Treatment-specific risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms in five-year survivors of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of rituximab significantly improved the prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), emphasizing the importance of evaluating the long-term consequences of exposure to radiotherapy, alkylating agents and anthracycline-containing (immuno)chemotherapy among DLBCL survivors. METHODS: Long-term risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) was examined in a multicenter cohort comprising 2373 5-year DLBCL survivors treated at ages 15-61 years in 1989-2012. Observed SMN numbers were compared with expected cancer incidence to estimate standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and absolute excess risks (AERs/10 000 person-years). Treatment-specific risks were assessed using multivariable Cox regression. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 13.8 years, 321 survivors developed one or more SMNs (SIR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3-1.8, AER 51.8). SIRs remained increased for at least 20 years after first-line treatment (SIR ≥20-year follow-up 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.2, AER 81.8) and were highest among patients ≤40 years at first DLBCL treatment (SIR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0-3.5). Lung (SIR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.7, AER 13.4) and gastrointestinal cancers (SIR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-2.0, AER 11.8) accounted for the largest excess risks. Treatment with >4500 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide/>300 mg/m2 doxorubicin versus ≤2250 mg/m2/≤150 mg/m2, respectively, was associated with increased solid SMN risk (hazard ratio 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.2). Survivors who received rituximab had a lower risk of subdiaphragmatic solid SMNs (hazard ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-1.0) compared with survivors who did not receive rituximab. CONCLUSION: Five-year DLBCL survivors have an increased risk of SMNs. Risks were higher for survivors ≤40 years at first treatment and survivors treated with >4500 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide/>300 mg/m2 doxorubicin, and may be lower for survivors treated in the rituximab era, emphasizing the need for studies with longer follow-up for rituximab-treated patients.

R-miniCHOP versus R-CHOP in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A propensity matched population-based study.

For elderly frail patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), an attenuated chemo-immunotherapy strategy of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (R-miniCHOP) was introduced as a treatment option as from 2014 onward in the Netherlands. Although R-miniCHOP is more tolerable, reduction of chemotherapy could negatively affect survival compared to R-CHOP. The aim of this analysis was to assess survival of patients treated with R-miniCHOP compared to R-CHOP. DLBCL patients ≥65 years, newly diagnosed in 2014-2020, who received ≥1 cycle of R-miniCHOP or R-CHOP were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry, with survival follow-up through 2022. Patients were propensity-score-matched for baseline characteristics. Main endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and relative survival (RS). The use of R-miniCHOP in DLBCL increased from 2% in 2014 to 15% in 2020. In total, 384 patients treated with R-miniCHOP and 384 patients treated with R-CHOP were included for comparison (median age; 81 years, stage 3-4; 68%). The median number of R-(mini)CHOP cycles was 6 (range, 1-8). The 2-year PFS, OS and RS were inferior for patients treated with R-miniCHOP compared to R-CHOP (PFS 51% vs. 68%, p < .01; OS 60% vs. 75%, p < .01; RS 69% vs. 86%, p < .01). In multivariable analysis, patients treated with R-miniCHOP had higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to patients treated with R-CHOP (HR 1.73; 95%CI, 1.39-2.17). R-miniCHOP is effective for most elderly patients. Although survival is inferior compared to R-CHOP, the use of R-miniCHOP as initial treatment is increasing. Therefore, fitness needs to be carefully weighed in treatment selection.

Survival among patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma treated with single-agent selinexor in the SADAL study.

Patients with RR DLBCL who have received ≥ 2 lines of therapy have limited treatment options and an expected overall survival (OS) of < 6 months. The SADAL study evaluated single-agent oral selinexor in patients with RR DLBCL and demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 29.1% with median duration of response (DOR) of 9.3 months. The analyses described here evaluated a number of subpopulations in order to understand how response correlates with survival outcomes in order to identify patients who could most optimally benefit from selinexor treatment. Median age was 67 years; 44.8% of patients were ≥ 70 years of age. The median OS was 9.0 months (95% CI 6.2, 13.7) at a median follow-up of 14.8 months. The median OS was not reached in patients with a CR or PR, while patients who did not respond have a median OS of 4.9 months (p < 0.0001). Patients < 70 years had an OS of 11.1 months compared with 7.8 months in patients ≥ 70 years. Among patients with or without prior ASCT, the median OS was 10.9 and 7.8 months, respectively. Among patients with disease refractory to the most recent DLBCL treatment regimen, the median OS was 7.0 months compared with 11.1 months for disease not refractory to the most recent treatment. In a patient population in which survival is expected to be < 6 months, treatment with single-agent oral selinexor was associated with a median survival of 9 months. Increased median OS observed in patients responding to selinexor was consistent across subgroups regardless of age, prior ASCT therapy, or refractory status. Randomized studies of selinexor in combination with a variety of other anti-DLBCL agents are planned. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02227251) on August 28, 2014. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02227251 .

Increased levels of viable circulating endothelial cells are an indicator of progressive disease in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: There is accumulating evidence from preclinical studies that circulating endothelial cells (CECs) play an important role in neovascularization and tumor growth. The role of CECs in human cancer progression is sparsely investigated. We therefore analyzed CECs in peripheral blood of cancer patients. In addition, we correlated CEC levels in these patients with plasma levels of cytokines that are known to mobilize CECs in experimental models. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Viable CECs were isolated, quantified and cultured from cancer patients' whole blood by using magnetic beads coupled to an antibody directed against CD146, a pan-endothelial marker. Viable cells were visualized by calceinAM staining. Positive staining for specific endothelial cell markers [i.e. von Willebrand factor, CD31, vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2] was used to confirm the endothelial phenotype. RESULTS: Cancer patients with progressive disease (95 patients) had on average 3.6-fold more CECs than healthy subjects (46 patients, P <0.001). Patients (17) with stable disease had CEC numbers equal to that circulating in healthy subjects (P = 0.69). A subset of in vitro cultured CECs incorporated into endothelial layers and formed colonies. Plasma levels of cytokines that are thought to mobilize CECs from the bone marrow [VEGF, placental growth factor, stromal cell derived factor 1alpha and stem cell factor (71 patients)] did not correlate with CEC amounts. The levels of viable CECs in cancer patients were modified by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: In progressive cancer patients, the amount of CECs is increased. These CECs are viable and may contribute to vessel formation. The number of CECs is influenced by anticancer treatment.