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[Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of low-grade malignancy with particular reference to the lymphocytic lymphomas of B-cell origin (author's transl)].

More than two thirds of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are of low-grade malignancy. This group comprehends five histological types: lymphocytic, immunocytic, plasmacytic, centrocytic, and centroblastic-centrocytic lymphomas. The lymphocytic lymphomas are second in frequency among the biopsies. The most common lymphocytic lymphoma is the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is characterized by the proliferation of small lymphocytes. The quantity and arrangement of the constantly present paraimmunoblasts and prolymphocytes allow to distinguish three histological subtypes of CLL. CLL, prolymphocytic leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia may be composed of B- or T-cells. Mycosis fungoides, Sézary's syndrome and T-zone lymphomas are T-cell lymphomas. All NHL of low-grade malignancy show a proliferation of small to medium sized lymphoid cells. Some large blast forms may be intermingled among these smaller cells. The inhomogeneity of low-grade malignant lymphomas with regard to the size of predominant cells and the admixture of blast forms determine the higher ("intermediate") degree of malignancy of some types in the group of low-grade malignant lymphomas. The overgrowth of the intermingled blast forms probably leads to the transformation into a lymphoma of high-grade malignancy. This event happens in variable frequency in the various types of low-grade malignant lymphomas. NHL of low-grade malignancy occur almost exclusively in adults, whereas the high-grade malignant lymphomas are found in all age-groups.

Adolescent↗

CD5-CD56+ T-cell receptor silent peripheral T-cell lymphomas are natural killer cell lymphomas.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are divided into B- and T-cell neoplasms. The existence and the clinical relevance of lymphomas derived from the third lymphocyte lineage, ie, natural killer (NK) cells are still controversial. NK cells are lymphocytes that mediate cytotoxicity without prior sensitization. NK cells also have phenotypic and genotypic characteristics: they express the NK-related antigen CD56, T-cell markers such as CD2 and CD7, but do not express CD5 and T-cell receptor (TCR) proteins, and their TCR locus is not rearranged. Therefore, if NK cell lymphomas exist, they should express some T-cell markers, but not alpha beta or gamma delta TCR proteins. Such lymphomas are actually called TCR silent peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCL). To detect and characterize NK cell lymphomas, we investigated the immunophenotype and immunogenotype of 35 patients with TCR silent PTCL. The first group included 16 patients with a lymphoma of CD5-CD56+ phenotype, which is identical to normal NK cells. These patients had either a nasal/nasopharyngeal lymphoma (11 cases) or a lymphoma with predominant non-nasal/non-nodal initial involvement (five cases). Eight of the nine cases for which immunogenotypic data were available lacked clonal rearrangement of the TCR gamma genes. Thus, these tumors are likely to be NK cell lymphomas. The second group of 15 cases had a CD5+ phenotype (14 were CD56-, and 1 was CD56+) and clonal rearrangement of TCR gamma genes, indicating that they were true PTCL with unproductive TCR rearrangement. The four remaining cases were CD5- CD56- lymphomas and disclosed either a clonal (two cases) or no clonal (two cases) rearrangements of the TCR gamma genes. Altogether these findings show that CD5-CD56+ so-called "TCR silent PTCL" bear the immunophenotype and immunogenotype of normal NK cells and display peculiar clinical features distinct from true PTCL.

Adolescent↗

Effect of age on the characteristics and clinical behavior of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. The Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Classification Project.

BACKGROUND: The goals of this study are to describe the frequency, clinical characteristics, and outcome of the different non-Hodgkin's lymphomas according to age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients included in the recently published analysis of the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Classification Project were analyzed. All patients had their slides reviewed and classified by five independent expert hematopathologists. Lymphomas were classified according to the Revised European American Classification of lymphoid neoplasms. Sufficient data were available on 1283 cases. Five age groups were analyzed: < 35 years, 35-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, and > or = 70 years. RESULTS: Few differences were observed between the age groups with regard to lymphoma types and clinical characteristics. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, and lymphoblastic lymphoma were observed more frequently in patients younger than 35 years, whereas small lymphocytic and lymphoplasmacytoid lymphomas were observed more frequently in patients older than 70 years. Mantle cell lymphoma and marginal zone lymphomas were observed more frequently in middle-aged patients. Poor performance status was more frequent in older patients, as was bone marrow infiltration, whereas spleen involvement was more frequent in younger patients. Young and older patients had a slightly worse age-adjusted International Prognostic Index score (P < 0.01). Complete response rates decreased with age from 68% in the youngest patients to 45% in the oldest patients (P < 0.0001). Median event-free survival and overall survival also decreased with age (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients have a poorer outcome than younger patients but age alone is not sufficient to discriminate patients with a poor outcome. However, the histologic type of lymphoma and clinical characteristics may define a subgroup of patients with a poor outcome in each age category.

Adult↗

Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: clinicopathological features and prognostic parameters of 35 cases other than mycosis fungoides and CD30-positive large cell lymphoma.

Within the group of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs), mycosis fungoides (MF), Sézary's syndrome (SS), and CD30-positive lymphomas have been delineated as clinicopathological entities. Primary CTCLs that do not belong to one of these entities represent a heterogeneous and ill-defined group of neoplasms. This paper describes the clinical and histological features of 35 of such cases. The object of this study was to define prognostic parameters for this group of primary CTCLs. Using a slightly modified version of the updated Kiel classification, a subdivision was made into CTCL, pleomorphic, small cell type (n = 3); pleomorphic, medium-sized cell type (n = 6); pleomorphic, large cell type (n = 18); and immunoblastic lymphomas (n = 8). Altogether, these lymphomas had a poor prognosis with estimated 2- and 4-year survival rates of 53 and 22 percent, respectively. Patients with pleomorphic, small and medium-sized cell lymphomas (n = 9) proved to have a significantly better survival than those with pleomorphic, large cell lymphomas (P = 0.032) and immunoblastic lymphomas (P = 0.008). Primary cutaneous immunoblastic lymphomas had the worst prognosis with an estimated 2-year survival rate of 14 percent. Other parameters including age (P = 0.345), sex (P = 0.662), extent of skin lesions at presentation (P = 0.0854), and mode of initial treatment (P = 0.609) had no significant effect on the survival time. The results of this study suggest that primary CTCLs other than classical MF, SS, and CD30-positive lymphomas have a poor prognosis in most cases, and that the current classification may be a useful means of predicting the clinical behaviour in these lymphomas.

Adult↗

Sequential development of Hodgkin's disease and CD30+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a patient with MALT-type lymphoma: evidence of different clonal origin of single microdissected Reed-Sternberg cells.

We observed in the same patient the development of a tonsil mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma in 1994, a mediastinal Hodgkin's disease in 1998, and a colonic CD30+ anaplastic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 2000. A same-sized FR3-JH fragment was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction, both at the level of total DNA and of single micromanipulated cells, showing monocytoid, Reed-Sternberg, or anaplastic morphology. Moreover, an identical IgH nucleotide sequence was detected in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma and colonic CD30+ anaplastic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, whereas mediastinal Hodgkin's disease IgH rearrangement involved different VH and JH genes. CD30+ Reed-Sternberg and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells contained Epstein-Barr virus EBER sequences that were not observed at the level of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma. Therefore, Epstein-Barr virus infection may have played a role in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma transformation of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma and in the lymphomagenesis of Hodgkin's disease. In addition to their different clonal origin, Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease expressed a CD15+, CD20+ (rare cells), CD30+, Oct-2-, EBNA2-, LMP1+ phenotype, whereas anaplastic and Reed-Sternberg-like cells of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were CD15-, CD20+, CD30+, Oct-2+, EBNA2+, and LMP1+. Interestingly, we also detected scattered CD30+ Epstein-Barr virus- large cells with prominent nucleoli in the initial tonsil mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma, suggesting that these cells could be prone to Epstein-Barr virus infection and/or large cell transformation.

DNA, Neoplasm↗

Epstein-Barr virus-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders in angloimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified.

Various patterns of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated B-cell lymphoproliferation occur in patients with immunodeficiency. We studied 17 cases of T-cell lymphoma displaying extensive EBV-driven B-cell lymphoproliferation or simultaneous/subsequent EBV-associated B-cell lymphoma. In 10 cases of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, an uncommonly prominent population of EBV+ atypical, activated, focally confluent large transformed B cells was found in the background of T-cell lymphoma. In 4 cases, an EBV-associated B-cell neoplasm (3 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, 1 plasmacytoma) occurred in patients with T-cell lymphoma. Three cases were composite lymphomas of a peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified, combined with EBV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The transformed B-cell population displayed EBV latency types 2 and 3. Monoclonal and oligoclonal B-cell populations were detected in 5 and 6 cases, respectively. Similar to other states of immunodeficiency, disease-related and therapy-induced immunosuppression in T-cell lymphoma may lead to a prominent EBV-associated B-cell lymphoproliferation and to EBV+ B-cell neoplasms.

Aged↗

p27(Kip1) is detected on most gastric MALT lymphomas, but not large cell lymphomas.

We investigated the relationship of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma tumorigenesis to Helicobacter pylori infection, the t (11;18) translocation, and alterations in cell cycle regulators. We sought to assess the implications of altered expression of p27(Kip1), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, on high-grade transformation and responsiveness to eradication therapy. We used immunohistochemistry to examine p27(Kip1), p53, and Ki-67 expression in 23 MALT lymphomas, five diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs), and four DLBCLs with associated MALT lymphoma. All of the MALT lymphomas were positive for p27(Kip1) expression and negative for p53 with a low Ki-67 index, regardless of the sensitivity of these cells to eradication. All DLBCLs were negative for p27(Kip1) and positive for p53, exhibiting a high Ki-67 index. In DLBCLs with MALT lymphoma, p27(Kip1) expression was absent from both the MALT and large cells components. In all of these lymphomas, the MALT components were negative for p53 and displayed a low Ki-67 index, while the large cell components were positive for p53 with a high Ki-67 index. The expression patterns of the DLBCLs differed significantly from those of the MALT lymphomas. p27(Kip1) was not detected in either component of DLBCL with MALT lymphoma, suggesting that decreased expression of p27(Kip1) in the MALT component may be related to high-grade transformation. Thus, p27(Kip1) expression in morphological MALT lymphomas could be useful tool to predict high-grade transformation to DLBCL.

Aged↗

Occult lymphoma cells prevalent in autologous marrow from non-Hodgkin's diffuse lymphoma.

The most effective treatment for recurrent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) appears to be a high-dose cytotoxic chemotherapy (HDC) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). However, it has been suggested that the presence of occult lymphoma cells in harvested marrow may be responsible for a significant fraction of treatment failures after HDC/ABMT. The present study examined randomly accrued NHL patients, independent of their cytogenic grades, for the presence of cells bearing bcl-2/immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangements in lymph node (LN) biopsies and the bone marrow by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot hybridization combined with a classical culturing technique. Among 41 NHL patients examined, bcl-2/IgH translocations were evident in LN biopsies and marrow from each of 10 follicular lymphoma patients, but not in any samples from 31 newly diagnosed diffuse lymphoma patients. Marrow aspirates from several patients that were cultured using a one-week "triggering culture" followed by an extended period of conventional culture resulted in emergence of a monoclonal, IgH-rearranged, bcl-2-normal lymphoid cell population. Such outgrowth was specifically seen in cultures of diffuse lymphoma marrow (7 of 28 evaluable patients). Southern analysis for IgH rearrangement within LN biopsies and of cells cultured from marrow of individual diffuse lymphoma patients produced identical patterns, suggesting that the occult lymphoma cells present in harvested marrow were derived from the predominant lymphoma cell population represented within involved lymph nodes. The culture of histologically occult lymphoma from diagnostic marrow and analysis of the derived cells by Southern blot hybridization can be used to detect potentially aggressive lymphoma cells within harvested marrow, despite their lack of bcl-2 gene rearrangement.

Adult↗

U-2940, a human B-cell line derived from a diffuse large cell lymphoma sequential to Hodgkin lymphoma.

Several patterns of association between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas are recognized, some of which support a common cellular origin or shared transformation events for both malignancies. We describe the U-2940 cell line derived from a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with some features consistent with mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, clinically apparent 1 month after the initial course of chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease, fulfilling the criteria for composite malignancies. U-2940 cells display a mature B phenotype with hypermutated IgH rearrangement typical of germinal/postgerminal center origin. The cell line is negative for Epstein-Barr virus and no evidence of t(14;18) was found. U-2940 cells display multiple chromosomal rearrangements similar to recurrent aberrations described in both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas, also partially shared by U-2932 derived from a B-cell lymphoma sequential to Hodgkin's disease. The original large B-cell lymphoma and the U-2940 cell line bear microsatellite instability, an abnormality associated with particular subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and found in tissues involved by Hodgkin lymphoma. Therefore, U-2940 cells bear several features known to occur in Hodgkin and in non-Hodgkin lymphomas, leading to the assumption that this cell line may constitute a useful tool to address elective pathways of lymphomagenesis and eventually the Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma association.

Adolescent↗

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas with t(11;18)(q21;q21) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas with aneuploidy develop along different pathogenetic pathways.

t(11;18)(q21;q21) and aneuploidy are recurrent chromosomal aberrations in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. To investigate their relationship and clinical significance, we developed a two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique to detect t(11;18) and aneuploidy in nuclei isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue. Thirty-seven MALT lymphomas (all previously evaluated for t(11;18) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), 1 large cell lymphoma (LCL) arising subsequent to MALT lymphoma, and 16 controls were tested by FISH using the t(11;18) probe set and multiple centromeric probes. t(11;18)(q21;q21) was present by FISH in 11 of 12 polymerase chain reaction-positive MALT lymphomas (92%). The LCL and its clonally identical antecedent MALT lymphoma both showed t(11;18). The LCL had trisomy 12, and a small subset of MALT lymphoma cells had trisomy 3 and/or 12. Only one other MALT lymphoma with t(11;18) showed aneuploidy (trisomy 3) in a small clone, whereas 15 of 25 t(11;18)-negative MALT lymphomas (60%) showed trisomy of chromosomes 18 (n = 12), 3 (n = 8), 7 (n = 2), and/or 11 (n = 1). t(11;18) and aneuploidy are primarily mutually exclusive events, suggesting different pathogenetic pathways in the development of MALT lymphomas. Both t(11;18) and aneuploidy were seen disproportionately in lung, and both were associated with recurrent disease.

Adult↗

The pathology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of childhood: II. Reproducibility and relevance of the histologic classification of "undifferentiated" lymphomas (Burkitt's versus non-Burkitt's).

The Children's Cancer Study Group conducted prospective clinical trials of 608 children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from 1977 to 1983. In 1980, significant differences in survival of children with disseminated disease correlated with histologic diagnosis and the randomized treatment employed. A pathology reproducibility review showed the lymphoblastic lymphoma cases to be virtually 100 per cent distinguishable histologically from the nonlymphoblastic lymphomas (Burkitt's, non-Burkitt's, and "histiocytic"). However, diagnostic reproducibility of the pathologist-of-record was 59 per cent in the Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's lymphoma group. Therefore, 159 cases, agreed on by the pathologist-of-record and the "lymphoma panel" as Burkitt's (77 cases) or non-Burkitt's lymphoma (82 cases) and designated as the "reference diagnosis," were blindly reviewed twice each by two hematopathologists to yield the "review diagnoses." Consensus agreement was achieved in 67 per cent of cases overall, 82 per cent of Burkitt's and 54 per cent of non-Burkitt's lymphoma. Using the "reference diagnoses," we found that the relative frequency of Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's lymphoma was associated with the extent of disease at diagnosis (P = 0.06) but not with other prognostic factors. Despite the difficulties in histologic classification, analyses that used either "reference diagnoses" or "consensus review diagnoses" and that were adjusted for extent of disease consistently demonstrated significantly shorter event-free survival for patients having Burkitt's lymphoma; their failure rate was four times that for patient's with non-Burkitt's lymphoma. Newer cell biologic techniques hopefully will enhance histopathologic distinctions that remain the basis for diagnosis.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

Liver involvement by lymphoma: identification of a distinctive pattern of infiltration related to T-cell/histiocyte-rich B-cell lymphoma.

Liver biopsy specimens from 62 patients with hepatic infiltration by miscellaneous lymphomas were retrospectively studied. The most relevant histologic features of liver infiltration in the various subtypes of lymphomas were then compared. In this study, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas were the most common neoplasm to involve the liver as primary or secondary tumors (64.5% of cases). The next most common lymphoma to involve the liver was Hodgkin's disease, found in 19.4% of cases, followed by peripheral T-cell lymphomas (9.7%), follicle center cell lymphomas (4.8%), and primary hepatic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type (1.6%). Within the group of large B-cell lymphomas, a particular subset of cases was found, which was identified as T-cell/histiocyte-rich B-cell lymphoma. This rare variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas involves the liver in a very distinctive way that may mimic, on both clinical and histologic grounds, inflammatory liver disease or hepatic infiltration by Hodgkin's disease. Although these diagnostic ambiguities can be easily solved by current immunohistochemistry, awareness of these potentially misleading features is mandatory to avoid misdiagnosis.

Adult↗

Follicle center lymphoma is associated with significantly elevated levels of BCL-6 expression among lymphoma subtypes, independent of chromosome 3q27 rearrangements.

The BCL-6 gene, located on chromosome 3q27, is implicated in the normal germinal center formation and is frequently rearranged in a wide spectrum of lymphomas. However the links between genetic alterations and expression of the gene are not clearly determined. We established a quantitative RT-PCR assay based on TaqMan technology to quantify BCL-6 mRNA expression in different subtypes of lymphomas and to compare the level of expression in lymphomas characterized by the presence or absence of BCL-6 translocation. Total RNA was extracted from 105 nodes biopsies (35 diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL); 26 follicle center lymphomas (FCL); 7 marginal zone lymphomas (MZL); 6 mantle cell lymphomas (MCL); 6 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); 5 T cell lymphomas (TCL); 7 classical Hodgkin diseases (HD); 6 nodal metastasis (NM); and 7 reactive hyperplasia (RH)). BCL-6 gene rearrangement was assessed by Southern blot analysis in 75% of 3q27(+) DLBCL (n = 20) cases and 67% of 3q27(+) cases (n = 10). The highest level of relative BCL-6 expression was observed in FCL (9.12 +/- 7.28) comparatively to the other lymphoma subtypes including DLBCL (2.53 +/- 1.82; P < 0.001), MCL (1.23 +/- 0.73), MZL (1.49 +/- 1.3), HD (1.60 +/- 1.00), TCL (1.75 +/- 1.64), but also RH (3.91 +/- 3.12) or NM (1.95 +/- 2.6). Among the 26 FCL cases, we observed a lower expression in grade 3 (n = 8) than in grade 1/2 (P < 0.001). Conversely, we failed to show any difference between 3q27(+) DLBCL and 3q27(-)DLBCL cases (P = 0.42). Paradoxically BCL-6 expression in 3q27(+) FCL (n = 10) was significantly lower than in 3q27(-) FCL cases (P = 0.035). Finally, this study showed that BCL-6 expression in lymphoma is largely independent of chromosome 3q27 rearrangement and is more related to the histological subtype. Clinical implication and alternative deregulation pathways of BCL-6 expression remain to be determined.

Biopsy↗

Among B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, MALT lymphomas express a unique antibody repertoire with frequent rheumatoid factor reactivity.

We analyzed the structure of antigen receptors of a comprehensive panel of mature B non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHLs) by comparing, at the amino acid level, their immunoglobulin (Ig)V(H)-CDR3s with CDR3 sequences present in GenBank. Follicular lymphomas, diffuse large B cell lymphomas, Burkitt's lymphomas, and myelomas expressed a CDR3 repertoire comparable to that of normal B cells. Mantle cell lymphomas and B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemias (B-CLLs) expressed clearly restricted albeit different CDR3 repertoires. Lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALTs) were unique as 8 out of 45 (18%) of gastric- and 13 out of 32 (41%) of salivary gland-MALT lymphomas expressed B cell antigen receptors with strong CDR3 homology to rheumatoid factors (RFs). Of note, the RF-CDR3 homology without exception included N-region-encoded residues in the hypermutated IgV(H) genes, indicating that they were stringently selected for reactivity with auto-IgG. By in vitro binding studies with 10 MALT lymphoma-derived antibodies, we showed that seven of these cases, of which four with RF-CDR3 homology, indeed possessed strong RF reactivity. Of one MALT lymphoma, functional proof for selection of subclones with high RF affinity was obtained. Interestingly, RF-CDR3 homology and t(11;18) appeared to be mutually exclusive features and RF-CDR3 homology was not encountered in any of the 19 pulmonary MALT lymphomas studied.

Adult↗

Treatment of extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) with mitoxantrone, chlorambucil and prednisone (MCP).

BACKGROUND: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a relatively common type of lymphoma arising in various tissues throughout the human body. Currently, there is no standard chemotherapy for advanced stage MALT lymphoma. This has prompted us to retrospectively analyse our experience with the MCP regimen (mitoxantrone, chlorambucil and prednisone) in patients with MALT lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically verified MALT lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy with MCP were evaluated retrospectively. The MCP regimen consists of mitoxantrone 8 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1 and 2, chlorambucil 3 x 3 mg/m(2) per os (p.o.) on days 1-5 and prednisone 25 mg/m(2) p.o. on days 1-5. Information analysed included localisation of the lymphoma, clinical stage, pretreatment, number of chemotherapy cycles administered, toxicity, response to treatment, follow-up time, relapse and survival. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients (six females and nine males aged between 34 and 88 years) with histologically ascertained MALT lymphoma undergoing treatment with the MCP regimen were identified from our records. Ten patients had extragastric lymphoma, while five patients suffered from gastric MALT lymphoma. All patients were chemotherapy-naïve, while two had been locally irradiated before application of MCP for recurrent disease. A total of 74 cycles was administered to our patients, with a median number of five cycles per patient. Eight (53%) patients achieved complete remission, six (40%) patients partial response and only one (7%) patient had progressive disease. Subjective tolerance was excellent, and toxicities were mainly haematological, including granulocytopenia World Health Organisation grade 3 and 4 in three patients each. In two patients, this was accompanied by single episodes of uncomplicated herpes simplex infection. At the time of analysis, all patients are still alive. No relapses have occurred after a median follow-up time of 16 (range 12-29) months. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that MCP is an effective and well-tolerated regimen for treatment of patients with MALT lymphoma irrespective of localisation. Judging from our data, MCP also appears to be a feasible regimen in elderly patients.

Administration, Oral↗

Cutaneous spindle-cell B-cell lymphoma: a morphologic variant of cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma.

The morphologic spectrum of large B-cell lymphoma is broad. Several unusual variants have been described such as lymphoma with myxoid stroma, sclerosing B-cell lymphoma, signet ring-cell lymphoma, and multilobated B-cell lymphoma among others. We report on five cases of cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma in which the neoplastic cells were spindle-shaped. In two cases, the clinical features fulfilled those of a primary cutaneous lymphoma; in the three other cases, the lymphoma most likely arose primarily in the skin, but incomplete clinical workups precluded definite categorization. The patients ranged in age from 30 to 89 years and presented with solitary lesions on the trunk or head. Histopathologic examination revealed nodular or dense diffuse infiltrates involving the entire dermis as well as the subcutaneous fat in some cases. Thickened collagen bundles between the spindled cells were present in one case. Cytomorphologic analysis showed the presence of round or oval medium-sized and large-sized lymphocytes with features of centrocytes and centroblasts in some foci, with others dominated by cells with spindle-shaped, elongated, twisted nuclei with dispersed chromatin and scant cytoplasm. Immunohistologic analysis revealed that both round or oval and spindled cells were positive for CD20 in all cases; in all cases tested, these cells were also positive for MIB-1 and were negative for CD3, CD5, CD43, CD45RO, CD21, CD30, CD68, S-100, HMB-45, actin, smooth-muscle actin, and cytokeratin. Bcl-2 was expressed in one of three cases tested. Analysis of the rearrangement of the J(H) gene by polymerase chain reaction performed in one case showed a monoclonal pattern. Spindle-cell large B-cell lymphoma represents a distinctive rare subtype of the cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma and can arise primarily in the skin in some cases. Recognition of this variant is necessary to avoid misdiagnosis of other cutaneous malignant spindle-cell tumors.

Adult↗

CXC chemokine receptor 3 and CC chemokine receptor 4 expression in T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas with special reference to clinicopathological significance for peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified.

We recently reported expression of the chemokine receptors CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) and CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and showed a preferential expression of CCR4 and its association with an unfavorable outcome. In the present study, we extend our adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma study to other subtypes of T- and NK-cell lymphoma, to clarify whether a characteristic chemokine receptor expression pattern is obtained for each of the subtypes defined by the WHO classification. CXCR3 and CCR4 were rarely expressed in three well-defined subtypes, precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. A CXCR3-dominant expression pattern was observed in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, while a CCR4-dominant expression pattern was observed in mycosis fungoides in transformation and in anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma. CXCR3 and CCR4 were heterogeneously expressed in peripheral T-cell lymphomas, unspecified (PTCLU). We next focused on PTCLU and analyzed the clinical significance of the chemokine receptors and their association with FoxP3, a hallmark of immunoregulatory T (Treg) cells. Multivariate analysis showed that CCR4 expression was an independent and significant unfavorable prognostic factor (P < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between mRNA expression of CCR4 and FoxP3, suggesting a possible association of CCR4-positive tumors with Treg cells and thereby with an immunocompromised state. Chemokine receptors may be useful not only for further characterization of the T- and NK-cell lymphomas but also in predicting clinical outcomes for patients. We suggest that a specific therapy targeting the CCR4 molecule may be developed as an alternative treatment for patients with CCR4-positive tumors.

Adolescent↗

Differences in clinicopathological characteristics and major prognostic factors between B-lymphoma and peripheral T-lymphoma excluding adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

A total of 541 consecutive patients treated between 1975 and 1985, 449 with B-lymphoma and 92 with peripheral T-lymphoma, excluding adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), termed peripheral non-ATL T-lymphoma, were analysed. Clinicopathological features that were predominantly associated with B-lymphoma were low and intermediate grades (defined by the Working Formulation), diffuse large cell type, stage II disease, bulky disease, favourable extranodal sites that are defined as a group of primary tumors such as the eye, Waldeyer's ring, thyroid, and stomach, while other features predominantly associated with peripheral non-ATL T-lymphoma were high grade pathology, diffuse mixed-cell and immunoblastic type, systemic "B" symptoms, poor performance status (PS), generalized lymphadenopathy, involvement of organs such as liver, skin, and nose, leucocytosis, and a high levels of serum alkaline phosphatase. The survival curve for B-lymphoma was better (P < 0.01) than that for peripheral non-ATL T-lymphoma. Multivariate analysis revealed that the major prognostic factors were pathology, stage, and primary site for B-lymphoma, while stage, PS, and total protein levels were important for peripheral non-ATL T-lymphoma. These results indicate that B- and peripheral non-ATL T-lymphomas appear to have different biological characteristics.

Adult↗