Clinical value of ALK and CD30 expression in mature systemic T cell lymphomas: analysis from the Czech Lymphoma Study Group database (NIHIL).

Mature T cell lymphomas (MTCLs) have worse prognosis, and in contrast to B cell lymphomas, there is no universal marker like CD20 with exception of ALK and CD30, which are present in proportion of MTCL only. Up to now, ALK is traditionally associated with good prognosis in ALCLs, and there are some evidences that CD30-positive T cell or B cell lymphomas have better prognosis. In our retrospective, population-based analysis, we analyzed the real clinical value of ALK and CD30 in the most frequent MTCL subtypes. Between 2000 and 2017, we identified 732 patients with newly diagnosed ALCL, AITL, or PTCL-NOS. Among them, 207 ALCL patients were with known ALK, whereas 61 AITL and 238 PTCL-NOS with known CD30 expression. There were 69/207 (33.3%) ALK + ALCLs, who displayed better 5-year PFS (65.6% vs. 36.2%) (p .001) and 5-year OS (71.5% vs. 45.9%) (p .002) compared to ALK - ; ALK + patients were significantly younger (median 48 vs. 60 years; p < 0.001). For patients ≥ 60 years, 5-year PFS (38.5% vs. 31.2%) and 5-year OS (38.5% vs. 39.6%) were similar between ALK + vs. ALK - patients. For AITL and PTCL-NOS, there were 44/61 (72.1%) and 120/238 (50.4%) CD30 + samples, and difference in CD30 expression was significant (p .02). AITL patients had 5-year OS of 43.8% vs. 55.7% (p 0.848) and 5-year PFS of 36.7% vs. 29.4% (p .624) for CD30 + vs. CD30 - patients, whereas PTCL-NOS had 5-year OS of 35.7% vs. 34.3% (p .318) and 5-year PFS of 29.3% vs. 22.5% (p.114) for CD30 + vs. CD30 - cases. We conclude that ALK in ALCLs (≥ 60 years) and CD30 expression in PCTL-NOS and AITL have only limited prognostic value.

Assessment of burbot Lota lota (L. 1758) population sustainability in central European reservoirs.

A novel sampling scheme, using a combination of electrofishing, visual exploration by scuba divers, two types of fyke nets and longlines, was tested in four reservoirs (including their inlets and outlets) to monitor a population of burbot Lota lota. This was supplemented by fry trawling and vertical hydro-acoustics, to detect L. lota larvae in two deep reservoirs that have had a long-term stocking programme. The majority of the L. lota detected were juveniles, captured by electrofishing in the littoral zones of the reservoirs and in running waters. Older individuals were rarely captured with longlines or fyke nets in deeper zones or structured habitats within the reservoirs. A combination of multiple sampling methods provided an assessment of the whole population. Population establishment could not be demonstrated as the age structure of the sampled fish corresponded with that of the stocked fish. Low post-stocking survival, migratory behaviour, interactions with other species and warmer water temperatures are considered the potential drivers for unsuccessful establishment of L. lota populations in these reservoirs.

[Treatment of Langerhans cells histiocytosis by cladribin reached long-term complete remission in 9 out of 10 adult patients]. / Lécba histiocytózy z Langerhansových bunek kladribinem dosáhla u 9 z 10 dospelých pacientu dlouhodobé kompletní remise.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of cladribine depends on the ratio of activating (deoxycytidine kinase) and inactivating (5-nucleotidase) enzymes. Not only is this ratio high in resting lymphocytes but also in Langerhans cells as well in some other histiocytic cells. Therefore, cladribine shows high effectiveness in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). In 2003, the first report on excellent results with cladribine in first line treatment of patients with multisystem or multifocal LCH was published. That is why we use cladribine for adult patients with relapsing form of LCH and also for first line treatment of multifocal and multisystem LCH at our department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 2001, we have treated altogether 10 adults (9 male and 1 female) with cladribine. The median age at diagnosis was 31.5 years (range: 5-45). The multiorgan form of the disease was present in 8 patients, and 2 patients had the multifocal skeletal form with aggressive disease course. Cladribine at a dose of 5 mg/m2 SC per day was given as a 5-day course at 28-day intervals. In cases of insufficient effectiveness, in two patients after the 3rd cycle with cladribine monotherapy, we proceeded to combination therapy with cladribine of 5 mg/m2 per day, cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2 per day and dexamethasone 20 mg per day, all on days 1-5. We planned 6 cycles at the most. RESULTS: The median of cladribine cycles was 5 (range: 4-6). Altogether, 10 patients finished therapy; out of them 9 are in complete remission with the follow-up median of 26 months (range: 16-94). Treatment failure was noted only in 1 patient - in 60 days after therapy cessation the disease progressed and required further treatment (CHOEP, high-dose BEAM chemotherapy with autologous transplantation followed by Revlimid treatment and allogeneic transplantation). Treatment response - disappearance of infiltrate in the pituitary infundibulum - was observed in 2 patients with LCH affecting the pituitary infundibulum. CONCLUSION: Cladribine is a suitable medication for multiorgan and multifocal forms of LCH. In our group of ten evaluated patients, cladribine therapy resulted in 90% of long-term complete remissions. Three patients had CNS involvement and in all three patients, treatment responses have been achieved.