Genetic and phenotypic attributes of splenic marginal zone lymphoma.

Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (SMZL) is a heterogeneous clinico-biological entity. The clinical course is variable, multiple genes are mutated with no unifying mechanism, and essential regulatory pathways and surrounding microenvironments are diverse. We sought to clarify the heterogeneity of SMZL by resolving different subgroups and their underlying genomic abnormalities, pathway signatures, and microenvironment compositions to uncover biomarkers and therapeutic vulnerabilities. We studied 303 SMZL spleen samples collected through the IELSG46 multicenter international study (NCT02945319) by using a multiplatform approach. We carried out genetic and phenotypic analyses, defined self-organized signatures, validated the findings in independent primary tumor metadata and in genetically modified mouse models, and determined correlations with outcome data. We identified 2 prominent genetic clusters in SMZL, termed NNK (58% of cases, harboring NF-κB, NOTCH, and KLF2 modules) and DMT (32% of cases, with DNA-damage response, MAPK, and TLR modules). Genetic aberrations in multiple genes as well as cytogenetic and immunogenetic features distinguished NNK- from DMT-SMZLs. These genetic clusters not only have distinct underpinning biology, as judged by differences in gene-expression signatures, but also different outcomes, with inferior survival in NNK-SMZLs. Digital cytometry and in situ profiling segregated 2 basic types of SMZL immune microenvironments termed immune-suppressive SMZL (50% of cases, associated with inflammatory cells and immune checkpoint activation) and immune-silent SMZL (50% of cases, associated with an immune-excluded phenotype) with distinct mutational and clinical connotations. In summary, we propose a nosology of SMZL that can implement its classification and also aid in the development of rationally targeted treatments.

IELSG38: phase II trial of front-line chlorambucil plus subcutaneous rituximab induction and maintenance in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

The IELSG38 trial was conducted to investigate the effects of subcutaneous (SC) rituximab on the complete remission (CR) rate and the benefits of SC maintenance in patients with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who received frontline treatment with chlorambucil plus rituximab. Study treatment comprised an induction phase with chlorambucil 6 mg/m2/day orally on weeks 1-6, 9-10, 13-14, 17-18, and 21-22, and rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 of weeks 1-4, and 1400 mg SC on weeks 9, 13, 17, and 21. Then, a maintenance phase followed with rituximab administered at 1400 mg SC every two months for two years. Of the 112 patients enrolled, 109 were evaluated for efficacy. The CR rates increased from 52% at the end of the induction phase to 70% upon completion of the maintenance phase. With a median follow-up of 5.8 years, the 5-year event-free, progression-free, and overall survival rates were 87% (95% CI, 78-92), 84% (95% CI, 75-89), and 93% (95% CI, 86-96), respectively. The most common grade ≥3 toxicities were neutropenia (33%) and lymphocytopenia (16%). Six patients experienced treatment-related serious adverse events, including fever of unknown origin, sepsis, pneumonia, respiratory failure, severe cerebellar ataxia, and fatal acute myeloid leukemia. The trial showed that subcutaneous rituximab did not improve the complete remission rate at the conclusion of the induction phase, which was the main endpoint. Nevertheless, SC maintenance might have facilitated long-term disease control, potentially contributing to enhanced event-free and progression-free survival.

Dose-adjusted EPOCH and rituximab for the treatment of double expressor and double-hit diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: impact of TP53 mutations on clinical outcome.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous disease, including one-third of cases overexpressing MYC and BCL2 proteins (double expressor lymphoma, DEL) and 5-10% of patients with chromosomal rearrangements of MYC, BCL2 and/or BCL-6 (double/triple-hit lymphomas, DH/TH). TP53 mutations are detected in 20- 25% of DEL. We report the efficacy of dose-adjusted EPOCH and rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) in a series of 122 consecutive patients, including DEL (n=81, 66%), DEL-MYC (n=9, 7%), DEL-BCL2 (n=13, 11%), or high-grade lymphomas (DH/TH) (n=19, 16%). Central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis included intravenous methotrexate (n=66), intrathecal chemotherapy (IT) (n=40) or no prophylaxis (n=16). Sixty-seven patients (55%) had highintermediate or high International Prognostic Index (IPI) and 30 (25%) had high CNS-IPI. The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the entire study population were 74% and 84%, respectively. There was a trend for inferior OS for DH/TH (2-year OS: 66%, P=0.058) as compared to all the others. The outcome was significantly better for the IPI 0-2 versus IPI 3-5 (OS: 98% vs. 72%, P=0.002). DA-EPOCH-R did not overcome the negative prognostic value of TP53 mutations: 2-year OS of 62% versus 88% (P=0.036) were observed for mutated as compared to wild-type cases, respectively. Systemic CNS prophylaxis conferred a better 2-year OS (94%) as compared to IT or no prophylaxis (76% and 65%, respectively; P=0.008). DA-EPOCH-R treatment resulted in a favorable outcome in patients with DEL and DEL with single rearrangement, whereas those with multiple genetic alterations such as DEL-DH/TH and TP53 mutated cases still have an inferior outcome.

Lenalidomide in Pretreated Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: An Italian Observational Multicenter Retrospective Study in Daily Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtype, and approximately 50% of the patients are >60 years of age. Patients with relapsed/refractory (rr) disease have a poor prognosis with currently available treatments. Lenalidomide is available in Italy for patients with rrDLBCL based on a local disposition of the Italian Drug Agency. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted in 24 Italian hematology centers with the aim to improve information on effectiveness and safety of lenalidomide use for rrDLBCL in real practice. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three patients received lenalidomide for 21/28 days with a median of four cycles. At the end of therapy, there were 36 complete responses (23.5%) and 9 partial responses with an overall response rate (ORR) of 29.4%. In the elderly (>65 years) subset, the ORR was 33.6%. With a median follow-up of 36 months, median overall survival was reached at 12 months and median disease-free survival was not reached at 62 months. At the latest available follow-up, 29 patients are still in response out of therapy. Median progression-free survivals differ significantly according to age (2.5 months vs. 9.5 in the younger vs. elderly group, respectively) and to disease status at the latest previous therapy (15 months for relapsed patients vs. 3.5 for refractory subjects). Toxicities were manageable, even if 30 of them led to an early drug discontinuation. CONCLUSION: Lenalidomide therapy for patients with rrDLBCL is effective and tolerable even in a real-life context, especially for elderly patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and approximately 50% of the patients are >60 years of age. Patients with relapsed/refractory (rr) disease have a poor prognosis, reflected by the remarkably short life expectancy of 12 months with currently available treatments. The rrDLBCL therapeutic algorithm is not so well established because data in the everyday clinical practice are still poor. Lenalidomide for patients with rrDLBCL is effective and tolerable even in a real-life context, especially for elderly patients.

Prolonged survival in the absence of disease-recurrence in advanced-stage follicular lymphoma following chemo-immunotherapy: 13-year update of the prospective, multicenter randomized GITMO-IIL trial.

A prospective trial conducted in the period 2000-2005 showed no survival advantage for high-dose chemotherapy with rituximab and autograft (R-HDS) versus conventional chemotherapy with rituximab (CHOP-R) as first-line therapy in 134 high-risk follicular lymphoma patients aged <60 years. The study has been updated at the 13-year median follow up. As of February 2017, 88 (66%) patients were alive, with overall survival of 66.4% at 13 years, without a significant difference between R-HDS (64.5%) and CHOP-R (68.5%). To date, 46 patients have died, mainly because of disease progression (47.8% of all deaths), secondary malignancies (3 solid tumor, 9 myelodysplasia/acute leukemia; 26.1% of all deaths), and other toxicities (21.7% of all deaths). Complete remission was documented in 98 (73.1%) patients and associated with overall survival, with 13-year estimates of 77.0% and 36.8% for complete remission versus no-complete remission, respectively. Molecular remission was documented in 39 (65%) out of 60 evaluable patients and associated with improved survival. In multivariate analysis, complete remission achievement had the strongest effect on survival (P<0.001), along with younger age (P=0.002) and female sex (P=0.013). Overall, 50 patients (37.3%) survived with no disease recurrence (18 CHOP-R, 32 R-HDS). This follow up is the longest reported on follicular lymphoma treated upfront with rituximab-chemotherapy and demonstrates an unprecedented improvement in survival compared to the pre-rituximab era, regardless of the use of intensified or conventional treatment. Complete remission was the most important factor for prolonged survival and a high proportion of patients had prolonged survival in their first remission, raising the issue of curability in follicular lymphoma. (Registered at clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 00435955).

Clinical activity of everolimus in relapsed/refractory marginal zone B-cell lymphomas: results of a phase II study of the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group.

The International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group coordinated a phase II trial to evaluate the activity and safety of everolimus in marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs). Thirty patients with relapsed/refractory MZLs received everolimus for six cycles or until dose-limiting toxicity or progression. Median age was 71 years (range, 51-88 years). Twenty patients had extranodal, six splenic, four nodal MZL. Twenty-four patients had stage III-IV. Median number of prior therapies was two (range 1-5). Seventeen patients had early treatment discontinuation, in most cases due to toxicity. Median number of cycles was 4.5 (range, 1-16). Among the 24 assessable patients, the overall response rate (ORR) was 25% (95% confidence interval: 10-47). Grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia (17% of patients, each), infections (17%), mucositis and odontogenic infections (13%) and lung toxicity (3%). The median response duration was 6.8 months (range, 1.4-11.1+). After a median follow-up of 14.5 months, five deaths were reported: four deaths were due to lymphoma, one was due to toxicity. In an intent-to-treat analysis, the projected median progression-free survival was 14 months. The moderate antitumour activity of everolimus in relapsed/refractory MZLs and the observed toxicity limit its therapeutical applicability in these indolent entities. Lower doses of the drug and, perhaps, different strategies including combination with additional agents need to be explored.

The lymphocyte to monocyte ratio improves the IPI-risk definition of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma when rituximab is added to chemotherapy.

The peripheral blood lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) at diagnosis can be clinically relevant in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We reviewed the outcome of 1,057 DLBCL patients followed from 1984 to 2012 at four centers. LMR was analyzed as a clinical biomarker by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and Harrell's C-statistics. Patients were characterized by a median age of 61 years, International Prognostic Index (IPI) score of >2 in 39%, and were treated with a rituximab-containing chemotherapy in 66%. LMR proved strongly predictive for survival in patients treated with rituximab-based programs, but not in those receiving chemotherapy alone. Additionally, an LMR value of ≤2.6 (as determined by ROC analysis) was associated with a worst performance status, a higher lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, an advanced clinical stage, and a higher IPI score (P = 0.000). In patients treated with rituximab-supplemented chemotherapy programs, an LMR value of <2.6 was found in most of the primary refractory patients (75%) which proved as the best cutoff to predict both response and survival (P = 0.018). Finally, multivariate analysis and Harrell's C-statistics confirmed the IPI-independent role of LMR on survival (P = 0.0000). In conclusion, LMR is a potent predictor of clinical response and survival in DLBCL treated with rituximab-containing chemotherapy.

Parsaclisib, a PI3Kδ inhibitor, in relapsed and refractory follicular lymphoma (CITADEL-203): a phase 2 study.

Background: Parsaclisib, a potent and highly selective PI3Kδ inhibitor, has shown clinical benefit in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell malignancies. This phase 2 study (CITADEL-203; NCT03126019, EudraCT 2017-001624-22) assessed efficacy and safety of parsaclisib monotherapy in patients with R/R follicular lymphoma (FL). Methods: Patients ≥18 years of age with histologically confirmed R/R FL (grade 1-3a) and prior treatment with ≥2 systemic therapies received parsaclisib 20 mg once daily (QD) for 8 weeks then parsaclisib 20 mg once weekly (weekly dosing group [WG]) or parsaclisib 20 mg QD for 8 weeks then parsaclisib 2.5 mg QD (daily dosing group [DG]); DG was selected for further assessment. Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Findings: At data cut-off (January 15, 2021), 126 patients had been treated (WG: n = 23; DG: n = 103). ORR (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 77.7% (68.4-85.3) with a complete response rate (95% CI) of 19.4% (12.3-28.4) in DG; median (95% CI) duration of response was 14.7 months (10.4-not estimable [NE]), median progression-free survival was 15.8 months (11.0-NE), and median overall survival was not reached. The most common any-grade treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) among all treated patients included diarrhoea (n = 48, 38.1%), nausea (n = 31, 24.6%), and cough (n = 28, 22.2%); the most common grade ≥3 TEAEs were diarrhoea (n = 15, 11.9%), neutropenia (n = 13, 10.3%), and colitis (n = 7, 5.6%). Dose interruption, reduction, and discontinuation from TEAEs occurred in 46.8% (n = 59), 17.5% (n = 22), and 23.8% (n = 30) of patients, respectively. Interpretation: Treatment with parsaclisib demonstrated rapid and durable responses, and a manageable safety profile in patients with R/R FL. Funding: Incyte Corporation.

Vaccination with autologous tumor-loaded dendritic cells induces clinical and immunologic responses in indolent B-cell lymphoma patients with relapsed and measurable disease: a pilot study.

Eighteen relapsed patients with measurable indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were vaccinated with dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with killed autologous tumor cells. Six patients had objective clinical responses including 3 continuous complete responses (CRs) and 3 partial responses (PRs), with a median follow up of 50.5 months. Eight patients had stable disease, whereas 4 had progressive disease. Clinical responses were significantly associated with a reduction in CD4(+)CD25(+)FOXP3(+) regulatory T cells, an increase in CD3(-)CD56(dim)CD16(+) natural killer (NK) cells, and maturation of lymphocytes to the effector memory stage in either postvaccination peripheral blood or tumor specimen samples. In partial responding patients, vaccination significantly boosted the IFN-gamma-producing T-cell response to autologous tumor challenge. In one HLA-A*0201(+) patient who achieved CR, IL-4 release by circulating T cells in response to tumor-specific IgH-encoded peptides was also documented. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor biopsies using biotin-conjugated autologous serum samples revealed a tumor-restricted humoral response only in the postvaccination serum from responding patients. Collectively these results demonstrate that vaccination with tumor-loaded DCs may induce both T- and B-cell responses and produces clinical benefits in indolent NHL patients with measurable disease. This study is registered with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità: http://www.iss.it with protocol number 7578-PRE 21-801.

CLIPI: a new prognostic index for indolent cutaneous B cell lymphoma proposed by the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG 11).

Indolent primary cutaneous B cell lymphomas (PCBCL) generally have a good prognosis, but they often relapse leading in some cases to extracutaneous disease and therefore, to poor survival. We developed a prognostic model to improve the therapeutic approach to these lymphomas. Two hundred and seventeen patients with diagnosis of indolent PCBCL stage IE or IIE were assessed retrospectively. The prognostic model was built to fit a Cox proportional hazard model using all the covariates affecting progression-free survival (PFS) at p<0.1 in the univariate analysis, and the final model was selected based on the Bayes Information Criteria. Elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, morphology of the lesion (nodule vs. other), and >2 lesions were independent predictors for PFS. To each prognostic factor was assigned a value of 1. Patients were then stratified to three risk groups: score 0 (28%), low risk; score 1 (55%), intermediate risk; score 2 and 3 (17%), high risk with a 5-year PFS of 91%, 64%, and 48%, respectively (p<0.001). The CLIPI is an easily applicable prognostic index and represents a promising tool for risk-adapted treatment strategies. However, it needs to be addressed in prospective clinical studies.

Fifteen-year follow-up of relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients vaccinated with tumor-loaded dendritic cells.

We previously published the results of a pilot study showing that vaccination with tumor-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) induced both T and B cell response and produced clinical benefit in the absence of toxicity in patients with relapsed, indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL). The purpose of the present short report is to provide a 15-year follow-up of our study and to expand the biomarker analysis previously performed. The long-term follow-up highlighted the absence of particular or delayed toxicity and the benefit of active immunization with DCs loaded with autologous, heat-shocked and UV-C treated tumor cells in relapsed iNHL (5-year and 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates: 55.6% and 33.3%, respectively; 10-year overall survival (OS) rate: 83.3%). Female patients experienced a better PFS (p=0.016) and a trend towards a better OS (p=0.185) compared with male patients. Of note, we observed a non-negligible fraction of patients (22%) who experienced a long-lasting complete response. In a targeted gene expression profiling of pre-treatment tumor biopsies in 11 patients with available formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, we observed that KIT, ATG12, TNFRSF10C, PBK, ITGA2, GATA3, CLU, NCAM1, SYT17 and LTK were differentially expressed in patients with responder versus non-responder tumors. The characterization of peripheral monocytic cells in a subgroup of 14 patients with available baseline blood samples showed a higher frequency of the subset of CD14++CD16+ cells (intermediate monocytes) in patients with responding tumors. Since in patients with relapsed iNHL the available therapeutic options are often incapable of inducing a long-lasting complete remission and can be sometimes characterized by intolerable toxicity, we think that the encouraging results of our long-term follow-up analysis represent a stimulus to further investigate the role of active vaccination in this specific setting and in earlier lines of therapy and to explore novel combinatorial strategies encompassing other innovative immunotherapy agents, such as immune-checkpoint inhibitors.

MALT lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma in an HIV-negative patient.

A 77-year-old caucasian man presented on March 2005 with important epigastric pain without any other significant history of gastritis. Patient refers a history of cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) treated since 1974 with surgical excision or oncovorin topical injection. He underwent endoscopic evaluation showing a 1.5-cm ulcerated area at the gastric angulus, associated with edematous and erythematous nodular mucosa (Fig. 1).

Cognitive decline in older long-term survivors from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare cognition in a group of older long-term survivors from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and in a corresponding group of non-cancer controls of the same age. Functional status, polypharmacy and multimorbidity were also evaluated. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in a population of 63 outpatient long-term survivors from NHL, aged 65 or more and 61 non-cancer controls. Socio-demographic, clinical and functional data were collected. Cognitive function was assessed through neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: NHL survivors showed a slightly worse functional status than controls, they were affected by more chronic conditions (3.4 vs 2.3; p = .003) and were taking a higher number of medications (3.4 vs 2.3; p = .03). The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was not significantly different between the groups. NHL survivors performed worse than controls in executive functioning (Trail Making Test B-A 47.9 vs 32.1 p = .04, OR for Stroop test time over 75th percentile in survivors: 2.66; CI 95% 1.04-6.61; OR for Multiple Features Target Cancellation time over 75th percentile in survivors: 2.84; CI 95% 1.10-7.31). A small, statistically significant difference was also observed in verbal memory scores between the two groups. . CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that, compared with non-cancer controls, older survivors from NHL may have a lower cognitive performance, especially in the executive functioning and attention domains, regardless of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Further evidence from larger samples is needed to confirm such findings and better characterize cognitive decline in NHL survivors.

Dosimetry in myeloablative (90)Y-labeled ibritumomab tiuxetan therapy: possibility of increasing administered activity on the base of biological effective dose evaluation. Preliminary results.

AIM: In our multicentric ongoing phase I activity escalation study, (90)Y-labeled ibritumomab tiuxetan (Ze-valin was administered in activity per kilo twice- and three times the maximum tolerable dose of 15 MBq/kg suggested for nonmyeloablative treatments by the U.S. registration study. The radioinduced myelodepression was overcome by stem cell autografting. The dosimetric aim was to correlate possible extramedullary toxicities to the organ-absorbed doses or to the biologic effective dose (BED). This is a conceptually more suitable parameter, as it takes into account not only the absorbed dose, but also the influence of the dose rate and of the tissue repair mechanism. METHODS: Pretreatment planar dosimetry was performed on 16 patients with a median 200 MBq of (111)In-Zevalin. Conjugate view technique, background, attenuation, and partial scatter correction were adopted. Blood samples and a planar whole body scintigram were collected at least at 0.5, 48, 96, and 120 hours. Individual organ mass correction was based on a computed tomography scan. Internal dose calculation was performed by the OLINDA/EXM software. One (1) week after dosimetry, 12 patients were treated with 30 MBq/kg and 4 patients with 45 MBq/kg of (90)Y-Zevalin. RESULTS: The absorbed dose per unit activity (Gy/GBq) were (median and range of 16 dosimetric studies): heart wall 3.8 [0.5, 9.7]; kidneys 4.9 [2.8, 10.5]; liver 5.5 [3.9, 8.9]; lungs 2.8 [0.4, 6.8]; red marrow 1.1 [0.8, 2.1]; spleen 6.3 [1.5, 10.9]; and testes 4.6 [3.0, 16.7]. The absorbed dose (Gy) for the 4 patients administered with 45 MBq/kg were (median and range): heart wall 17.6 [9.4, 25.1]; kidneys 16.3 [7.9, 20.3]; liver 20.9 [15.4, 24.3]; lungs 7.7 [5.6, 11.4]; red marrow 3.0 [2.4, 3.3]; spleen 28.4 [18.9, 30.8]; and testes 16.5 [12.2, 17.3]. No extramedullary toxicity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of 45 MBq/kg of (90)Y ibritumomab tiuxetan to 4 patients with stem cell autografting was free from extramedullary toxicity. This is in agreement with both organ doses and BEDs below the corresponding toxicity thresholds. For these clinical and dosimetric reasons, a further increase in injectable activity could have been conceivable. If the more appropriate BED parameter were chosen for toxicity limit calculations, a wider margin of increase would have been possible. Our theoretical investigation demonstrates that, in this particular case of (90)Y Zevalin therapy, the uncertainty about radiobiological parameters was not a limiting factor for a BED-based calculation of the maximum injectable activity.

Final Results of the IELSG-19 Randomized Trial of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma: Improved Event-Free and Progression-Free Survival With Rituximab Plus Chlorambucil Versus Either Chlorambucil or Rituximab Monotherapy.

Purpose There is no consensus on the optimal systemic treatment of patients with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. The IELSG-19 phase III study, to our knowledge, was the first such study to address the question of first-line treatment in a randomized trial. Patients and Methods Eligible patients were initially randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to receive either chlorambucil monotherapy (6 mg/m2/d orally on weeks 1 to 6, 9 to 10, 13 to 14, 17 to 18, and 21 to 22) or a combination of chlorambucil (same schedule as above) and rituximab (375 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 of weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 13, 17, and 21). After the planned enrollment of 252 patients, the protocol was amended to continue with a three-arm design (1:1:6 ratio), with a new arm that included rituximab alone (same schedule as the combination arm) and with a final sample size of 454 patients. The main end point was event-free survival (EFS). Analysis of chlorambucil versus the combination arm was performed and reported separately before any analysis of the third arm. Results At a median follow-up of 7.4 years, addition of rituximab to chlorambucil led to significantly better EFS (hazard ratio, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.77). EFS at 5 years was 51% (95% CI, 42 to 60) with chlorambucil alone, 50% (95% CI, 42 to 59) with rituximab alone, and 68% (95% CI, 60 to 76) with the combination ( P = .0009). Progression-free survival was also significantly better with the combination ( P = .0119). Five-year overall survival was approximately 90% in each arm. All treatments were well tolerated. No unexpected toxicities were recorded. Conclusion Rituximab in combination with chlorambucil demonstrated superior efficacy in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma; however, improvements in EFS and progression-free survival did not translate into longer overall survival.

Addition of Rituximab to Involved-Field Radiation Therapy Prolongs Progression-free Survival in Stage I-II Follicular Lymphoma: Results of a Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: Rituximab (Rit) therapy added to involved-field radiation therapy (RT) has been proposed as an effective treatment for stage I-II follicular lymphoma (FL). The results of an observational multicenter study on the Rit-RT combination in limited-stage FL are here reported. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data have been collected from 2 consecutive cohorts of 94 patients with stage I-II FL treated between 1985 and 2011 at 5 Italian institutions. All patients had grade 1-3a FL, a median age of 54 years (range: 25-82). The first 51 patients received RT alone (control group), while the subsequent series of 43 patients received 4 rituximab courses (375 mg/m(2), days 1, 8, 15, 22) before RT (Rit-RT). Molecular disease was evaluated by nested bcl-2/IgH PCR or clonal IgH rearrangement was available in 33 Rit-RT patients. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 10.9 years (range: 1.8-22.9), the 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) projections for the whole cohort were 57% and 87.5%, respectively. The 10-year PFS was significantly longer (P<.05) in the Rit-RT group (64.6%) compared to RT alone (50.7%), whereas the 10-year OS projections were not significantly different. On bivariate analysis controlling for stage, there was only a trend toward improved PFS for Rit-RT (HR, 0.55; P=.081). Follicular lymphoma international prognostic index and age were associated with OS but not with PFS on Cox regression analysis. Bone marrow molecular analysis showing PCR positivity at diagnosis was strongly associated with relapse risk upon univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter observational study suggests a potential benefit of adding rituximab to radiation therapy for stage I-II FL. The results of the currently ongoing randomized studies are required to confirm these results. The study underlines the importance of molecular disease monitoring also for patient with limited-stage disease.

Prognostic scoring system for primary CNS lymphomas: the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group experience.

PURPOSE: To identify survival predictors and to design a prognostic score useful for distinguishing risk groups in immunocompetent patients with primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prognostic role of patient-, lymphoma-, and treatment-related variables was analyzed in a multicenter series of 378 PCNSL patients treated at 23 cancer centers from five different countries. RESULTS: Age more than 60 years, performance status (PS) more than 1, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) serum level, high CSF protein concentration, and involvement of deep regions of the brain (periventricular regions, basal ganglia, brainstem, and/or cerebellum) were significantly and independently associated with a worse survival. These five variables were used to design a prognostic score. Each variable was assigned a value of either 0, if favorable, or 1, if unfavorable. The values were then added together to arrive at a final score, which was tested in 105 assessable patients for which complete data of all five variables were available. The 2-year overall survival (OS) +/- SD was 80% +/- 8%, 48% +/- 7%, and 15% +/- 7% (P =.00001) for patients with zero to one, two to three, and four to five unfavorable features, respectively. The prognostic role of this score was confirmed by limiting analysis to assessable patients treated with high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy (2-year OS +/- SD: 85% +/- 8%, 57% +/- 8%, and 24% +/- 11%; P =.0004). CONCLUSION: Age, PS, LDH serum level, CSF protein concentration, and involvement of deep structures of the brain were independent predictors of survival. A prognostic score including these five parameters seems advisable in distinguishing different risk groups in PCNSL patients. The proposed score and its relevance in therapeutic decision deserve to be validated in further studies.