B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma: study of 39 cases (original) (raw)

Current Concepts in Lymphoma Biology: Effect on Management and Outcome

The understanding of the pathobiology of lymphomas has improved significantly over the past 2 decades. This development has led to multiple revisions in the lymphoma classification of the International Working Formulation through French-American-British and Revised European American Lymphoma (REAL) to the most recent modification of the World Health Organization (WHO) lymphoma classification1. The most recent modification of the WHO lymphoma classification lists approximately 100 subtypes of lymphoid malignancy2. Although there have been improvements in the management and outcomes of patients, there has been a significant lag in the individualization of therapies for different types of lymphomas. For instance, Fisher et al. reported in 1992 that cyclophosphamide, hydroxyadriamycin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) therapy was the standard of care for all diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL)3. A decade later, European investigators (Coiffier et al. and Pfreundschuh et al.) reported outcome improvements in DLBCL patients following the addition of an anti-CD20 antibody to standard CHOP chemotherapy4,5. However, several investigators reported that all DLBCLs are not created equal6-8. A decade later, we still do not know how best to approach germinal center B-cell (GCB) vs. activated B-cell (ABC) types of DLBCL. A detailed discussion of the new understanding of lymphoma biology

High-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified: a multi-institutional retrospective study

Blood Advances

In this multi-institutional retrospective study, we examined the characteristics and outcomes of 160 patients with high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (HGBL-NOS)—a rare category defined by high-grade morphologic features and lack of MYC rearrangements with BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements ("double hit"). Our results show that HGBL-NOS tumors are heterogeneous: 83% of patients had a germinal center B-cell immunophenotype, 37% a dual-expressor immunophenotype (MYC and BCL2 expression), 28% MYC rearrangement, 13% BCL2 rearrangement, and 11% BCL6 rearrangement. Most patients presented with stage IV disease, a high serum lactate dehydrogenase, and other high-risk clinical factors. Most frequent first-line regimens included dose-adjusted cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and etoposide, with rituximab and prednisone (DA-EPOCH-R; 43%); rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP; 33%); or other intensive chemotherapy progr...

Diagnosis and treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Swiss Medical Weekly, 2012

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most frequently-occurring type of malignant lymphoma in the Western world. It has an aggressive natural history, with a median survival of less than one year if left untreated. Immunochemotherapy regimens, consisting of the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab typically in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP), are currently the treatment backbone. Despite remarkable progress in improving patient survival, clinical outcomes are still unsatisfactory for certain subsets of patients, including the elderly and very elderly and those with highly aggressive disease. This review outlines some of the current treatment strategies for DLBCL and discusses the main issues that affect clinical practice.

Treatment strategies for aggressive lymphomas: what works?

Hematology / the Education Program of the American Society of Hematology. American Society of Hematology. Education Program, 2013

Over the past 30 years, many treatment platforms have been developed for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but none proved better than CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine, prednisone/prednisolone). In the immunochemotherapy era, however, there is convincing evidence for superior chemotherapy platforms. A randomized study from the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte showed that R-ACVBP (rituximab plus doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, prednisone) was superior to rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) in patients under 60 years of age, but toxicity limits its use to younger patients. Studies also suggest that DA-EPOCH-R (dose-adjusted etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, rituximab) is more effective in some subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and a randomized comparison with R-CHOP is now nearing completion. The simplicity and safety of R-CHOP and the long history of failed contenders, however, has set a high ...

B-cell lymphomas with MYC/8q24 rearrangements and IGH@BCL2/t(14;18)(q32;q21): an aggressive disease with heterogeneous histology, germinal center B-cell immunophenotype and poor outcome

Modern Pathology, 2012

B-cell lymphomas with MYC/8q24 rearrangement and IGH@BCL2/t(14;18)(q32;q21), also known as double-hit or MYC/BCL2 B-cell lymphomas, are uncommon neoplasms. We report our experience with 60 cases: 52 MYC/ BCL2 B-cell lymphomas and 8 tumors with extra MYC signals plus IGH@BCL2 or MYC rearrangement plus extra BCL2 signals/copies. There were 38 men and 22 women with a median age of 55 years. In all, 10 patients had antecedent/concurrent follicular lymphoma. Using the 2008 World Health Organization classification, there were 33 B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma (henceforth referred to as unclassifiable, aggressive B-cell lymphoma), 23 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 1 follicular lymphoma grade 3B, 1 follicular lymphoma plus diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 1 B-lymphoblastic lymphoma, and 1 composite diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with B-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Using older classification systems, the 33 unclassifiable, aggressive B-cell lymphomas most closely resembled Burkitt-like lymphoma (n ¼ 24) or atypical Burkitt lymphoma with BCL2 expression (n ¼ 9). Of 48 cases assessed, 47 (98%) had a germinal center B-cell immunophenotype. Patients were treated with standard (n ¼ 23) or more aggressive chemotherapy regimens (n ¼ 34). Adequate follow-up was available for 57 patients: 26 died and 31 were alive. For the 52 patients with MYC/BCL2 lymphoma, the median overall survival was 18.6 months. Patients with antecedent/concurrent follicular lymphoma had median overall survival of 7.8 months. Elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase level, Z2 extranodal sites, bone marrow or central nervous system involvement, and International Prognostic Index 42 were associated with worse overall survival (Po0.05). Morphological features did not correlate with prognosis. Patients with neoplasms characterized by extra MYC signals plus IGH@BCL2 (n ¼ 6) or MYC rearrangement with extra BCL2 signals (n ¼ 2) had overall survival ranging from 1.7 to 49 months, similar to patients with MYC/BCL2 lymphomas. We conclude that MYC/BCL2 lymphomas are clinically aggressive, irrespective of their morphological appearance, with a germinal center B-cell immunophenotype. Tumors with extra MYC signals plus IGH@BCL2 or MYC rearrangement plus extra BCL2 signals, respectively, appear to behave as poorly as MYC/BCL2 lymphomas, possibly expanding the disease spectrum.

Non-GCB Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma With an Atypical Disease Course: A Case Report and Clinical Exome Analysis

World Journal of Oncology, 2022

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphoid tumor among other non-Hodgkin lymphomas (30-40% of all cases). This type of lymphoma is characterized by significant differences in treatment response and the heterogeneity of clinical traits. Approximately 60% of patients are cured using standard chemotherapy (CT), while in 10-15% of cases, the tumor is characterized by an extremely aggressive course and resistance to even the most high-dose programs with autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT). The activated B-cell (ABC) subtype of DLBCL is characterized by poor prognosis. Here, we describe a clinical case of diffuse ABC-DLBCL with an atypical disease course. Complete remission was achieved after four courses of CT, followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT). However, early relapse occurred 2 months after the completion of treatment. According to the results of cytogenetic studies, significant chromosome breakdowns were observed. Exome sequencing allowed for the detection of several novel mutations that affect components of the NOTCH2 and NF-κB signaling pathways, a number of epigenetic regulators (KMT2D, CREBBP, EP300, ARID1A, MEF2B), as well as members of the immunoglobulin superfamily (CD58 and CD70). Whether these mutations were the result of therapy or were originally present in the lymphoid tumor remains unclear. Nevertheless, the introduction of genomic technologies into clinical practice is important for making a diagnosis and developing a DLBCL treatment regimen with the use of targeted drugs.