Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients older than 65 years: analysis of 3 year Real World data of practice patterns and outcomes in England.

BACKGROUND: We wished to examine treatment and outcome patterns in older diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients, with a focus on the effect of route-to-diagnosis to outcome. METHODS: Data were extracted from Public Health England's National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service between 2013 and 2015 included route-to-diagnosis, disease characteristics and survival for 9186 patients ≥65 years. Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy data identified front-line regimens, cycles and doses. RESULTS: Route-to-diagnosis were emergency (34%), NHS urgent cancer pathway (rapid haemato-oncologist review <2 weeks), (29%) and standard GP referral (25%). The most common regimen was R-CHOP (n = 4392). 313 patients received R-miniCHOP (7% of R-CHOP). For all patients, 3-year overall survival (OS) for 65-79 years was 57% and for ≥80 years was 32%. Three-year OS for R-CHOP-treated patients diagnosed via emergency presentation was 54% (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.63, p < 0.01) and 75% (adjusted HR 0.81, p < 0.01) on the NHS urgent cancer pathway (reference HR:1.00: GP referrals). 3-year OS was 54% for both R-miniCHOP and R-CHOP in ≥80 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our comprehensive population analysis is the first to show that the NHS urgent cancer pathway is associated with a superior survival after adjusting for multiple confounders. Equivalent survival for R-CHOP and R-mini-CHOP was demonstrated in those ≥80 years.

The SF3B1 inhibitor spliceostatin A (SSA) elicits apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells through downregulation of Mcl-1.

The pro-survival Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1 is expressed in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), with high expression correlated with progressive disease. The spliceosome inhibitor spliceostatin A (SSA) is known to regulate Mcl-1 and so here we assessed the ability of SSA to elicit apoptosis in CLL. SSA induced apoptosis of CLL cells at low nanomolar concentrations in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but independently of SF3B1 mutational status, IGHV status and CD38 or ZAP70 expression. However, normal B and T cells were less sensitive than CLL cells (P=0.006 and P<0.001, respectively). SSA altered the splicing of anti-apoptotic MCL-1(L) to MCL-1(s) in CLL cells coincident with induction of apoptosis. Overexpression studies in Ramos cells suggested that Mcl-1 was important for SSA-induced killing since its expression inversely correlated with apoptosis (P=0.001). IL4 and CD40L, present in patient lymph nodes, are known to protect tumour cells from apoptosis and significantly inhibited SSA, ABT-263 and ABT-199 induced killing following administration to CLL cells (P=0.008). However, by combining SSA with the Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) antagonists ABT-263 or ABT-199, we were able to overcome this pro-survival effect. We conclude that SSA combined with Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) antagonists may have therapeutic utility for CLL.

Longitudinal copy number, whole exome and targeted deep sequencing of 'good risk' IGHV-mutated CLL patients with progressive disease.

The biological features of IGHV-M chronic lymphocytic leukemia responsible for disease progression are still poorly understood. We undertook a longitudinal study close to diagnosis, pre-treatment and post relapse in 13 patients presenting with cMBL or Stage A disease and good-risk biomarkers (IGHV-M genes, no del(17p) or del(11q) and low CD38 expression) who nevertheless developed progressive disease, of whom 10 have required therapy. Using cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridisation, genome-wide DNA methylation and copy number analysis together with whole exome, targeted deep- and Sanger sequencing at diagnosis, we identified mutations in established chronic lymphocytic leukemia driver genes in nine patients (69%), non-coding mutations (PAX5 enhancer region) in three patients and genomic complexity in two patients. Branching evolutionary trajectories predominated (n=9/13), revealing intra-tumoural epi- and genetic heterogeneity and sub-clonal competition before therapy. Of the patients subsequently requiring treatment, two had sub-clonal TP53 mutations that would not be detected by standard methodologies, three qualified for the very-low-risk category defined by integrated mutational and cytogenetic analysis and yet had established or putative driver mutations and one patient developed progressive, therapy-refractory disease associated with the emergence of an IGHV-U clone. These data suggest that extended genomic and immunogenetic screening may have clinical utility in patients with apparent good-risk disease.

Angiotropic lymphoma occurring in a lacrimal sac oncocytoma.

This report describes a case of angiotropic variant of diffuse large B cell lymphoma within a benign oncocytoma of the lacrimal sac. The occurrence of this rare lymphoma within a benign neoplasm has not been documented previously. An 87 year old woman presented with a swelling over the area of the left lacrimal sac, which histological examination revealed to be an oncocytoma. Many small blood vessels within the tumour were filled with large cytologically atypical cells, which stained positively for leucocyte common antigen and a B cell antigen, CD20, confirming the presence of a large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of angiotropic type. Angiotropic lymphoma is a very rare and usually highly aggressive variant of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which classically involves the central nervous system and skin, but has been described within most organs. Its occurrence within a benign neoplasm is probably coincidental, although a close association between oncocytic epithelium and normal lymphoid cells is recognised in Warthin's tumour of salivary and lacrimal glands.

Downregulation of Mcl-1 potentiates HDACi-mediated apoptosis in leukemic cells.

Mcl-1 is an antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, whose degradation is supposedly required for the induction of apoptosis. However, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) induce apoptosis primarily through the Bak/Mcl-1/Noxa and Bim pathways without decreasing Mcl-1. To investigate this discrepancy, we examined the role of Mcl-1 on HDACi-mediated apoptosis. Inhibition of either class I or class II HDAC by selective HDACi caused an upregulation of Mcl-1 mRNA and protein. Downregulation of Mcl-1 by three structurally unrelated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors potentiated HDACi-mediated apoptosis in primary chronic lymphocytic leukemic (CLL) cells and K562 cells. Sensitivity to HDACi-induced apoptosis was increased approximately 10-fold by the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. Nanomolar concentrations of HDACi, approximately 300-fold lower than that required to induce apoptosis alone, sensitized cells to TRAIL, emphasizing that the mechanism(s) whereby HDACi induce apoptosis is clearly distinct from those by which they sensitize to TRAIL. Furthermore, knockdown of Mcl-1-potentiated HDACi-mediated apoptosis in K562 cells. Thus, HDACi-mediated Mcl-1 upregulation plays an important antiapoptotic regulatory role in limiting the efficacy of HDACi-induced apoptosis, which can be overcome by combination with an agent that downregulates Mcl-1. Thus, a clinical trial in some cancers is warranted using a combination of an HDACi with agents that downregulate Mcl-1.

Cold haemagglutinin disease: clinical significance of serum haemolysins.

Two hundred and twenty-one patients with cold haemagglutinins of thermal amplitude > or = 30 degrees C (considered to be a reasonable indicator of clinical significance) were classified by in vitro haemolysin activity into three groups. Group 1 contained 116 individuals in whom haemolysins were never detected; the 74 patients in Group 2 had monophasic haemolysins alone; whereas both monophasic and biphasic haemolysins were detected in the 31 Group 3 patients. There was a significantly higher proportion of patients in Groups 2 and 3 with haptoglobin levels < 0.1 g/l compared with Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.005 and P < 0.001). Direct antiglobulin test results showed that the autoimmune response became more complex and IgM predominant through Groups 1-3, resulting in an increasing ability to activate complement which was reflected in increasing haemolysin activity and number of patients with active haemolysis. The 31 patients in Group 3 were mostly elderly (median age 71 years at presentation) and the majority had chronic cold haemagglutinin disease (CHAD), several in association with lymphoid neoplasms or carcinomas; only four had acute CHAD. The natural history of idiopathic chronic CHAD was of mild, well compensated haemolysis, punctuated by severe acute episodes necessitating intensive therapy. The condition often remained active for long periods and did not appear to affect natural lifespan. In some cases, no treatment (or just warmth) was needed; in others continuous or intermittent prednisolone and/or chlorambucil were effective; yet others required a greater variety and more intense therapy, or treatment of associated conditions. Blood transfusion support was frequently required when haemolysis was severe.

Fatal cold anti-i autoimmune haemolytic anaemia complicating hairy cell leukaemia.

Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder associated with pancytopenia, splenomegaly and the presence of typical hairy B lymphocytes in the bone marrow and/or peripheral blood. The most significant complication relates to opportunistic infections that arise as a consequence of neutropenia and monocytopenia. HCL is occasionally associated with systemic autoimmune disorders including polyarteritis nodosa and rheumatoid disease. Secondary autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) appears to be rare. We report on two cases of HCL complicated by fatal cold anti-i AIHA. Fulminant haemolysis causing death is rare in cold AIHA and only a few individual cases have been reported, none having anti-i specificity.