Treatment Strategies and Prognostic Factors of Primary Gastric Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: A Retrospective Multicenter Study of 272 Cases from the China Lymphoma Patient Registry

Primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A multicentre retrospective study

Primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PG-DLBCL) accounts for the majority of extra-nodal DLBCL. Even so, literature is lacking on early, localised presentations. We studied a cohort of patients with stage I disease, diagnosed between 2006 and 2018, from six centres between Australia, Canada and Denmark. Our goal was to characterise outcomes, review treatment and investigate the role of interim positron emission tomography (iPET). Thirty-seven eligible patients were identified. The median duration of follow-up was 42.2 months. All received chemoimmunotherapy with 91.9% (n = 34) given rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (R-CHOP). 35.1% (n = 13) underwent consolidative radiotherapy. Eighteen patients were H. pylori positive and 11 had the documentation of H. pylori eradication therapy. The 4-year progression-free survival and overall survival of R-CHOP was 88% (95% CI: 71-95) and 91% (95% CI: 75-97) respectively. All patients who achieved a partial metabolic response or complete metabolic response on iPET went on to achieve complete response at the end of treatment. R-CHOP-based therapy with iPET assessment appears to offer favourable outcomes, with radiotherapy and H. pylori eradication therapy implemented on a case-by-case basis.

Outcome and patterns of relapse in primary gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma treated with RCHOP

OBJECTIVES

Patterns and predictors of relapse in primary gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were variably reported. Our study aims to evaluate the patterns and predictors of relapse in early-stage gastric DLBCL treated with Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisolone (RCHOP).

METHODS

From 2005 to 2019, the medical records of 72 patients with stage I or stage II gastric DLBCL treated with six cycles of RCHOP without radiotherapy were reviewed. Different variables were correlated with progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and local relapse free survival (LRFS).

RESULTS

64 (88.1%) patients achieved a complete response (CR), while 8 (11.9%) had refractory disease. After CR, 9 (14%) patients relapsed; 7 (78%) relapses were loco-regional. Abnormal LDH (p = 0.028), H. pylori negative (p = 0.032) and, stage adjusted international prognostic index (sa-IPI) > 1 (p = 0.013) correlated with loco-regional failure. The 5-year PFS, OS, and LRFS were 74.8%, 75.3%, and 87.5%, respectively, after a median follow-up of 58 (range: 6-185) months. The median time to progression or relapse was 9 months (range: 5-54 months). In multivariate analysis, a sa-IPI >1 (HR: 3.56, CI: 1.35-8.8, p = 0.01) was associated with PFS while low albumin (HR: 8.85, CI: 1.09-71.4, p = 0.041) was associated with worse OS. None of the variables were associated with LRFS.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of primary gastric DLBCL with RCHOP results in a high CR rate. The majority of treatment failures were loco-regional. Sa-IPI and H. pylori status may be used to identify patients who may benefit from combined modality treatment.

The Effect of Surgery on the Prognosis of Gastric Lymphoma: A Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Surgery is an effective clinical approach that has been used for the treatment of gastric lymphoma. However, its specific effect on the prognosis of patients with gastric lymphoma remains largely unknown. The current meta-analysis aimed to identify the effect of surgery on the prognosis of gastric lymphoma.

METHODS

We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases to obtain relevant studies investigating the influence of surgery on overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). We extracted the hazard ratios (HRs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of each included report for pooled analysis. We assessed heterogeneity (I2 statistic) and funnel plots to select the data models and evaluate publication bias.

RESULTS

Ultimately, we included 12 studies containing 26 comparisons in the current quantitative meta-analysis. The analysis revealed that surgery had no significant effect on OS (HR .83, P = .13) or RFS (HR .78, P = .08). However, subgroup analysis revealed that the effect of surgery on OS differed significantly between the surgery plus conservative therapy subgroup and the conservative therapy alone groups, with HR = .69 (P = .01). No significant publication bias was detected regarding the main outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Surgery had a limited effect on the prognosis of patients with gastric lymphoma. However, the use of surgery as an additional therapy may confer potential benefits. This was an interesting research direction, and additional high-quality, large-scale randomized controlled trials should be conducted.

Prognostic effects of clinical parameters, genetic abnormalities, and subtypes in primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a cohort analysis of 146 patients

This study included 146 primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients. Next-generation RNA sequencing and fluorescent in situ hybridization were performed on tumors from 27 and 38 patients, respectively. Five-year and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 77% and 57%, respectively. Lugano and TNM clinical stage were independent survival factors. Tier I mutation was found in 21 patients. The genetic subtypes were A53 (n = 3), MCD (n = 5), BN2 (n = 5), N1 (n = 5), EZB (n = 1), and NOS (n = 8). OS was significantly shorter in high-risk genetic subtypes (A53, MCD, and N1) than low-risk subtypes (BN2, EZB, and NOS). Frequencies of high-risk genetic subtypes were higher in patients with Lugano stage II/IV and TNM clinical stage III + IV than in those with Lugano stage I and TNM clinical stage I + II. Although genetic testing was performed in only a small number of cases, the results suggested that high-risk genetic subtypes were associated with advanced clinical stages and shorter survival.

A dynamic predictive nomogram of long-term survival in primary gastric lymphoma: a retrospective study

Background

Primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) is the most common extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Due to the rarity of the disease, it is important to create a predictive model that provides treatment and prognosis for patients with PGL and physicians.

Methods

A total of 8898 and 127 patients diagnosed with PGL were obtained from the SEER database and from our Cancer Center as training and validation cohorts, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate independent risk factors for the construction of predictive survival nomograms, and a web nomogram was developed for the dynamic prediction of survival of patients with PGL. The concordance index (C-index), calibration plot, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were used to evaluate and validate the nomogram models.

Results

There were 8898 PGL patients in the SEER cohort, most of whom were married men over the age of 60, 16.1% of the primary tumors were localized in the antrum and pylori of the stomach, which was similar to the composition of 127 patients in the Chinese cohort, making both groups comparable. The Nomogram of overall survival (OS) was compiled based on eight variables, including age at diagnosis, sex, race, marital status, histology, stage, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) nomogram was developed with eight variables, including age at diagnosis, sex, marital status, primary tumor site, histology, stage, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The C-index of OS prediction nomogram was 0.948 (95% CI: 0.901–0.995) in the validation cohort, the calibration plots showed an optimal match and a high area below the ROC curve (AUC) was observed in both training and validation sets. Also, we established the first web-based PGL survival rate calculator (https://yangjinru.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/).

Conclusion

The web dynamic nomogram provided an insightful and applicable tool for evaluating PGL prognosis in OS and CSS, and can effectively guide individual treatment and monitoring.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-022-02419-2.

Helicobacter pylori infection disturbs the tumor immune microenvironment and is associated with a discrepant prognosis in gastric de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (gDLBCL) related to Helicobacter pylori infection exhibits a wide spectrum of prognosis, and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) affects tumor progression. However, there are few studies on the correlation between prognosis and changes of TIME induced by H. pylori infection in de novo gDLBCL.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed to determine the prognostic value of TIME related to H. pylori infection in de novo gDLBCL. A total of 252 patients were included and have been treated with standard rituximab to cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy or other similar regimens in addition to H. pylori eradication (HPE). All patients were stratified by H. pylori infection, HPE efficacy, and preliminary TIME evaluation using conventional criteria. Statistical analyses were conducted. To assess the mechanism, 30 subjects were assessed for H. pylori infection. The components and spatial distributions of TIME were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median follow-up of the 252 patients was 66.6 months (range 0.7-119.2), and the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 78.0%. A total of 109 H. pylori-positive cases with pathological complete remission and high tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (cohort 1) had significantly higher 5-year progression-free survival (88.1% vs 70.5%, p<0.001) and OS (89.2% vs 76.6%, p<0.001) than the other 143 patients (cohort 2). Among 30 patients, 19 were cytotoxin-associated gene A-marked as the cohort 1 subset. Compared with cohort 2, cohort 1 exhibited increased inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon γ, etc) and decreased immunosuppressive components (PD-L1, PD-1, IL-10, etc). There was reduced NF-kB activation. Cancer-promoting immune cells (PD-1hiTim-3+ CTL, Tregs, M2-like macrophages, etc) occupied a minor spatial distribution, while the antitumor subtypes increased, corresponding to favorable survival.

CONCLUSION

H. pylori-evoked inflammatory responses disturb the TIME, causing a differential prognosis in de novo gDLBCL, which can be used to identify patients who could benefit from HPE and immunochemotherapy.

A systematic review of primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: Clinical diagnosis, staging, treatment and prognostic factors

Primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) is a rare clinical entity accounting for the majority of extra-nodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (EN-NHL). The most common histological subtype is the primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PG-DLBCL) with a media age of 50-60 years old, mostly in male. Pathogenesis is often related to some bacterial infection such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. However, due to various available staging system, there is still no consensus on the staging of PG-DLBCL. The international prognostic index (IPI) is the most valuable used for the stratification of almost all subtype of NHL and as well as for PG-DLBCL. As for treatment strategies, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and antibiotic therapy in various combinations have been applied in clinical treatment. There are a few well-known prognostic factors and some of them may constitute prognostic models. Due to the increasing incidence of this neoplasm, it is necessary for clinicians to make deep insight of the diagnosis, staging, treatment and prognostic factors of PG-DLBCL.

Limited-stage diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: current management and challenges

Twenty-five to thirty per cent of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) presents as limited stage (I-II). Prognosis is generally excellent with four to six cycles of R-CHOP alone (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisolone) or combined-modality therapy with three or four cycles and involved-site radiotherapy (RT). There is growing interest in optimising algorithms to retain disease control whilst minimising long-term toxicity, with several recent studies focusing on the safety of abbreviating chemotherapy and omitting RT in low-risk patients and the utility of PET-based response-adapted approaches. As these studies are limited to younger patients without risk factors, application of similar approaches in elderly or higher-risk patients is hampered by a lack of evidence. Whilst there has been a move away from using RT in low-risk patients, it remains a useful adjunct in specific situations. Current evidence cannot exclude a clinically meaningful benefit from RT even in low-risk patients and, given the low expected toxicity from modern RT techniques, a risk-benefit assessment should be individualised and considered in a multidisciplinary fashion. The optimal approach for extranodal limited-stage DLBCL (~40% of cases) varies according to site of origin. Herein we discuss the latest clinical trial evidence and how this can be applied in routine practice.

Genomic Mutation Profile of Primary Gastrointestinal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (GI-DLBCL) is the most common gastrointestinal lymphoma, but its genetic features are poorly understood. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 25 primary tumor samples from patients with GI-DLBCL and 23 matched normal tissue samples. Oncogenic mutations were screened, and the correlations between genetic mutations and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Twenty-five patients with GI-DLBCL were enrolled in the genetic mutation analysis with a median of 184 (range 79–382) protein-altering variants per patient. We identified recurrent oncogenic mutations in GI-DLBCL, including those in TP53, MUC16, B2M, CCND3, HIST1H1C, NEB, and ID3. Compared with nodal DLBCL, GI-DLBCL exhibited an increased mutation frequency of TP53 and reduced mutation frequencies of PIM1, CREBBP, BCL2, KMT2D, and EZH2. Moreover, GI-DLBCL exhibited fewer MYD88 and CD79B mutations than DLBCL in the testis and central nervous system. GI-DLBCLs with HLA-B, MEF2A, RHOA, and NAV3 mutations exhibited a tendency toward a high proliferation index. MUC16 and ETV6 mutations often occurred in tumors with early clinical staging. Our data provide a comprehensive understanding of the landscape of mutations in a small subset of GI-DLBCLs. The genetic mutation profiles of GI-DLBCL differ from those of nodal DLBCL and DLBCL in immune-privileged sites. The different mutated genes are related to the NF-κB and JAK-STAT pathways, and the different pathogenetic mechanisms leading to the development of DLBCL may be influenced by the tissue microenvironment. Differences in genetic alterations might influence the clinicopathological characteristics of GI-DLBCL.

Improving survival of 3760 patients with lymphoma: Experience of an academic center over two decades

Background

The treatment outcomes and prognosis of lymphoma are affected by various factors such as hospital types. This study was to describe the temporal trend in the survival of lymphoma in an academic center in China.

Methods

A total of 3840 consecutive patients with lymphoma diagnosed between 1996 and 2015 were reviewed. Eighty patients were excluded, and finally, 3760 patients were analyzed in this study. The cohort was divided into four groups according to calendar periods at diagnosis: 1996‐2000, 2001‐2005, 2006‐2010, and 2010‐2015. The overall survival (OS) rates among the four groups were compared.

Results

The 5‐ and 10‐year OS for the whole cohort were 62% and 52%, respectively. The 5‐year OS of patient with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), mature B‐cell lymphoma (BCL), and peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL) were 79%, 63%, and 50%, respectively. Among mature BCL, the 5‐year OS was highest in follicular lymphoma (77.8%), followed by Burkitt lymphoma (76.5%), marginal zone lymphoma (74.1%), diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (61.5%), small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (55.1%), and mantle cell lymphoma (44.3%). Among PTCL, the 5‐year OS was highest in ALK+anaplastic large cell lymphoma (79.0%), followed by ALK−anaplastic large cell lymphoma (63.1%), natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma (57.7%), angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma (34.9%, and peripheral T‐cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (27.6%). Significant improvement in the survival of lymphoma was observed, with the 5‐year OS increasing from 48% in 1996‐2000 to 65% in 2011‐2015 (P < .001). The 5‐year OS of patients with cHL, mature BCL, and PTCL changed from 55%, 49%, and 41% in 1996‐2000 to 79%, 65%, and 51% in 2011‐2015, respectively (P values were .014, .002, and .592, respectively).

Conclusion

The survival of most types of lymphoma such as cHL and mature BCL, rather than PTCL, was improved significantly during the past two decades.