is characterised by chemo-resistance and subsequent short survival. Drug development has struggled over recent years in light of the aggressive kinetics of the disease, lack of pivotal registrational trials and relative rarity of the phenomenon. In this review we will highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of managing patients with RT as well as taking a look to the future therapeutic landscape. Highly active therapies developed across B cell malignancies are starting to impact this field, with T-cell activation therapies (CAR-T, bispecific antibodies), antibody-drug conjugates, and novel small molecule inhibitor combinations (e.g. BTKi-BCL2i) being actively studied. We will highlight the data supporting these developments and look to the studies to come to provide hope for patients suffering from this devastating disease.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/etiology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/diagnosis
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/therapy
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
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Affiliation(s)
- A Barrett
- Department of Haematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - N Appleby
- Department of Haematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - H Dreau
- Oxford Molecular Diagnostic Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - C P Fox
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - T Munir
- Department of Haematology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - T A Eyre
- Department of Haematology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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11
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Sośnia O, Pruszczyk K, Danecki M, Wąsik-Szczepanek E, Tryc-Szponder J, Iskierka-Jażdżewska E, Majeranowski A, Krzemień H, Bołkun Ł, Paszkiewicz-Kozik E, Drozd-Sokołowska J, Kwiatkowski J, Wiśniewska-Organek D, Prochorec-Sobieszek M, Szumera-Ciećkiewicz A, Budziszewska B, Jamroziak K, Hus I, Lech-Marańda E, Puła B. Richter transformation - retrospective treatment outcomes analysis in Polish Adult Leukemia Study Group. Leuk Lymphoma 2024; 65:175-186. [PMID: 37921067 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2023.2277140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Richter transformation (RT) is defined as developing an aggressive lymphoma in 2-10% of patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). So far, no complex analysis of RT demographics and treatment outcomes has been performed in Poland. Thus, the retrospective analysis of 124 patients with RT from Polish hematology centers was designed. Ninety-nine patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL-RT) were identified. The median overall survival (OS) for DLBCL-RT was 17.3 months, while for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL-RT)-21.3 months. In multivariate analysis, the independent factors of worse OS for DLBCL-RT were: prior CLL therapy, ECOG stage ≥2, and elevated serum LDH activity. Patients who proceeded to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) achieved better results. The median OS in allogeneic HSCT recipients was not reached, while in autologous HSCT median OS was 51.3 months. In conclusion, our study represents the largest dataset of patients diagnosed with RT in Poland and confirms its dismal prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oktawia Sośnia
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pruszczyk
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Danecki
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Cracow, Poland
| | - Ewa Wąsik-Szczepanek
- Department of Hematooncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jagoda Tryc-Szponder
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Alan Majeranowski
- Department of Hematology and Transplantology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Helena Krzemień
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Medical School of Silesia, Silesian Medical University, Katowice, Poland
| | - Łukasz Bołkun
- Department of Hematology, Medical University, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Ewa Paszkiewicz-Kozik
- Department of Lymphoid Malignancies, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Joanna Drozd-Sokołowska
- Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jacek Kwiatkowski
- Department of Hematology and Cellular Transplantation, Lower Silesian Oncology Center, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Monika Prochorec-Sobieszek
- Department of Pathology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
- Diagnostic Hematology Department, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Szumera-Ciećkiewicz
- Department of Pathology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
- Diagnostic Hematology Department, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bożena Budziszewska
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Jamroziak
- Department of Hematology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona Hus
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Hematology, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Lech-Marańda
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Puła
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
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12
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Al-Sawaf O, Ligtvoet R, Robrecht S, Stumpf J, Fink AM, Tausch E, Schneider C, Boettcher S, Mikusko M, Ritgen M, Schetelig J, von Tresckow J, Vehling-Kaiser U, Gaska T, Wendtner CM, Chapuy B, Fischer K, Kreuzer KA, Stilgenbauer S, Staber P, Niemann C, Hallek M, Eichhorst B. Tislelizumab plus zanubrutinib for Richter transformation: the phase 2 RT1 trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:240-248. [PMID: 38071379 PMCID: PMC10803258 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02722-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Richter transformation (RT) reflects the development of an aggressive lymphoma that is associated with poor response to chemotherapy and short survival. We initiated an international, investigator-initiated, prospective, open-label phase 2 study in which patients with RT received a combination of the PD-1 inhibitor tislelizumab plus the BTK inhibitor zanubrutinib for 12 cycles. Patients responding to treatment underwent maintenance treatment with both agents. The primary end point was overall response rate after six cycles. Of 59 enrolled patients, 48 patients received at least two cycles of treatment and comprised the analysis population according to the study protocol. The median observation time was 13.9 months, the median age was 67 (range 45-82) years. Ten patients (20.8%) had received previous RT-directed therapy. In total, 28 out of 48 patients responded to induction therapy with an overall response rate of 58.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 43.2-72.4), including 9 (18.8%) complete reponse and 19 (39.6%) partial response, meeting the study's primary end point by rejecting the predefined null hypothesis of 40% (P = 0.008). Secondary end points included duration of response, progression-free survival and overall survival. The median duration of response was not reached, the median progression-free survival was 10.0 months (95% CI 3.8-16.3). Median overall survival was not reached with a 12-month overall survival rate of 74.7% (95% CI 58.4-91.0). The most common adverse events were infections (18.0%), gastrointestinal disorders (13.0%) and hematological toxicities (11.4%). These data suggest that combined checkpoint and BTK inhibition by tislelizumab plus zanubrutinib is an effective and well-tolerated treatment strategy for patients with RT. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04271956 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Othman Al-Sawaf
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Francis Crick Institute London, London, UK.
- Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Rudy Ligtvoet
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sandra Robrecht
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Janina Stumpf
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Fink
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Eugen Tausch
- Department III of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christof Schneider
- Department III of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sebastian Boettcher
- Department III of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Martin Mikusko
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Ritgen
- Department II of Internal Medicine, Campus Kiel, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Johannes Schetelig
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julia von Tresckow
- Clinic for Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Gaska
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Brüderkrankenhaus St. Josef, Paderborn, Germany
| | | | - Bjoern Chapuy
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité -University Medical Center Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kirsten Fischer
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Karl-Anton Kreuzer
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Philipp Staber
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carsten Niemann
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Hallek
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Barbara Eichhorst
- Department I of Internal Medicine and German CLL Study Group; Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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13
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Eyre TA. Richter transformation-is there light at the end of this tunnel? HEMATOLOGY. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY. EDUCATION PROGRAM 2023; 2023:427-432. [PMID: 38066897 PMCID: PMC10727096 DOI: 10.1182/hematology.2023000442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Richter transformation (RT) represents an uncommon (2% to 10%) but feared complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The disease is characterized by rapid disease kinetics, a high-risk genetic mutational profile, chemoimmunotherapy resistance, and consequent poor survival. The typical overall survival (OS) from the pre-Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK)/B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitor CLL era is 6-12 months, and recent series of RT complicating progression on a BTK or BCL2 inhibitor in heavily pretreated relapsed CLL patients suggests an OS of only 3-4 months. Despite these sobering survival statistics, novel agents have the potential to impact the natural RT disease course. This article reviews recent therapeutic developments, focusing on inhibitors of BTK, BCL2, the PD1-PDL1 axis, and T-cell-activating/engaging therapies. Herein, I discuss the importance of randomized clinical trials in a disease where small single-arm studies dominate; industry engagement, including the role of registrational studies; and the need to integrate prospectively planned correlative biological studies embedded within future clinical trials to help discover which patient benefits most from each class or combination of novel targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby A. Eyre
- Department of Haematology, Cancer and Haematology Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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14
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Vitale C, Griggio V, Perutelli F, Coscia M. CAR-modified Cellular Therapies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Is the Uphill Road Getting Less Steep? Hemasphere 2023; 7:e988. [PMID: 38044959 PMCID: PMC10691795 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been more challenging for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) compared to other settings. One of the main reasons is the CLL-associated state of immune dysfunction that specifically involves patient-derived T cells. Here, we provide an overview of the clinical results obtained with CAR T-cell therapy in CLL, describing the identified immunologic reasons for the inferior efficacy. Novel CAR T-cell formulations, such as lisocabtagene maraleucel, administered alone or in combination with the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib, are currently under investigation. These approaches are based on the rationale that improving the quality of the T-cell source and of the CAR T-cell product may deliver a more functional therapeutic weapon. Further strategies to boost the efficacy of CAR T cells should rely not only on the production of CAR T cells with an improved cellular composition but also on additional changes. Such alterations could include (1) the coadministration of immunomodulatory agents capable of counteracting CLL-related immunological alterations, (2) the design of improved CAR constructs (such as third- and fourth-generation CARs), (3) the incorporation into the manufacturing process of immunomodulatory compounds overcoming the T-cell defects, and (4) the use of allogeneic CAR T cells or alternative CAR-modified cellular vectors. These strategies may allow to develop more effective CAR-modified cellular therapies capable of counteracting the more aggressive and still incurable forms of CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Vitale
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Valentina Griggio
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Francesca Perutelli
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
| | - Marta Coscia
- University Division of Hematology, A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Italy
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15
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Sousa-Pimenta M, Martins Â, Mariz JM, Berraondo P. Response to therapy in Richter syndrome: a systematic review with meta-analysis of early clinical trials. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1295293. [PMID: 38077330 PMCID: PMC10702133 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction and aims Richter syndrome (RS) represents the clonal evolution of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with histological transformation into a high-grade B cell lymphoma (diffuse large B cell lymphoma - DLBCL) or Hodgkin lymphoma. Considering that RS is an uncommon condition with poor prognosis, few high-quality evidence is available. To overcome this unmet need, this meta-analysis aimed to pool efficacy of early clinical trials in Richter syndrome (DLBCL subtype). Methods MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science were searched up to May of 2023 to identify clinical trials decoying efficacy. The pooled complete response, objective response and intension-to-treat failure rates were calculated by pharmacological categories (classical chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, immunotherapy, Bruton-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, targeted approaches, cell-based therapies and combinatorial regimens) using the Der-Simonian and Laird random-effects model. The Freeman-Tukey double arcsine method was used to estimate variance and confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 method. Results Overall, from 1242 studies identified, 30 were included, pooling data from 509 patients. The higher efficacy rates when, cell-based therapies were excluded, were achieved by immunochemotherapeutic regimens followed by combinatorial regimens, with complete response rates of 21.54% (IC95%14.93-28.87) and 23.77% (IC95% 8.70-42.19), respectively. Bispecific antibodies (alone or coupled with a chemotherapy debulking strategy) overtook Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors response rates. The latter, although achieving objective response rates above average, presented scarce complete response rates. Checkpoint inhibitors alone usually do not lead to complete responses, but their effectiveness may improve when combined with other agents, unveiling the importance of immune microenvironmental modulation. Conclusion This is the first meta-analysis of early clinical trials assessing the impact of different therapeutics in RS. By analyzing the pooled efficacy estimates, our work suggests the role of a tailor-made bridging therapy for young patients with RS eligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT), formally the only curative strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mário Sousa-Pimenta
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto), Porto, Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biomedicine, Unit of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ângelo Martins
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto), Porto, Portugal
| | - José Mário Mariz
- Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO-Porto), Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Berraondo
- Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
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16
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Zirakchian Zadeh M. Clinical Application of 18F-FDG-PET Quantification in Hematological Malignancies: Emphasizing Multiple Myeloma, Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2023; 23:800-814. [PMID: 37558532 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Most hematological malignancies display heightened glycolytic activity, leading to their detectability through 18F-FDG-PET imaging. PET quantification enables the extraction of metabolic information from tumors. Among various PET measurements, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), which indicates the highest value of 18F-FDG uptake within the tumor, has emerged as the commonly used parameter in clinical oncology. This is because of SUVmax ease of calculation using most available commercial workstations, as well as its simplicity and independence from observer interpretation. Nonetheless, SUVmax represents the increase in activity within a specific small area, which may not fully capture the overall tumor uptake. Volumetric PET parameters have been identified as a potential solution to overcome certain limitations associated with SUVmax. However, these parameters are influenced by the low spatial resolution of PET when assessing small lesions. Another challenge is the high number of lesions observed in some patients, leading to a time-consuming process for evaluating all focal lesions. Some institutions recently have started advocating for CT-based segmentation as a method for measuring radiotracer uptake in the bone marrow and overall bone of the patients. This review article aims to provide insights into clinical application of PET quantification specifically focusing on 3 major hematologic malignancies: multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdi Zirakchian Zadeh
- Molecular Imaging and Therapy and Interventional Radiology Services, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
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17
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Abrisqueta P, Nadeu F, Bosch-Schips J, Iacoboni G, Serna A, Cabirta A, Yáñez L, Quintanilla-Martínez L, Bosch F. From genetics to therapy: Unraveling the complexities of Richter transformation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer Treat Rev 2023; 120:102619. [PMID: 37660626 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Richter transformation (RT) refers to the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the most prevalent leukemia among adults, into a highly aggressive lymphoproliferative disorder, primarily a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This is a severe complication that continues to be a therapeutic challenge and remains an unmet medical need. Over the last five years, significant advances have occurred in uncovering the biological processes leading to the RT, refining criteria for properly diagnose RT from other entities, and exploring new therapeutic options beyond the ineffective chemotherapy. This review summarizes current knowledge in RT, including recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of RT, in the classification of RT, and in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for this grave complication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pau Abrisqueta
- Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Experimental Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Ferran Nadeu
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jan Bosch-Schips
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gloria Iacoboni
- Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Experimental Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Angel Serna
- Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Experimental Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Alba Cabirta
- Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Experimental Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Lucrecia Yáñez
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
| | - Leticia Quintanilla-Martínez
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, Tübingen University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen-Stuttgart, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Francesc Bosch
- Department of Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Experimental Hematology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
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18
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Romano I, Condoluci A, Rossi D. SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | Treatment of Richter's Transformation. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA, MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2023; 23:786-799. [PMID: 37586917 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Richter's transformation (RT) is a rare condition, represented by the development of an aggressive lymphoma arising from underlying chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. The management of RT remains challenging, necessitating combined therapeutic strategies to achieve favorable outcomes. Traditional treatment options for RT have involved intensive chemotherapy regimens, often with limited success due to the high-risk nature of the disease. However, recent advances in the understanding of RT pathogenesis have led to the emergence of novel targeted therapies that show promising results. Noncovalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, and conjugated monoclonal antibodies may hold promise for improved outcomes in RT, especially when combined in a multitargeted fashion. Further prospective randomized trials and collaborative efforts are warranted to optimize treatment algorithm and ultimately improve patient outcomes in this dismal condition. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current treatment options for RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Romano
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland; Division of Hematology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Adalgisa Condoluci
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland; Division of Hematology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Davide Rossi
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland; Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland; Division of Hematology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland..
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19
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There have been significant advances in the treatment of relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) over the past two decades. However, the intention of treatment remains control of the disease and delay of progression rather than a cure which remains largely elusive. Considering that CLL is mostly seen in older patients, there are multiple factors that play a role in the selection of CLL beyond the frontline treatment. Here, we review the concept of relapsed CLL, factors that predispose to relapse, and therapeutic options available to this patient population. We also review investigational therapies and provide a framework for selection of therapies in this setting. RECENT FINDINGS Targeted therapies with continuous BTK inhibitors (BTKi) or fixed duration venetoclax plus anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy have established superiority over chemoimmunotherapy in relapsed CLL and have become the preferred standard of care treatment. The second-generation more selective BTK inhibitors (acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib) have shown improved safety profile compared to ibrutinib. However, resistance to the covalent BTK inhibitors may emerge and is commonly associated with mutations in BTK or other downstream enzymes. The novel non-covalent BTK inhibitors such as pirtobrutinib (Loxo-305) and nemtabrutinib (ARQ 531) are showing promising activities for relapsed CLL refractory to prior covalent BTKi. Other novel therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy have also shown significant activities for relapsed and refractory CLL. Measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment has a growing importance in venetoclax-based limited-duration therapy and there is mounting evidence that MRD negativity improves outcomes. However, it remains to be seen if this will become an established clinically significant endpoint. Further, the optimal sequence of various treatment options remains to be determined. Patients with relapsed CLL now have more options for the treatment of the disease. The choice of therapy is best individualized especially in the absence of direct comparisons of targeted therapies, and the coming years will bring more data on the best sequence of use of the therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwatobi Odetola
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 805, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Shuo Ma
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 805, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
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20
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Audil HY, Kosydar SR, Larson DP, Parikh SA. Richter Transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia-Are We Making Progress? Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2023; 18:144-157. [PMID: 37294394 DOI: 10.1007/s11899-023-00701-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The treatment paradigm of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has dramatically changed with the advent of novel targeted agents over the past decade. Richter transformation (RT), or the development of an aggressive lymphoma from a background of CLL, is a well-recognized complication of CLL and carries significantly poor clinical outcomes. Here, we provide an update on current diagnostics, prognostication, and contemporary treatment of RT. RECENT FINDINGS Several genetic, biologic, and laboratory markers have been proposed as candidate risk factors for the development of RT. Although a diagnosis of RT is typically suspected based on clinical and laboratory findings, tissue biopsy is essential for histopathologic confirmation of diagnosis. The standard of care for RT treatment at this time remains chemoimmunotherapy with the goal of proceeding to allogeneic stem cell transplantation in eligible patients. Several newer treatment modalities are being studied for use in the management of RT, including small molecules, immunotherapy, bispecific antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. The management of patients with RT remains a challenge. Ongoing trials show enormous promise for newer classes of therapy in RT, with the hope being that these agents can synergize, and perhaps supersede, the current standard of care in the near future.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/etiology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy
- Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/pathology
- Immunotherapy
- Biopsy
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadiyah Y Audil
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Samuel R Kosydar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Daniel P Larson
- Division of Hematopathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Sameer A Parikh
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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21
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Parry EM, ten Hacken E, Wu CJ. Richter syndrome: novel insights into the biology of transformation. Blood 2023; 142:11-22. [PMID: 36758208 PMCID: PMC10356575 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022016502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the genetic landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been broadly profiled by large-scale sequencing studies performed over the past decade, the molecular basis of the transformation of CLL into aggressive lymphoma, or Richter syndrome (RS), has remained incompletely characterized. Recent advances in computational methods of clonal deconvolution, as well as extensive sample collection efforts in this rapidly progressive malignancy, have now enabled comprehensive analysis of paired CLL and RS samples and have led to multiple new studies investigating the genetic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic origins of RS. In parallel, new genetically engineered and xenograft mouse models have provided the opportunity for gleaning fresh biological and mechanistic insights into RS development and stepwise evolution from antecedent CLL. Altogether, these studies have defined RS driver lesions and CLL risk lesions and identified pathways dysregulated in transformation. Moreover, unique molecular subtypes of RS have been revealed, including a disease marked by profound genomic instability with chromothripsis/chromoplexy and whole genome duplication. Novel profiling approaches, including single-cell DNA and transcriptome sequencing of RS biopsy specimens and cell-free DNA profiling of patient plasma, demonstrate promise for the timely identification of RS clones and may translate to noninvasive identification and early diagnosis of RS. This review summarizes the recent scientific advances in RS and supports the integrated study of human genomics with mouse modeling to provide an advanced understanding of the biological underpinnings of transformation. These recent studies have major implications for much-needed novel therapeutic strategies for this still largely incurable malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M. Parry
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Elisa ten Hacken
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Catherine J. Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
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22
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Puckrin R, Owen C, Fontaine A, Peters A, Stewart D, Shafey M. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: an intention-to-transplant analysis. Bone Marrow Transplant 2023; 58:817-819. [PMID: 37005449 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-023-01978-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Puckrin
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Carolyn Owen
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Amelie Fontaine
- Cross Cancer Institute and University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Anthea Peters
- Cross Cancer Institute and University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Douglas Stewart
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Mona Shafey
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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23
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Czader M, Amador C, Cook JR, Thakkar D, Parker C, Dave SS, Dogan A, Duffield AS, Nejati R, Ott G, Xiao W, Wasik M, Goodlad JR. Progression and transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia: Report from the 2021 SH/EAHP Workshop. Am J Clin Pathol 2023; 159:554-571. [PMID: 37052539 PMCID: PMC10233402 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Session 3 of the 2021 Workshop of the Society for Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology examined progression and transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL). METHODS Thirty-one cases were reviewed by the panel. Additional studies such as immunohistochemistry and molecular genetic testing, including whole-exome sequencing and expression profiling, were performed in select cases. RESULTS Session 3 included 27 CLL/SLL cases and miscellaneous associated proliferations, 3 cases of B-PLL, and 1 case of small B-cell lymphoma. The criteria for -accelerated CLL/SLL are established for lymph nodes, but extranodal disease can be diagnostically challenging. Richter transformation (RT) is a broad term and includes true transformation from original CLL/SLL clone(s) and clonally unrelated neoplasms. The morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic spectrum is diverse with classical and highly unusual examples. T-cell proliferations can also be encountered in CLL/SLL. B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia is a rare, diagnostically challenging disease due to its overlaps with other lymphoid neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS The workshop highlighted complexity of progression and transformation in CLL/SLL and B-PLL, as well as diagnostic caveats accompanying heterogeneous presentations of RT and other manifestations of disease progression. Molecular genetic studies are pivotal for diagnosis and determination of clonal relationship, and to predict response to treatment and identify resistance to targeted therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, B-Cell
- Lymphoma, B-Cell
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Czader
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, US
| | - Catalina Amador
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, US
| | - James R Cook
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, US
| | - Devang Thakkar
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, US
| | | | - Sandeep S Dave
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, US
| | - Ahmet Dogan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, US
| | - Amy S Duffield
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, US
| | - Reza Nejati
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, US
| | - German Ott
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus, and Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Wenbin Xiao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, US
| | - Mariusz Wasik
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, US
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24
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Tam C, Munoz J, Cull G, Opat S, Allewelt H, Zhang X, Stern JC, Hilger J, By K, Cohen A, Tedeschi A. Zanubrutinib, Alone and in Combination With Tislelizumab, for the Treatment of Richter Transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Hemasphere 2023; 7:e870. [PMID: 36999005 PMCID: PMC10043571 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Constantine Tam
- Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Javier Munoz
- Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Gilbert, AZ, USA
| | - Gavin Cull
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
- University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stephen Opat
- Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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25
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Briski R, Taylor J. Treatment of Richter Transformation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Modern Era. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061857. [PMID: 36980742 PMCID: PMC10047346 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Richter Transformation (RT) refers to the development of an aggressive lymphoma in the setting of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). While many variants of RT are recognized, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (RT-DLBCL) is the most common (80%), followed by Hodgkin’s lymphoma (RT-HL, 19%). Diagnosis is based upon histologic evaluation of clinically suspicious lymph nodes. Positron emission tomography (PET) may be used to select the node of interest for biopsy. Although clonality testing is not a prerequisite of RT diagnosis, it has significant implications for survival. Clonally related DLBCL carries the worst prognosis with a median overall survival (OS) of less than one year in the era of combination chemotherapies with or without anti-CD20 antibodies. Prognosis has improved with the use of stem cell transplant and newer agents such as targeted therapy and newer forms of immunotherapy. Consideration of a clinical trial is encouraged. This review describes our current understanding of RT and focuses on treatment of RT-DLBCL, including clinical trials in progress and new therapies in development. We also report an illustrative example of a patient with clonally related DLBCL who survived two years after diagnosis without the use of combination chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Briski
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Justin Taylor
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Correspondence:
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26
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Immune evasion phenotype is common in Richter transformation diffuse large B-cell lymphoma variant. Virchows Arch 2023. [PMID: 36864257 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-023-03520-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1 inhibitors) have shown clinical activity in Richter transformation-diffuse large B-cell lymphoma variant (RT-DLBCL), thus providing for a novel therapeutic approach. The study group consists of 64 patients with RT-DLBCL. Expression of PD-1, PD-L1, CD30, and microsatellite instability (MSI) status (hMLH1, hMSH2, hMSH6, PMS1) was assessed using immunohistochemistry. EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) was evaluated using colorimetric in situ hybridization. PD-1 and PD-L1 expression levels were categorized on the basis of tumor cell expression as follows: negative (< 5%), positive to low-positive (5-50%), or high-positive (> 50%). An "immune evasion phenotype" (IEP) was defined as RT-DLBCL cases having high-positive expression of PD-1 and/or PD-L1 on tumor cells. The level of PD1-positive tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was estimated as a fraction of total lymphocytes and categorized as negative/low vs. brisk (> 20%). 28/64 (43.7%) patients were characterized as IEP+ RT-DLBCL. A brisk level of PD1+ TILs was significantly more common in IEP1+ compared with IEP- tumors (17/28, 60.7% vs. 5/34, 14.7%; p = 0.001). In addition, CD30 expression was significantly more common in IEP+ compared with IEP- RT-DLBCL (6/20, 30% vs. 1/27, 3.7%; p = 0.0320). Two (2/36; 5.5%) cases were positive for EBER, both IEP+. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex, or time to transformation. Assessment of mismatch repair proteins demonstrated absence of microsatellite instability (MSI) in all cases (18/18; 100%). Notably, patients with brisk PD1+ TILs had a significantly better OS compared to those with a negative/low infiltrate (p = 0.0285).
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27
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El Hussein S, Medeiros LJ, Lyapichev KA, Fang H, Jelloul FZ, Fiskus W, Chen J, Wei P, Schlette E, Xu J, Li S, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Yang H, Tang Z, Thakral B, Loghavi S, Jain N, Thompson PA, Ferrajoli A, Wierda WG, Jabbour E, Patel KP, Dabaja BS, Bhalla KN, Khoury JD. Immunophenotypic and genomic landscape of Richter transformation diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Pathology 2023; 55:514-524. [PMID: 36933995 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.12.354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Integrated clinicopathological and molecular analyses of Richter transformation of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma subtype (RT-DLBCL) cases remain limited. This study group included 142 patients with RT-DLBCL. Morphological evaluation and immunophenotyping, using immunohistochemistry and/or multicolour flow cytometry, were performed. The results of conventional karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis and mutation profiling performed using next generation sequencing were reviewed. Patients included 91 (64.1%) men and 51 (35.9%) women with a median age of 65.4 years (range 25.4-84.9 years) at the time of RT-DLBCL diagnosis. Patients had CLL for a median of 49.5 months (range 0-330 months) before onset of RT-DLBCL. Most cases (97.2%) of RT-DLBCL had immunoblastic (IB) morphology, the remainder had a high grade morphology. The most commonly expressed markers included: CD19 (100%), PAX5 (100%), BCL2 (97.5%), LEF1 (94.7%), CD22 (90.2%), CD5 (88.6%), CD20 (85.7%), CD38 (83.5%), MUM1 (83.3%), CD23 (77%) and MYC (46.3%). Most (51/65, 78.4%) cases had a non-germinal centre B-cell immunophenotype. MYC rearrangement was detected in 9/47 (19.1%) cases, BCL2 rearrangement was detected in 5/22 (22.7%) cases, and BCL6 rearrangement was detected in 2/15 (13.3%) cases. In comparison to CLL, RT-DLBCL had higher numbers of alterations involving chromosomes 6, 17, 21, and 22. The most common mutations detected in RT-DLBCL involved TP53 (9/14, 64.3%), NOTCH1 (4/14, 28.6%) and ATM (3/14, 21.4%). Among RT-DLBCL cases with mutant TP53, 5/8 (62.5%) had TP53 copy number loss, and among those, such loss was detected in the CLL phase of the disease in 4/8 (50%) cases. There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between patients with germinal centre B-cell (GCB) and non-GCB RT-DLBCL. Only CD5 expression correlated significantly with OS (HR=2.732; 95% CI 1.397-5.345; p=0.0374). RT-DLBCL has distinctive morphological and immunophenotypic features, characterised by IB morphology and common expression of CD5, MUM1 and LEF1. Cell-of-origin does not seem to have prognostic implications in RT-DLBCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siba El Hussein
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
| | - L Jeffrey Medeiros
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kirill A Lyapichev
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Hong Fang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fatima Zahra Jelloul
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Warren Fiskus
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jiansong Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peng Wei
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ellen Schlette
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shaoying Li
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhenya Tang
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Beenu Thakral
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sanam Loghavi
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nitin Jain
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Philip A Thompson
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alessandra Ferrajoli
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William G Wierda
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elias Jabbour
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Keyur P Patel
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bouthaina S Dabaja
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kapil N Bhalla
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph D Khoury
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pathology, The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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28
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Puckrin R, Shafey M, Storek J. The role of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A review. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1105779. [PMID: 36741737 PMCID: PMC9889653 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1105779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the use of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has declined with the development of novel targeted agents, it continues to play an important role for eligible patients with high-risk or heavily pretreated CLL who lack other treatment options. CLL is susceptible to a potent graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect which produces long-lasting remissions in 30-50% of transplanted patients. While allogeneic HCT is associated with significant risks of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infection, and non-relapse mortality (NRM), improvements in patient and donor selection, reduced intensity conditioning (RIC), GVHD prophylaxis, and supportive care have rendered this an increasingly safe and effective procedure in the current era. In this review, we discuss recent advances in allogeneic HCT for CLL, with a focus on the optimal evidence-based strategies to maximize benefit and minimize toxicity of this potentially curative cellular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan Storek
- Department of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, Tom Baker Cancer Centre and University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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29
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Smyth E, Eyre TA, Cheah CY. Emerging Therapies for the Management of Richter Transformation. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:395-409. [PMID: 36130148 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.01028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Richter transformation (RT) refers to the development of an aggressive lymphoma in patients with underlying chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. Aside from a small subgroup of patients with clonally unrelated and previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the disease responds poorly to standard therapies and prognosis is dismal. Recent developments in the understanding of the biology of RT and the advent of several targeted agents may result in improved outcomes for these patients. The purpose of this review is to analyze recent data on the pathogenesis and treatment of RT. We reviewed studies addressing the pathophysiology of RT and analyzed the data for frontline chemoimmunotherapy and emerging targeted therapies likely to play a significant role in the future management of RT. Several biologic and clinical factors may help identify those who are unlikely to respond to conventional chemoimmunotherapy; where possible, these patients should be managed with a novel approach. Emerging therapies for the management of RT include chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, noncovalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies. The use of less toxic and more effective targeted therapies may result in improved outcomes. Larger, prospective clinical trials are required to confirm efficacy and safety of novel agents for the management of RT, particularly when used in combination with other targeted therapies and in addition to chemoimmunotherapy regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Smyth
- Department of Haematology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Toby A Eyre
- Haematology and Cancer Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Chan Y Cheah
- Department of Haematology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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30
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Ryan CE, Davids MS. Practical Management of Richter Transformation in 2023 and Beyond. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2023; 43:e390804. [PMID: 37141545 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_390804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
While the past decade has witnessed unprecedented progress for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), outcomes for patients with Richter transformation (RT) remain dismal. Multiagent chemoimmunotherapy regimens, such as rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, are commonly used, although outcomes are far poorer than observed with the same regimens used in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The revolutionary targeted therapies approved for CLL, such as inhibitors of Bruton tyrosine kinase and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2, have limited activity in RT as monotherapy, and initial promising activity of checkpoint blockade antibodies was also eventually found to be ineffective as monotherapy for most patients. Over the past few years, as outcomes for patients with CLL improved, there has been a growing focus of the research community on improving our biological understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of RT and on translating these new insights into rational combination strategies that are poised to improve therapeutic outcomes. Here, we present a brief overview of the biology and diagnosis of RT, as well as prognostic considerations, before providing a summary of the data supporting various therapies that have been recently studied in RT. We then turn our attention to the horizon and describe several of the promising novel approaches under investigation to treat this challenging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Ryan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Matthew S Davids
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
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Kittai AS, Huang Y, Beckwith KA, Bhat SA, Bond DA, Byrd JC, Goldstein D, Grever MR, Miller C, Rogers KA, Yano M, Woyach JA. Patient characteristics that predict Richter's transformation in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with ibrutinib. Am J Hematol 2023; 98:56-65. [PMID: 36216791 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) transformation to aggressive lymphoma, known as Richter's Transformation (RT), has a dismal prognosis. There are limited data evaluating risk of RT in patients treated with ibrutinib. We performed a retrospective analysis to determine prognostic variables associated with development of RT and overall survival (OS) at progression after treatment with ibrutinib. We identified 559 patients with CLL treated with ibrutinib from 2010-2019. After a median follow-up of 44.5 months from ibrutinib start, 179 patients progressed and were included in our analysis. After a median follow-up of 20.8 months from progression, 54 out of 179 patients developed RT. Progression on treatment (hazard ratio [HR] 4.01 [1.60-10.00], p = .003), higher LDH (HR 1.80 for 2-fold increase [1.33-2.43], p = .0001), and lymphadenopathy without lymphocytosis (HR 2.88 [1.15-7.20], p = .02) were independent prognostic variables for the development of RT at progression. Progression with lymphadenopathy without lymphocytosis continued to be an independent prognostic variable of worse OS post-progression. In a subset analysis of 50 patients who obtained a PET-CT at progression, the median SUVmax for patients who would develop RT was 15.2 (n = 30, range: 4.0-46.3) versus those patients who did not develop RT with a SUVmax of 7.7 (n = 20, range: 2.3-27.2) (p = .0030). Median OS from date of RT was 4.0 months, suggesting that prognosis for RT remains poor. A lymph node biopsy to rule out RT should be considered in patients who received ibrutinib who progress on treatment, have an elevated LDH, or progress with lymphadenopathy without lymphocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S Kittai
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kyle A Beckwith
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Seema A Bhat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - David A Bond
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - John C Byrd
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Daniel Goldstein
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael R Grever
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Cecelia Miller
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kerry A Rogers
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Max Yano
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer A Woyach
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Sander B, Campo E, Hsi ED. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma: from early lesions to transformation. Virchows Arch 2023; 482:131-145. [PMID: 36454275 PMCID: PMC9852142 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-022-03460-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The International Clinical Advisory Committee reviewed advances in our understanding of the clinicopathologic and biologic features of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, B-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia, and mantle cell lymphoma since the revised 4th edition of the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues. Discussions amongst pathologists, clinicians, and molecular geneticists around these diseases focussed on incorporating new knowledge into the next classification system. In this manuscript, we review these disease entities and incorporate results of these deliberations, including advances in our understanding of early lesions and transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgitta Sander
- grid.24381.3c0000 0000 9241 5705Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elias Campo
- grid.5841.80000 0004 1937 0247Laboratory of Pathology Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ,grid.10403.360000000091771775Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eric D. Hsi
- grid.241167.70000 0001 2185 3318Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC USA
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Sharifi M, Farajzadegan Z, Rezaei Jouzdani S. A systematic review evaluating the efficacy of autologous hematopoietic transplantation for diffuse large B cell lymphoma-type Richter syndrome. CASPIAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 2023; 14:1-9. [PMID: 36741500 PMCID: PMC9878895 DOI: 10.22088/cjim.14.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can transform into fast growing lymphoma for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) called Richter's syndrome (RS), which is commonly related to an existence of large B-cells with equal or larger size than macrophage nuclei or more than twice those of normal lymphocyte. We conducted a systematic review of the existing literature to assess the clinical efficacy of auto-HCT for patients with RS. Methods We searched 4 main databases; EMBASE, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science and was done on December 26, 2021. All analyses in this study were performed by Stata software and this review was reported in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Results Data was extracted from 4 articles; the total number of patients was reported to be 110. Based on the meta-analysis findings, pooled overall survival rate was 56.36% (95%CI= (46.98-65.31). In figure 2, the forest plot of combined results is shown. Conclusion Despite the use of common treatment regimens such as chemo immunotherapy and the availability of novel therapies including B-cell receptor inhibitors and rituximab-cyclophosphamide-hydroxydaunorubicin-Oncovin-prednisone (CHOP-R) regimen, the status of disease progression and recovery in RS cases is still not strong enough.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Sharifi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ziba Farajzadegan
- Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Saeid Rezaei Jouzdani
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran,Correspondence: Saeid Rezaei Jouzdani, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. E-mail: , Tel: +98 2188507326
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Treatment of Richter's syndrome. HEMATOLOGY. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY. EDUCATION PROGRAM 2022; 2022:329-336. [PMID: 36485138 PMCID: PMC9820569 DOI: 10.1182/hematology.2022000345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Richter's syndrome (RS) is an aggressive histologic transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), most commonly to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Outcomes are generally poor, with complete remission (CR) rates of only about 20% and less than 20% long-term survival with chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). RS is biologically heterogeneous, and in 80% of patients with CLL who develop DLBCL, the disease is clonally related to the CLL. Clonally unrelated cases are genetically and immunologically distinct from clonally related DLBCL-RS, have more favorable responses to CIT, and are best treated as de novo DLBCL. Relatively favorable outcomes with CIT are also seen in patients who have never previously received treatment for CLL and who lack TP53 mutation or deletion. For the remaining patients, treatment on a clinical trial is optimal. Fortunately, numerous agents are now in clinical development that show encouraging results. Here we review clinical data for some of the most promising approaches. DLBCL-RS tumor cells frequently express programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1), and several studies have demonstrated activity for PD-1 inhibitors, especially in combination with ibrutinib. The BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax in combination with R-EPOCH CIT achieved CR in 50% of patients, and a study of venetoclax-R-CHOP is ongoing. The noncovalent Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor pirtobrutinib has achieved responses in approximately two-thirds of heavily pretreated patients and, given its favorable toxicity profile, appears ideally suited to combining with other active agents. Finally, we review available data for bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, which, after revolutionizing the treatment of DLBCL, are now being evaluated in RS.
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Matsuoka T, Miyazaki A, Kosai S, Nakamura K, Uramoto H, Kobayashi H, Sakamoto O. Lung Adenocarcinoma with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Mimicking Bone Metastasis: A Case Report. Intern Med 2022. [PMID: 36351574 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0112-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A 77-year-old man was referred to our hospital for abnormal thoracic radiographs. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a 20-mm subpleural ground-glass opacity in the right S6 area. A CT-guided biopsy revealed lung adenocarcinoma. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography revealed multiple abnormal bone accumulations, and a subsequent biopsy of a left iliac bone lesion revealed chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A right lower lung lobectomy was performed for the lung adenocarcinoma (cT1bN0M0, stage IA2). An aggressive biopsy of the bone lesion confirmed a rare case of double primary malignancies, which determined the patient's treatment and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takako Matsuoka
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Saishun Medical Center, Japan
| | - Aoi Miyazaki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Saishun Medical Center, Japan
| | - Sachiyo Kosai
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Saishun Medical Center, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Nakamura
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Saishun Medical Center, Japan
| | - Hideshi Uramoto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Saishun Medical Center, Japan
| | - Hironori Kobayashi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Saishun Medical Center, Japan
| | - Osamu Sakamoto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Saishun Medical Center, Japan
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Vladimirovna TV, Romanovna OM, Nikolaevich BA, Miroslavovich KY, Anatolievich RO. Long-term effect of venetoclax therapy in a patient with the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia into Richter's syndrome. Oxf Med Case Reports 2022; 2022:omac111. [PMID: 36299674 PMCID: PMC9589463 DOI: 10.1093/omcr/omac111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Richter’s syndrome (RS) is the next step in the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) progression. It leads to reduced overall patient survival, the necessity of aggressive chemotherapy and a decline in the quality of life. The first line of RS treatment includes traditional chemotherapy such as rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone. However, during the past decade, novel targeted agents added to the therapy dramatically changed the treatment outcome for patients with RS. In our case, we describe a patient with CLL that had progressed to RS and achieved complete remission that lasted > 15 months with venetoclax monotherapy.
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Yu Q, Zhao Z, Wang H, Wang L. ALK-Positive Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma in a Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Case Report and Literature Review. Onco Targets Ther 2022; 15:1245-1253. [PMID: 36267610 PMCID: PMC9578959 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s383779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can experience histological transformation to a more aggressive lymphoma called “Richter’s transformation”. This transformation usually leads to diffuse large B cell lymphoma, though cases of T cell lymphoma have been identified. Here we report an extremely rare case of ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma. We performed detailed examination for this patient and reviewed related literatures to understand the transformation. Despite our best effort, this patient passed away shortly. Literature review shows no consensus on treatment and poor prognosis of this condition. We intend to report this case and explore novel treatment possibilities for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinchuan Yu
- Department of Hematology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhao
- Department of Hematology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - He Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lieyang Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Lieyang Wang, Department of Hematology, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital/Shanxi Hospital Affiliated to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, No. 3 Zhigongxin Street, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15235123213, Email
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38
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Afonso C, Gomes M, Pereira MI, Faria C, Pina R, Saraiva T, Geraldes C, Carda JP. Hodgkin's variant of Richter transformation during ibrutinib therapy: A case report and review of the literature. Clin Case Rep 2022; 10:e6136. [PMID: 36225619 PMCID: PMC9529751 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.6136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hodgkin's variant of Richter transformation is a rare complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and is associated with inferior outcomes compared to de novo Hodgkin lymphoma. Further data concerning prognosis and treatment of Hodgkin's variant of Richter transformation occurring in the setting of novel targeted therapies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Afonso
- Department of HematologyHospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Marília Gomes
- Department of HematologyHospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de CoimbraCoimbraPortugal,Faculty of MedicineUniversity of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Marta Isabel Pereira
- Department of HematologyHospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de CoimbraCoimbraPortugal,Faculty of MedicineUniversity of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Carlos Faria
- Department of PathologyHospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Raquel Pina
- Department of PathologyHospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Tiago Saraiva
- Department of Nuclear MedicineHospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Catarina Geraldes
- Department of HematologyHospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de CoimbraCoimbraPortugal,Faculty of MedicineUniversity of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal,Faculdade de MedicinaCoimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) – Grupo de Investigação em Ambiente, Genética e Oncobiogia (CIMAGO), Universidade de Coimbra, e Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia (CIBB)CoimbraPortugal
| | - José Pedro Carda
- Department of HematologyHospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de CoimbraCoimbraPortugal,Faculty of MedicineUniversity of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal,Faculdade de MedicinaCoimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) – Grupo de Investigação em Ambiente, Genética e Oncobiogia (CIMAGO), Universidade de Coimbra, e Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia (CIBB)CoimbraPortugal
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Uhl B, Prochazka KT, Pansy K, Wenzl K, Strobl J, Baumgartner C, Szmyra MM, Waha JE, Wolf A, Tomazic PV, Steinbauer E, Steinwender M, Friedl S, Weniger M, Küppers R, Pichler M, Greinix HT, Stary G, Ramsay AG, Apollonio B, Feichtinger J, Beham-Schmid C, Neumeister P, Deutsch AJ. Distinct Chemokine Receptor Expression Profiles in De Novo DLBCL, Transformed Follicular Lymphoma, Richter's Trans-Formed DLBCL and Germinal Center B-Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7874. [PMID: 35887224 PMCID: PMC9316992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokine receptors and their ligands have been identified as playing an important role in the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma, and Richter syndrome (RS). Our aim was to investigate the different expression profiles in de novo DLBCL, transformed follicular lymphoma (tFL), and RS. Here, we profiled the mRNA expression levels of 18 chemokine receptors (CCR1-CCR9, CXCR1-CXCR7, CX3CR1 and XCR1) using RQ-PCR, as well as immunohistochemistry of seven chemokine receptors (CCR1, CCR4-CCR8 and CXCR2) in RS, de novo DLBCL, and tFL biopsy-derived tissues. Tonsil-derived germinal center B-cells (GC-B) served as non-neoplastic controls. The chemokine receptor expression profiles of de novo DLBCL and tFL substantially differed from those of GC-B, with at least 5-fold higher expression of 15 out of the 18 investigated chemokine receptors (CCR1-CCR9, CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR6, CXCR7, CX3CR1 and XCR1) in these lymphoma subtypes. Interestingly, the de novo DLBCL and tFL exhibited at least 22-fold higher expression of CCR1, CCR5, CCR8, and CXCR6 compared with RS, whereas no significant difference in chemokine receptor expression profile was detected when comparing de novo DLBCL with tFL. Furthermore, in de novo DLBCL and tFLs, a high expression of CCR7 was associated with a poor overall survival in our study cohort, as well as in an independent patient cohort. Our data indicate that the chemokine receptor expression profile of RS differs substantially from that of de novo DLBCL and tFL. Thus, these multiple dysregulated chemokine receptors could represent novel clinical markers as diagnostic and prognostic tools. Moreover, this study highlights the relevance of chemokine signaling crosstalk in the tumor microenvironment of aggressive lymphomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Uhl
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (B.U.); (K.T.P.); (K.P.); (K.W.); (M.M.S.); (H.T.G.)
| | - Katharina T. Prochazka
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (B.U.); (K.T.P.); (K.P.); (K.W.); (M.M.S.); (H.T.G.)
| | - Katrin Pansy
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (B.U.); (K.T.P.); (K.P.); (K.W.); (M.M.S.); (H.T.G.)
| | - Kerstin Wenzl
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (B.U.); (K.T.P.); (K.P.); (K.W.); (M.M.S.); (H.T.G.)
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Johanna Strobl
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Claudia Baumgartner
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (C.B.); (J.F.)
| | - Marta M. Szmyra
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (B.U.); (K.T.P.); (K.P.); (K.W.); (M.M.S.); (H.T.G.)
| | - James E. Waha
- General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria;
| | - Axel Wolf
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (A.W.); (P.V.T.)
| | - Peter V. Tomazic
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (A.W.); (P.V.T.)
| | - Elisabeth Steinbauer
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (E.S.); (M.S.); (S.F.); (C.B.-S.)
| | - Maria Steinwender
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (E.S.); (M.S.); (S.F.); (C.B.-S.)
| | - Sabine Friedl
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (E.S.); (M.S.); (S.F.); (C.B.-S.)
| | - Marc Weniger
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany; (M.W.); (R.K.)
| | - Ralf Küppers
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany; (M.W.); (R.K.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Pichler
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria;
| | - Hildegard T. Greinix
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (B.U.); (K.T.P.); (K.P.); (K.W.); (M.M.S.); (H.T.G.)
| | - Georg Stary
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.S.); (G.S.)
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alan G. Ramsay
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (A.G.R.); (B.A.)
| | - Benedetta Apollonio
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (A.G.R.); (B.A.)
| | - Julia Feichtinger
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (C.B.); (J.F.)
| | - Christine Beham-Schmid
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (E.S.); (M.S.); (S.F.); (C.B.-S.)
| | - Peter Neumeister
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (B.U.); (K.T.P.); (K.P.); (K.W.); (M.M.S.); (H.T.G.)
| | - Alexander J. Deutsch
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria; (B.U.); (K.T.P.); (K.P.); (K.W.); (M.M.S.); (H.T.G.)
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Ondroušková E, Bohúnová M, Závacká K, Čech P, Šmuhařová P, Boudný M, Oršulová M, Panovská A, Radová L, Doubek M, Plevová K, Jarošová M. Duplication of 8q24 in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Cytogenetic and Molecular Biologic Analysis of MYC Aberrations. Front Oncol 2022; 12:859618. [PMID: 35814434 PMCID: PMC9263084 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.859618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with cytogenetics findings, such as complex karyotype and deletions of TP53 or ATM, is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Additional chromosomal abnormalities further stratify patients into groups with diverse prognoses. Gain of 8q24 is one of the abnormalities considered as prognostically unfavorable. In our study, we performed a FISH analysis in an initial cohort of 303 consecutive CLL patients and determined the frequency of +8q to be 6.3 %. Our analysis confirmed the association with TP53/ATM aberrations and CK, as the frequency of +8q reached 26.7 % in an extended delTP53/ATM+CK cohort. M-FISH analysis enabled the identification of partner chromosomes where the segment of the duplicated 8q arm was localized. More detailed mapping of the gained 8q region using the M-BAND method determined the smallest amplified region 8q23-8qter. We observed significantly shorter overall survival (OS; 9.0 years in +8q-positive vs. 10.6 years in +8q-negative; p=0.02) and detected slightly higher MYC mRNA/protein levels in +8q-positive vs. +8q-negative patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ondroušková
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Michaela Bohúnová
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Kristýna Závacká
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Patrik Čech
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Petra Šmuhařová
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Miroslav Boudný
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martina Oršulová
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Anna Panovská
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Lenka Radová
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Michael Doubek
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Karla Plevová
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Center of Molecular Medicine, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marie Jarošová
- Department of Internal Medicine – Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Marie Jarošová,
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41
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Barbanti MC, Appleby N, Kesavan M, Eyre TA. Cellular Therapy in High-Risk Relapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Richter Syndrome. Front Oncol 2022; 12:888109. [PMID: 35574335 PMCID: PMC9095984 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.888109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the development of highly effective, targeted inhibitors of B-cell proliferation and anti-apoptotic pathways in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), these treatments are not curative, and many patients will develop either intolerance or resistance to these treatments. Transformation of CLL to high-grade lymphoma—the so-called Richter syndrome (RS)—remains a highly chemoimmunotherapy-resistant disease, with the transformation occurring following targeted inhibitors for CLL treatment being particularly adverse. In light of this, cellular therapy in the form of allogenic stem cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy continues to be explored in these entities. We reviewed the current literature assessing these treatment modalities in both high-risk CLL and RS. We also discussed their current limitations and place in treatment algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Chiara Barbanti
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Niamh Appleby
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Murali Kesavan
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Toby Andrew Eyre
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Clinical Trials Unit, Department of Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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42
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Zhu K, Jamroz A, Huang S, Villa D, Freeman CL, Scott DW, Slack G, Sehn LH, Connors JM, Toze CL, Savage KJ, Gerrie AS. Outcomes of Hodgkin variant Richter transformation in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma in British Columbia. Br J Haematol 2022; 198:684-692. [PMID: 35567407 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hodgkin variant Richter transformation (HvRT) is a rare and challenging complication of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) for which information on prognostic factors and treatment approaches remain limited. We analysed characteristics and survival outcomes of a population-based cohort of 32 patients with HvRT identified in British Columbia over a 40-year period. Median interval from CLL diagnosis to HvRT was 5.6 years (range, 0-33.6), with five cases diagnosed concurrently. Most patients (80%) had treatment for CLL prior to HvRT. Median age at HvRT was 71 years (range, 51-86) and the majority of patients had high-risk disease, including stage 3-4 in 87% and International Prognostic Score (IPS) ≥ 4 in 65%. Two-year progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from HvRT were 47% (95% CI: 29%-64%) and 57% (95% CI: 38%-72%), respectively. OS from HvRT was significantly worse in those with anaemia (p = 0.02), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.04), high IPS (p = 0.04), and worse performance status (p = 0.001). For those treated with curative-intent ABVD/ABVD-like therapy, 2-year PFS and OS were 70% (95% CI: 45%-85%) and 74% (95% CI: 49%-89%), respectively. In this real-world population-based cohort, HvRT was associated with poor clinical outcomes overall; however, those able to tolerate curative-intent therapy had similar survival to older patients with de novo HL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhu
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrew Jamroz
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Steven Huang
- Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of BC and Division of Hematology, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Diego Villa
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ciara L Freeman
- Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, Moffitt Cancer Centre, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - David W Scott
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Graham Slack
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Laurie H Sehn
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joseph M Connors
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cynthia L Toze
- Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of BC and Division of Hematology, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kerry J Savage
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alina S Gerrie
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer and Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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43
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Richter's transformation (RT) occurs when chronic (CLL) transforms into an aggressive lymphoma. Despite improvements in the treatment of CLL, prognosis for RT remains poor. Here, we review current literature of RT, with a focus on novel treatment options. RECENT FINDINGS Efforts are underway to improve outcomes for patients with RT. While small molecule inhibitors have limited efficacy as monotherapy, recent developments combining them with chemo-immunotherapy show promise. Studies exploring the use of cellular therapies including chimeric antigen receptor T-cells and bispecific antibodies are ongoing. The current treatment paradigm for RT is to enroll these patients on a clinical trial when available, together with consultation for a consolidative allogeneic stem cell transplant. Trials investigating novel combinations and cellular therapy are ongoing. Determining predictive variables of transformation is imperative to design studies that allow for early identification and intervention for patients with RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey M Sigmund
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, 11th Floor Lincoln Tower and 1140D Lincoln Tower, 1800 Cannon Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Adam S Kittai
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, 11th Floor Lincoln Tower and 1140D Lincoln Tower, 1800 Cannon Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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44
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NGS Analysis of Clonality and Minimal Residual Disease in a Patient with Concurrent Richter's Transformation and CLL/SLL. Case Rep Hematol 2022; 2021:9740281. [PMID: 34992887 PMCID: PMC8727142 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9740281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell lymphomas are neoplastic proliferations of clonal B lymphocytes. Clonality is generally determined by PCR amplification of VDJ rearrangements in the IgH heavy chain or VJ rearrangements in Igκ/Igλ light chain genes followed by capillary electrophoresis. More recently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been used to detect clonality in B-cell lymphomas because of the exponential amount of information that is obtained beyond just detecting a clonal population. The additional information obtained is useful for diagnostic confirmation, prognosis assessment, and response to therapy. In this study, we utilized NGS analysis to characterize two histologically distinct lymphomas (DLBCL and CLL/SLL) that were detected contemporaneously in an asymptomatic patient. NGS analysis showed that the same VDJ rearrangement was present in nodal (DLBCL) and marrow (CLL/SLL) biopsies confirming that the DLBCL resulted from Richter's transformation of a subclinical CLL/SLL. The V region of the rearrangement remained unmutated without somatic hypermutation. In silico analysis showed that the HCDR3 sequence was heterogeneous and not stereotypic. Minimal residual disease analysis by NGS showed that the tumor clone decreased by 2.84 logs in the bone marrow after R-CHOP therapy. However, a small number of tumor cells were still detected in the peripheral blood after R-CHOP therapy. Subsequent allogeneic transplantation was successful in eradicating the tumor clone and achieving deep molecular remission. We show that NGS analysis facilitated clinical management in our patient by helping to characterize the VDJ rearrangement in detail and by tracking minimal residual disease with high sensitivity and specificity.
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45
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Kay NE, Hampel PJ, Van Dyke DL, Parikh SA. CLL update 2022: A continuing evolution in care. Blood Rev 2022; 54:100930. [DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.100930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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46
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Eyre TA, Riches JC, Patten PEM, Walewska R, Marr H, Follows G, Hillmen P, Schuh AH. Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a British Society for Haematology Good Practice Paper. Br J Haematol 2021; 196:864-870. [PMID: 34607388 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Toby A Eyre
- Department of Haematology, Cancer and Haematology Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - John C Riches
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Piers E M Patten
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.,Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Renata Walewska
- Department of Haematology, University Hospitals Dorset, Bournemouth, UK
| | - Helen Marr
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Peter Hillmen
- St. James's Institute of Oncology, Leeds, UK.,Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Anna H Schuh
- Department of Haematology, Cancer and Haematology Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.,Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
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47
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Seegobin K, Alhaj Moustafa M, Jiang L, Tun HW. Successful Non-Transplant Treatment of Double Hit Richter Transformation with Long-Term Remission. BLOOD AND LYMPHATIC CANCER-TARGETS AND THERAPY 2021; 11:67-72. [PMID: 34588837 PMCID: PMC8474063 DOI: 10.2147/blctt.s330008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Richter transformation (RT) is defined as the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to a high-grade B cell lymphoma. It usually carries a dismal prognosis and represents an unmet need for novel therapeutic interventions. We report a case of an 80-year-old male who developed double-hit (DH) RT with translocations of MYC and BCL6 after 5 years of watchful waiting for standard-risk CLL. He was treated with induction therapy consisting of 4 cycles of anthracycline-based chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) and 2 cycles of platinum-based CIT with intrathecal methotrexate for CNS prophylaxis followed by continuous maintenance therapy with ibrutinib. He achieved complete remission after the induction therapy. At the time of writing, four and a half years after the diagnosis with DH-RT, he remains in complete remission without evidence of RT or CLL. The novel therapeutic approach used in successful treatment of this patient should be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karan Seegobin
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Jacksonville City, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Muhamad Alhaj Moustafa
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Jacksonville City, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Liuyan Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Jacksonville City, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Han W Tun
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Jacksonville City, FL, 32224, USA
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48
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Autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma-type Richter syndrome. Blood Adv 2021; 5:3528-3539. [PMID: 34496026 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Richter syndrome (RS) represents a transformation from chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) to aggressive lymphoma, most commonly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is associated with a dismal prognosis. Patients with DLBCL-RS have poor outcomes with DLBCL-directed therapy; thus, consolidation with hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has been used, with durable remissions observed. Studies reporting HCT outcomes in patients with DLBCL-RS have been small, have not evaluated the prognostic impact of cytogenetic risk factors, and were conducted prior to the era of novel targeted therapy of CLL/SLL. We performed a Center for International Blood and Transplant Research registry study evaluating outcomes after autologous HCT (auto-HCT; n = 53) and allogeneic HCT (allo-HCT; n = 118) in patients with DLBCL-RS treated in the modern era. More auto-HCT recipients were in complete response (CR) at HCT relative to allo-HCT recipients (66% vs 34%), whereas a higher proportion of allo-HCT recipients had 17p deletion (33% vs 7%) and had previously received novel agents (39% vs 10%). In the auto-HCT cohort, the 3-year relapse incidence, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were 37%, 48%, and 57%, respectively. Among allo-HCT recipients, the 3-year relapse incidence, PFS, and OS were 30%, 43%, and 52%, respectively. In the allo-HCT cohort, deeper response at HCT was associated with outcomes (3-year PFS/OS, 66%/77% CR vs 43%/57% partial response vs 5%/15% resistant; P < .0001 for both), whereas cytogenetic abnormalities and prior novel therapy did not impact outcomes. In our study, HCT resulted in durable remissions in therapy-sensitive patients with DLBCL-RS treated in the era of targeted CLL/SLL therapy, including patients with high-risk features.
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49
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Abstract
ABSTRACT Despite multiple advances in the treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) during recent years, cellular therapies, such as allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and chimeric antigen-engineered T cells, represent valuable therapeutic options for patients with multiply relapsed or poor-risk disease. This brief overview will summarize current results of cellular therapies in CLL including Richter transformation, suggest an indication algorithm and strategies for performing cellular therapies in these conditions, and discuss the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) on allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and chimeric antigen-engineered T cells in CLL.
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50
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The CLL International Prognostic Index predicts outcomes in monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis and Rai 0 CLL. Blood 2021; 138:149-159. [PMID: 33876228 PMCID: PMC8288657 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020009813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The utility of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia-international prognostic index (CLL-IPI) in predicting outcomes of individuals with Rai 0 stage CLL and monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is unclear. We identified 969 individuals (415 MBL and 554 Rai 0 CLL; median age, 64 years; 65% men) seen at Mayo Clinic between 1 January 2001 and 1 October 2018, and ascertained time to first therapy (TTFT) and overall survival (OS). After a median follow up of 7 years, the risk of disease progression needing therapy was 2.9%/y for MBL (median, not reached) and 5%/y for Rai 0 CLL (median, 10.4 years). Among patients with low, intermediate, and high/very high-risk CLL-IPI risk groups, the estimated 5-year risk of TTFT was 13.5%, 30%, and 58%, respectively, P< .0001 (c-statistic = 0.69); and the estimated 5-year OS was 96.3%, 91.5%, and 76%, respectively, P< .0001 (c-statistic = 0.65). In a multivariable analysis of absolute B-cell count with individual factors of the CLL-IPI, the absolute B-cell count was associated with shorter TTFT (hazard ratio [HR] for each 10 × 109/L increase: 1.31; P< .0001) and shorter OS (HR: 1.1; P = .02). The OS of the entire cohort was similar to that of the age- and sex-matched general population of Minnesota (P = .17), although Rai 0 CLL patients with high and very high-risk CLL-IPI score had significantly shorter OS (P= .01 and P= .0001, respectively). The results of this study demonstrate the ability of CLL-IPI to predict time from diagnosis to first treatment (an end point not affected by therapy) in a large cohort of patients whose only manifestation of disease is a circulating clonal lymphocyte population.
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