F Reyes

The standard treatment for patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma is cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP). Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the CD20 B-cell antigen, has therapeutic activity in diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma. We conducted a randomized trial to compare CHOP chemotherapy plus rituximab with CHOP alone in elderly patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma.Previously untreated patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma, 60 to 80 years old, were randomly assigned to receive either eight cycles of CHOP every three weeks (197 patients) or eight cycles of CHOP plus rituximab given on day 1 of each cycle (202 patients).The rate of complete response was significantly higher in the group that received CHOP plus rituximab than in the group that received CHOP alone (76 percent vs. 63 percent, P=0.005). With a median follow-up of two years, event-free and overall survival times were significantly higher in the CHOP-plus-rituximab group (P<0.001 and P=0.007, respectively). The addition of rituximab to standard CHOP chemotherapy significantly reduced the risk of treatment failure and death (risk ratios, 0.58 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.44 to 0.77] and 0.64 [0.45 to 0.89], respectively). Clinically relevant toxicity was not significantly greater with CHOP plus rituximab.The addition of rituximab to the CHOP regimen increases the complete-response rate and prolongs event-free and overall survival in elderly patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma, without a clinically significant increase in toxicity.

Purpose To analyze the long-term outcome of patients included in the Lymphome Non Hodgkinien study 98-5 (LNH98-5) comparing cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) to rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Patients and Methods LNH98-5 was a randomized study that included 399 previously untreated patients, age 60 to 80 years, with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Patients received eight cycles of classical CHOP (cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m 2 , doxorubicin 50 mg/m 2 , vincristine 1.4 mg/m 2 , and prednisone 40 mg/m 2 for 5 days) every 3 weeks. In R-CHOP, rituximab 375 mg/m 2 was administered the same day as CHOP. Survivals were analyzed using the intent-to-treat principle. Results Median follow-up is 5 years at present. Event-free survival, progression-free survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival remain statistically significant in favor of the combination of R-CHOP (P = .00002, P &lt; .00001, P &lt; .00031, and P &lt; .0073, respectively, in the log-rank test). Patients with low-risk or high-risk lymphoma according to the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index have longer survivals if treated with the combination. No long-term toxicity appeared to be associated with the R-CHOP combination. Conclusion Using the combination of R-CHOP leads to significant improvement of the outcome of elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, with significant survival benefit maintained during a 5-year follow-up. This combination should become the standard for treating these patients.

Abstract Assessment of early therapeutic response using metabolic imaging is potentially useful to determine prognosis in aggressive lymphoma. Between January 2000 and January 2004, 90 patients with newly diagnosed aggressive lymphoma (median age 53 years, 94% diffuse large B-cell) were prospectively explored with [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) prior to induction chemotherapy, after 2 cycles (“early PET”), and after induction completion. Therapeutic response was evaluated using conventional diagnostic methods at 4 cycles. Induction treatment with an anthracycline-containing regimen was administered to all patients, associated with rituximab in 41%. According to the International Prognostic Index (IPI), 37 patients and 53 patients belonged to the lower- and higher-risk groups, respectively. At midinduction, “early PET” was considered negative in 54 patients and positive in 36. After completion of induction, 83% of PET-negative patients achieved complete remission compared with only 58% of PET-positive patients. Outcome differed significantly between PET-negative and PET-positive groups; the 2-year estimates of event-free survival reached 82% and 43%, respectively (P &amp;lt; .001), and the 2-year estimates of overall survival reached 90% and 61%, respectively (P = .006). Predictive value of “early PET” was observed in both the lower-risk and higher-risk groups, indicating prognostic independence from the IPI. Therefore, FDG-PET should be an early guide to first-line strategies in aggressive lymphoma. (Blood. 2005;106:1376-1381)

Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the CD20 antigen, induced objective responses in 50% of patients with low-grade or follicular B-cell lymphoma. Because most nonfollicular B-cell lymphomas also express the CD20 antigen, we conducted a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of this new agent in patients with more aggressive types of lymphoma. Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), or other intermediate- or high-grade B-cell lymphomas according to the Working Formulation were included in this prospective randomized phase II study if they were in first or second relapse, if they were refractory to initial therapy, if they progressed after a partial response to initial therapy, or if they were elderly (age >60 years) and not previously treated. The patients received 8 weekly infusions of rituximab at the dose of 375 mg/m2 in arm A or one infusion of 375 mg/m2 followed by 7 weekly infusions of 500 mg/m2 in arm B. Patients were evaluated 2 months after the last rituximab infusion. Fifty-four patients were randomized from 9 centers in Europe and Australia (28 in arm A and 26 in arm B). A total of 5 complete responses (CR) and 12 partial responses (PR) were observed among the 54 enrolled patients, with no difference between the two doses. In an intent-to-treat analysis, the CR rate was 9% (CI95%, 3% to 20%) and the PR rate was 22% (CI95%, 12% to 36%), for an overall response rate of 31% (CI95%, 20% to 46%). An analysis of prognostic factors showed that response rates were lower in patients with refractory disease, patients with lymphoma not classified as DLCL, and patients with a tumor larger than 5 cm in diameter. DLCL and MCL patients had response rates of 37% and 33%, respectively. The median time to progression exceeded 246 days for the 17 responding patients. The most frequently reported adverse events were related to an infusion syndrome and were mild: 19% of the patients had a grade 3 related adverse event, slightly more in arm B, and only 1 patient had a grade 4 related adverse event in arm A. Two patients (3.7%) withdrew from treatment because of severe adverse events, one patient in each arm. In this first trial of rituximab in DLCL and MCL, patients experienced a significant clinical activity with a low toxicity. Rituximab has significant activity in DLCL and MCL patients and should be tested in combination with chemotherapy in such patients.

PURPOSE: Mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL), immunocytoma (IMC), and small B-cell lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are B-cell malignancies that express CD20 and are incurable with standard therapy. A multicenter phase II study was conducted to assess the toxicity and the overall response rates (RR) and complete response (CR) rates to rituximab (chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1997 and January 1998, 131 patients with newly diagnosed MCL (MCL1; n = 34) and previously treated MCL (MCL2; n = 40), IMC (n = 28), and SLL (n = 29) received rituximab 375 mg/m 2 /wk for 4 weeks via intravenous infusion. Restaging studies were performed 1 and 2 months after treatment. An analysis of the duration of response was conducted in December 1998. RESULTS: Eleven patients were unassessable, including one who died of splenic rupture after the first infusion. The RR among the 120 assessable patients was 30% (36 of 120 patients). The RR by histology was as follows: MCL1, 38%; MCL2, 37%; IMC, 28%; and SLL, 14%. Ten patients, all with MCL, achieved CR. The median duration of response in MCL was 1.2 years. Immediate side effects were common and usually responded to adjustments in the infusion rate. There were 31 episodes of infection after treatment; most cases were mild. Cardiac arrhythmia and ophthalmologic side effects occurred in 10 and nine patients, respectively, including one case of severe loss of visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Single-agent rituximab has moderate activity in MCL and IMC but only limited activity in SLL. The duration of response in MCL was similar to that previously reported in follicular lymphoma. Its use in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy to increase the CR rate is warranted in MCL and IMC.

PURPOSE: To present the final analysis, with a median follow-up of 8 years, of the LNH87–2 randomized study, which compares consolidative sequential chemotherapy (ifosfamide plus etoposide, asparaginase, and cytarabine) with high-dose therapy (HDT) using cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide (CBV regimen) followed by stem-cell transplantation in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in first complete remission after induction, focusing on high/intermediate- and high-risk patients identified by the age-adjusted international prognostic index. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among the 916 eligible patients, 451 presented with two (n = 318) or three (n = 133) risk factors. After reaching complete remission to induction therapy, 236 of these higher risk patients were assessable for the consolidation phase, with 125 patients in the HDT arm and 111 in the sequential chemotherapy arm. RESULTS: Among these 451 higher risk patients, 277 (61%) achieved complete remission after induction treatment. In the population of 236 randomized patients, HDT was superior to sequential chemotherapy, with 8-year disease-free survival rates of 55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46% to 64%) and 39% (95% CI, 30% to 48%), respectively (P = .02; relative risk, 1.56). The 8-year survival rate was significantly superior in the HDT arm (64%; 95% CI, 55% to 73%) compared with the sequential chemotherapy arm (49%; 95% CI, 39% to 59%) (P = .04; relative risk, 1.51). CONCLUSION: On the basis of the final analysis of this prospectively treated series of patients, retrospectively analyzed on the basis of the International Prognostic Index, we hypothesize that HDT benefits patients at higher risk who achieve complete remission after induction treatment.

Abstract Recent evidence has shown that most nasal lymphomas (NL) are associated with a T-cell phenotype and are thus called nasal T-cell lymphomas (NTCL), but little information is available about the T-cell receptor (TCR) expression. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome has been recently reported in NTCL in Oriental populations in which NL and EBV-associated tumors are more common and in occasional Occidental cases. This prompted us to investigate lymphoma biopsies from 7 non- Oriental patients with NTCL for the expression of natural killer (NK) and T-cell antigens, including TCR proteins, for the presence of EBV- encoded latent membrane protein (LMP) using immunohistochemistry and for the presence of EBV DNA and Epstein-Barr early region (EBER) RNA using in situ hybridization (ISH). Six cases displayed a CD3-, TCR alpha beta-, TCR gamma delta-, CD2+, CD7+, CD5-, CD4-, CD8-, CD56+ phenotype, suggesting that these tumors may be peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) with extensive loss of T-cell antigens and expression of the NK-cell (CD56) antigen or, alternatively, NK-cell neoplasias. The remaining case was a gamma delta PTCL, as shown by the CD3+, TCR gamma delta+ phenotype and the biallelic gamma and delta TCR gene rearrangements. Using ISH, EBER RNA transcripts were detected in tumor cells in all cases and EBV DNA was shown in the 6 tested cases. In all cases, tumor cells expressed LMP. These findings support the concept that NTCL constitute a distinct group of lymphomas that, in addition to their peculiar clinical features, exhibit an unusual TCR “silent” CD56+ or TCR gamma delta+ phenotype and harbor the EBV. In view of the LMP transforming potential, these data suggest that EBV may play a role in the pathogenesis of NTCL.

Chemoradiotherapy is standard treatment for localized aggressive lymphoma. To determine the optimal therapy for nonelderly persons with low-risk localized lymphoma, we conducted a randomized trial comparing chemoradiotherapy with chemotherapy alone.Previously untreated patients less than 61 years old with localized stage I or II aggressive lymphoma and no adverse prognostic factors according to the International Prognostic Index were randomly assigned to three cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) plus involved-field radiotherapy (329 patients) or chemotherapy alone with dose-intensified doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone (ACVBP) plus sequential consolidation (318 patients).With a median follow-up of 7.7 years, event-free and overall survival rates were significantly higher in the group given chemotherapy alone than in the group given CHOP plus radiotherapy (P<0.001 and P=0.001, respectively). The five-year estimates of event-free survival were 82 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 78 to 87 percent) for patients receiving chemotherapy alone and 74 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 69 to 78 percent) for those receiving chemoradiotherapy. The respective five-year estimates of overall survival were 90 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 87 to 93 percent) and 81 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 77 to 86 percent). In a multivariate analysis, event-free and overall survival rates were affected by treatment group, independently of tumor stage and the presence or absence of bulky disease.In patients under 61 years of age, chemotherapy with three cycles of ACVBP followed by sequential consolidation is superior to three cycles of CHOP plus radiotherapy for the treatment of low-risk localized lymphoma.

PURPOSE To update the randomized study that compared consolidative sequential treatment (ifosfamide, etoposide, asporaginase, and cytarabine) versus the high-dose regimen of cyclophosphamide, carmustine, and etoposide (CBV) followed by autotransplantation in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in first complete remission and to focus on high-intermediate and high-risk patients identified by the international prognostic index. PATIENTS AND METHODS Nine hundred sixteen patients received induction treatment on the LNH84 protocol with open randomization for the anthracycline. In a subsequent randomization, 541 patients in complete remission were assigned to receive consolidation by either sequential chemotherapy (n = 273) or autotransplant (n = 268). Among the higher risk population (two or three risk factors), 236 patients in complete remission were assessable for the consolidation phase, with 111 in the sequential chemotherapy arm and 125 in the autotransplant arm. RESULTS Among 541 randomized patients, disease-free survival and survival did not differ significantly between the two consolidative treatment arms. In the higher risk population, CBV was superior to sequential chemotherapy, with 5-year disease-free survival rates of 59% (95% confidence interval, 49% to 69%) and 39% (95% confidence interval, 28% to 50%), respectively (P = .01, relative risk = 1.19). The 5-year survival rate was superior in the CBV group at 65% (95% confidence interval, 56% to 74%) compared with 52% in the sequential chemotherapy group (95% confidence interval, 42% to 62%) (P = .06, relative risk = 1.49). CONCLUSION This study shows a superior disease-free survival for higher risk patients in complete remission. Dose-intensive consolidation therapy should be considered for patients at higher risk who achieve complete remission after induction treatment.

Interferon alfa and cytotoxic drugs have synergistic effects in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 1986, we designed a clinical trial to evaluate the benefit of concomitant administration of recombinant interferon alfa with a regimen containing doxorubicin in patients with follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.The trial involved 242 patients with advanced low-grade follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma selected on the basis of clinical, radiographic, and biologic criteria. All patients were treated with a regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, teniposide, and prednisone (CHVP), given monthly for six cycles and then every two months for one year. After randomization, 123 patients also received interferon alfa-2b at a dosage of 5 million units three times weekly for 18 months. The remaining 119 patients received chemotherapy alone.As compared with the patients treated with CHVP only, the patients treated with CHVP plus interferon alfa had a higher overall rate of response (85 percent vs. 69 percent, P = 0.006), a longer median event-free survival (34 months vs. 19 months, P < 0.001), and a higher rate of survival at 3 years (86 percent vs. 69 percent, P = 0.02). Granulocyte toxicity was greater in the patients treated with CHVP plus interferon alfa than in those treated with CHVP alone. There were no treatment-related deaths. Interferon alfa had to be stopped because of toxic effects (fatigue and hepatitis) in 13 patients (11 percent).The addition of interferon alfa to a regimen containing doxorubicin increased the rate of response, event-free survival, and overall survival in patients with advanced follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, without serious toxicity, although some patients were unable to tolerate the side effects.

Purpose Chemoradiotherapy has been considered standard treatment for patients with limited-stage aggressive lymphoma on the basis of trials conducted before the introduction of the International Prognostic Index. To evaluate this approach in elderly patients with low-risk localized lymphoma, we conducted a trial comparing chemoradiotherapy with chemotherapy alone. Patients and Methods Previously untreated patients older than 60 years with localized stage I or II histologically aggressive lymphoma and no adverse prognostic factors of the International Prognostic Index were randomly assigned to receive either four cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) plus involved-field radiotherapy (299 patients) or chemotherapy alone with four cycles of CHOP (277 patients). Results With a median follow-up time of 7 years, event-free and overall survival did not differ between the two treatment groups (P = .6 and P = .5, respectively). The 5-year estimates of event-free survival were 61% for patients receiving chemotherapy alone and 64% for patients receiving CHOP plus radiotherapy; the 5-year estimates of overall survival were 72% and 68%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, overall survival was affected by stage II disease (P &lt; .001) and male sex (P = .03). Conclusion In this large prospective study, CHOP plus radiotherapy did not provide any advantage over CHOP alone for the treatment of low-risk localized aggressive lymphoma in elderly patients.

PURPOSE The treatment of low-grade B-cell mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma with prominent gastric expression is controversial. Total gastrectomy has been proposed, but is associated with significant morbidity. The aim of this monocentric study was to assess the efficacy of continuous oral chemotherapy with a single alkylating agent. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-four consecutive patients, 13 men and 11 women, were studied. Their mean age was 51 years (range, 22 to 79). Low-grade B-cell MALT lymphoma was diagnosed by histologic and immunohistologic examination of endoscopic biopsies. Seventeen patients had stage I disease and seven stage IV disease, with lung and gastric involvement. Two of these seven patients also had bone marrow involvement. The alkylating agent (cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil) was administered orally and daily for periods of 12 to 24 months. RESULTS The median follow-up time was 45 months (range, 14 months to 14 years). Complete remission was obtained in 18 patients (75%) after a median treatment duration of 12 months. Five patients relapsed; two of them were successfully re-treated, and one died of MALT lymphoma that had transformed into large-cell lymphoma. Chemotherapy was stopped after 24 months for six patients who only achieved a partial remission; two of them required further treatment for progressive disease (surgery for a small-bowel localization in one case and cyclophosphamide rechallenge in the other). Nine patients had neutropenia that required a reduced chemotherapy dosage. CONCLUSION In low-grade MALT lymphoma with prominent gastric expression, continuous monochemotherapy may constitute an efficient alternative to gastrectomy, regardless of disease stage.

PURPOSE: Randomized trial LNH93-3 was conducted on patients who had poor-prognosis aggressive lymphoma and were younger than 60 years with two to three factors of the age-adjusted International Prognostic Index to evaluate the benefit of early high-dose therapy (HDT) with autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized between doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone (ACVBP) chemotherapy followed by sequential consolidation and an experimental shortened treatment consisting of three cycles with escalated doses of cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone and collection of peripheral-blood stem cells. On day 60, HDT was administered with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan followed by ASCT. RESULTS: Eligible patients (n = 370) with aggressive lymphoma were analyzed. For ACVBP (181 patients) and HDT (189 patients), respective complete remission rates were 64% and 63%. With a median follow-up of 60 months, 5-year overall survival and event-free survival for ACVBP and HDT were 60% ± 8% and 46% ± 8% (P = .007) and 52 ± 8% and 39 ± 8% (P = .01), respectively. Survival was independently affected by age greater than 40 years (P = .0003), T-cell phenotype (P = .009), bone marrow involvement (P = .003), and HDT treatment group (P = .04). CONCLUSION: Early HDT with ASCT in high-risk patients was inferior to the ACVBP chemotherapy regimen. These results indicate that the received dose-intensity before HDT was too low when compared with ACVBP and HDT and was given too early.

Background: Incidence of central nervous system (CNS) recurrence in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who did not receive meningeal prophylaxis is about 5%.Controversy remains regarding risk factors associated with such an event preventing a rational approach of prophylactic strategies.Patients and methods: We analyzed a cohort of 974 patients with aggressive lymphoma in complete remission (CR).All the patients received a CNS prophylaxis consisting of intrathecal injections and intravenous high-dose methotrexate.The risk repartition on the basis of the international prognostic index (IPI) of these 974 CR-patients was low (L): 41%, lowintermediate (LI): 27%, high-intermediate (HI): 19%, high (H): 13%. Results:The incidence of isolated CNS relapse was 1.6%.In a first multivariate logistic regression analysis an increased LDH (P = 0.05, RR = 5) and the presence of more than one extranodal site (P = 0.05, RR = 3) were identified as independent risk factors for isolated CNS relapse.Another multivariate analysis incorporating IPI as a unique parameter showed that only IPI remained significantly associated with a higher risk of CNS relapse (L-LI: 0.6% vs. HI-H: 4.1%, P = 0.002; RR = 7).Conclusion: Prophylaxis notably reduces the risk of CNS recurrence in the higher risk patients.By contrast, we propose the deletion of prophylactic intrathecal injections in the lower risk patients.Key words: aggressive non-Hodgkin's

Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis overexpressed in various human cancers but undetectable in normal differentiated tissues. A potential expression and prognostic significance of survivin was studied in 222 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (centroblastic, 96%; immunoblastic, 4%). All patients were enrolled between 1987 and 1993 (median follow-up, 7 years) in the LNH87 protocol of the Groupe d'Etudes des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA) and treated either with the reference ACVBP arm (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone)[AU3A] (n = 79) or other experimental anthracycline-containing regimens (n = 143). The characteristics of these patients were median age of 56 years; serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) greater than 1N, 60%; stage III-IV, 55%; performance status, according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale, more than 1, 23%; extranodal sites more than 1, 29%; mass more than 10 cm, 44%; bone marrow involvement, 15%. Of the 222 patients studied, 134 (60%) revealed survivin expression in virtually all tumor cells by immunohistochemistry. The overall 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in patients with survivin expression than in those without (40% vs 54%, P =.02). Multivariate analysis incorporating prognostic factors from the International Prognostic Index (IPI) identified survivin expression as an independent predictive parameter on survival (P =.03, relative risk [RR] = 1.6) in addition to LDH (P =.02, RR = 1.6), stage (P =.03, RR = 1.7), and ECOG scale (P =.05, RR = 1.6). A second analysis incorporating IPI as a unique parameter demonstrated that survivin expression (P =.02, RR = 1.6) remained a prognostic factor for survival independently of IPI (P =.001, RR = 1.5). Survivin expression may be considered a new unfavorable prognostic factor of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. (Blood. 2000;96:1921-1925)

In some acute leukemics, blast cells may lack morphologic and cytochemical characteristics indicating their original cell line. Whether these cells are in fact undifferentiated or derived from early precursors of lymphocytes or of other cell lines remains open to question. Leukemias with megakaryoblast (MKB) predominance have been considered rare. In these cases, the recognition of the MKB has been based on the large size of the cells and on their morphologic characteristics. Until now however, the identification of early small MKBs has been uncertain when conventional staining and ultrastructural methods have been employed. It has previously been shown that platelet peroxidase (PPO), which is distinct from granulocytic peroxidases, can be employed as a marker of normal small MKB. A new, sensitive cytochemical method for the demonstration of PPO has been applied to the study of a case of acute leukemia with thrombopenia. The majority of marrow and circulating small blasts that exhibit an undifferentiated or lymphoid appearance upon light and electron microscopic examination have been shown to possess PPO. The morphology of PPO-positive blasts is quite variable. They show no granule or demarcation membrane production usually associated with the beginning of normal megakaryocytic maturation. The presence of PPO alone has permitted us to classify this case as a pure MKB leukemia.

Abstract Intensive therapy, mainly with purged autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT), has been proposed in recent years as consolidation treatment in young patients with follicular lymphoma. Reported experience with transplantation of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) is, so far, limited. The feasibility and the therapeutic efficacy of intensive therapy followed by unpurged autologous PBPC reinfusion were evaluated in 60 patients with poor-prognosis follicular lymphoma. Twelve patients were in first partial remission (PR), 34 were in second partial or complete remission (CR), and 14 were in subsequent progression. At the time of the procedure, 39 patients (65%) had persistent bone marrow involvement, 49 patients (82%) were in PR, and 16 patients had presented with a histologic transformation (HT). PBPC were collected after chemotherapy followed by granulocyte (G) colony-stimulating factor (CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF in 50 patients. Conditioning regimens included high-dose chemotherapy alone (14 patients); mainly the BCNU, etoposide, aracytine, melphalan [BEAM] regimen), or cyclophosphamide with or without etoposide plus total body irradiation (46 patients). The median time to reach a neutrophil count greater than 0.5 x 10(9)/L was 13 days. There were five treatment-related deaths, with four being associated with a delayed engraftment and all occurring in patients in third or subsequent progression. At a median follow-up of 21 months, 48 patients were still alive, 18 relapsed, and seven died of lymphomas progression. Estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) and failure-free survival (FFS) rates were 86% and 53%, respectively, without or plateau. Patients treated in PR1 or PR2/CR2 had a significantly longer rate of OS and FFS than those treated in subsequent progression (P = .002 and P = .001, respectively), whereas age, response to salvage treatment, presence or absence of residual bone marrow involvement, or conditioning regimen had no influence on outcome. Patients with HT tended to have a worse FFS rate (P = .04) without an OS difference. Along with an unusual rate of engraftment failure, the poor FFS observed in heavily pretreated patients suggests that intensive therapy should be performed early in the course of the disease. Given the high percentage of patients intensified in PR with residual bone marrow involvement, our results are comparable with those achieved with ABMT published to date. Prospective trials are warranted to compare this strategy with standard therapy in patients with relapsing or PR follicular lymphoma.

To evaluate the effects of chemotherapy dose intensity (DI) on outcome in patients with aggressive lymphoma, the received relative DI (received RDI) is usually calculated using Hryniuk's model. We applied this model to a selected patient subgroup included in the LNH87 protocol (LNH87-2 protocol), who had been treated with the ACVB induction regimen.Patients aged < 55 who had at least one of the following prognostic factors: performance status (PS) > or = 2, number of extranodal sites > or = 2, tumor burden > or = 10 cm, bone marrow or central nervous system involvement, and Burkitt's or lymphoblastic histologic subtype, were included in this study. Actual DI was calculated using the definition of DI as mg/m2/week previously described by Hryniuk.Eighty-seven of the 311 patients included in the study (28%) presented a RDI below 70% of the theoretical DI. We demonstrated a decreased response rate (65% vs. 79%, p = 0.01) and shorter overall 2-year survival (61% vs. 72%, p = 0.02) in patients receiving a DI < 70%. This difference was still significant when the multiparametric analysis was used (p = 0.004).Results obtained when this model was applied to aggressive lymphoma patients included in the LNH-87 protocol led to the demonstration of a strong relationship between received RDI and survival.

This chapter deals with ultrastructural and cytochemical studies of human normal hemic cells, excluding a detailed analysis of pathological maturation. However, two types of abnormalities involving specific organelles of maturing cells are described (mitochondria with iron accumulation in erythroblasts, and crystalline granules in some leukemic granulocytes). Most of the maturation steps of immunocytes take place outside the bone marrow, that is, in the thymus and in other lymphoid tissues, and very few data are available that can distinguish on an ultrastructural basis between marrow lymphocytes and others. Furthermore, there is evidence from cytogenetic studies that stem cells differentiating into lymphocytes differ from the so-called pluripotent cells which give rise to myeloid cell lines. Numerous studies have been developed for the detection of enzymatic activities in monocytes operating in the process of intracellular digestion that follows endocytosis. At the light microscope level many reactions are available, some of which may be used as specific markers for cell line. At the ultrastructural level, cytochemical studies have established that enzymatic activities are segregated in the endoplasmic reticulum and the golgi complex, and stored into granules. With available techniques, peroxidase and some hydrolases can be detected.

Epidemiologic studies show an association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Treatment and outcome of patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL) and HCV infection are still a matter of debate.We studied the HCV-positive patients with B-cell DLCL included in the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA) programs LNH 93 and LNH 98. They were compared with the other patients with DLCL included in these programs. HCV infection prevalence was 0.5% (26 of 5,586 patients).Histologic types of HCV-positive DLCL were more frequently transformed from low-grade lymphoma than DLCL in HCV-negative patients (32% v 6%, P = .02). This is also supported by more frequent spleen involvement in HCV-positive patients (46% v 17%, P < .001). HCV-positive patients had more frequently elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels than other patients (77% v 55%, P = .02). Outcome of HCV-positive patients was poorer for overall survival (P = .02) but not for event-free survival (P = .13). After matching on age and prognosis factors, at 2 years of follow-up, the overall survival was 56% (95% CI, 33% to 76%) among HCV-positive patients, versus 80% (70% to 89%), and the event-free survival was 53% (33% to 72%) versus 74% (64% to 84%). The short-term hepatic toxicity of chemotherapy was strongly increased among HCV-positive patients. After exclusion of the two subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, the overall proportion of subjects undergoing hepatic toxicity was 65% (15 of 23 patients).HCV-positive patients with DLCL differ from other patients both at presentation and during chemotherapy. Specific protocols evaluating antiviral therapy should be designed for these patients.

Eight patients with acute myelodysplasia and myelofibrosis are described. Four cases were secondary to long-term therapy with cytotoxic agents and four were idiopathic. All cases presented with an abrupt onset of the illness, absence of organomegaly and severe pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspirate yielded adequate material in four cases and showed myelodysplasic features. Study of histological sections indicated that the bone marrow was cellular in every case, including numerous dystrophic megakaryocytes, erythroblasts, immature cells of the granulocytic series and blast cells which were difficult to identify. The reticulin network was always increased. In each case the disease was rapidly fatal. No improvement was noted with chemotherapy. In three cases an overt leukaemia developed with marked pleomorphism of blast cells. The nosology of this syndrome is discussed.

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2><h3>Background</h3> High-dose therapy (HDT) with stem-cell support is the reference treatment for relapsed lymphoma, but is not appropriate for all patients. Conventional salvage chemotherapies have been used with limited efficacy and significant toxicity. Rituximab, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin are active as single agents in relapsed or refractory lymphoma, and have demonstrated synergistic effects <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. <h3>Patients and methods</h3> Forty-six patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma received up to eight cycles of R-GemOx (rituximab 375 mg/m² on day 1, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m² on day 2). The majority (72%) had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. <h3>Results</h3> After four cycles of R-GemOx, the overall response rate was 83% [50% complete response (CR)/unconfirmed CR (CRu)]. High CR/CRu rates were observed in all histological subtypes. In patients who had previously received rituximab, the CR/CRu rate after eight cycles was 65%. The 2-year event-free and overall survival rates (median follow-up of 28 months) were 43% and 66%, respectively. Among responders, the probability of being disease free for 2 years was 62%. Treatment was generally well tolerated. <h3>Conclusion</h3> R-GemOx shows promising activity with acceptable toxicity in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma who are not eligible for HDT.

Fifty-seven patients in initial phase of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) were treated in the same department with heparin infusion, platelet transfusions, and two related induction regimens both including cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin. Clinical and biological findings at presentation were studied. The complete remission (CR) rate was 53%. Twenty-seven patients (47%) died during the initial course of the disease, either before day 5 (early death [ED], n = 7) or after day 5 (death in aplasia [DA], n = 20). Most ED was due to intracerebral hemorrhage (6/7), especially when large hemorrhages had been seen on fundus oculi examination. Most DA was due to multivisceral failure (9/20). No correlation was found between initial disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and death. However, the worsening of coagulation parameters during induction therapy, with or without initial DIC, significantly increased the occurrence of renal and respiratory failure which were particularly frequent during the first month. The median duration of survival was short (3.5 months) and the median duration of CR (11 months) was similar to that of other acute myeloid leukemias treated with the same regimens. The possible causes of the high mortality observed during the initial courses of APL and the possible benefit of a more graduate induction chemotherapy are discussed.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LG) and polymorphic reticulosis (PR), originally described as distinct entities, now are considered as a single disease process. Common histopathologic features include necrosis, vasculitis, and a granulomatous infiltrate. Such features have led to consider lymphomatoid granulomatosis as a systemic vasculitis; alternatively the possible emergence of an overt lymphoma has suggested that it could be a lymphoproliferative process. To investigate this later hypothesis, the authors analyzed the cellular infiltrate of tissue specimens from two patients with histologic features of LG. The analysis included the study of T-cell antigen expression and DNA rearrangement of the beta T-cell receptor gene. In one patient, the T-cell phenotype of infiltrating cells was abnormal because of antigen loss. In both patients, the cells contained rearranged DNA indicating the presence of a clonal T-cell proliferation. It is concluded that some cases of LG and PR, if not all, are related to a neoplastic T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are rare and have a dismal prognosis. The most frequent subtype is PTCL, unspecified. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been detected in around 40% of cases, but its prognostic significance is not fully established. Lymph node samples from 110 patients with PTCL, unspecified included in LNH87 and LNH93 trials were available. EBV status was studied by EBV-encoded small RNA in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH). EBER-ISH showed positive cells in 45 (41%) of 110 patients. Pretreatment characteristics were comparable between positive and negative cases, except for male sex (80% versus 60%, respectively, P = .02). Only 50% of patients achieved complete remission with a 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) of 21% and 30%, respectively. EBER-ISH positivity was the sole factor linked with worse EFS, with a 5-year probability of 11% for positive patients. In univariate analysis, factors affecting OS were EBER-ISH positivity, high LDH level, and age older than 60 years. In multivariate analysis, EBER-ISH was associated with a worse OS in the elderly population. Time-dependent analysis showed that the negative impact of EBV was essentially seen in the first 2 years following diagnosis. These results warrant further studies regarding pathogenesis and specific treatment approaches for EBV-associated PTCL patients.

To determine the efficacy of fat-suppressed sequences and contrast-enhanced MR imaging for the detection of focal spinal lesions caused by multiple myeloma, we obtained MR images in 32 patients with newly diagnosed myeloma who had back pain. All patients had biopsy-proved myeloma and had MR imaging at the painful level of the spine. Spin-echo T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and short TI inversion-recovery (STIR) images; dynamic ultrafast low-angle shot (turbo-FLASH) images after IV injection of a bolus of paramagnetic contrast material; and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images were obtained. We qualitatively compared the signal intensities and contrast enhancement of focal lesions with those of the surrounding vertebral bodies. Multiple lesions were detected in all but two of the 32 patients. On T2-weighted and STIR images, all lesions had homogeneously high signal intensity. On T1-weighted images, the lesions were visible as hypointense areas compared with surrounding bone in all except four patients, in whom the lesions were isointense or hyperintense. All tumor nodules enhanced on turbo-FLASH images obtained in the arterial phase. No additional lesions were seen on STIR or contrast-enhanced images. MR findings resulted in a change in the staging of the disease in one patient and led to prompt treatment in five patients with epidural involvement. MR imaging appears to be helpful in detecting spinal involvement in patients with multiple myeloma. The diagnosis of spinal lesions is best achieved by using either fat-suppressed or T2-weighted images. Although myeloma lesions enhanced in all patients, contrast material appears to be of no value for the detection of additional lesions.

The origin of cells in the blast crisis of some cases of chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) remains controversial. Difficulties arise from the lack of cytochemical characteristics of differentiation. This report concerns the nature of cells in the blast crisis of a case of CGL in which blast cells exhibited an undifferentiated or lymphoid appearance by light and electron microscopy. The majority (90%) of such cells contained a peroxidase in the endoplasmic reticulum distinct from myeloperoxidase. In addition, some micromegakaryocytes could be recognized among the peroxidase reactive cells, by the presence of typical granules and demarcation membranes. Since this peroxidase exhibited identical characteristics to that of normal megakaryocytic precursors, these blast cells could be identified as megakaryoblasts. These data emphasize the possible megakaryoblastic nature of cells occurring in other cases of CGL blast crisis.

During the last two decades, the use of chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer and diverse medical conditions has grown steadily. The introduction into the pharmacologic armamentarium of a number of drugs whose pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and mode of action are in most cases poorly understood has not however been without causing problems to clinicians. Notably, the occurrence of clinical or biologic liver disturbances in patients treated with antineoplastic agents has become a challenging diagnosis and management problem. The purpose of this review is to assess what is currently known of the interrelation between some of the more commonly used or a few of the more recently acquired chemotherapeutic drugs and the liver. In the initial part of this work, the metabolic implication of the liver and, when reported, the liver toxicity of each of the drugs studied will be developed. Because experimental findings cannot always safely be extrapolated to humans, most of the presented data will be those obtained in human studies. The second part will propose a classification of the discussed agents in reference to hepatic involvement. Some practical attitudes will be suggested, and areas where our knowledge needs broadening will be pointed out.

Gene expression profiles have been associated with clinical outcome in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. Using Affymetrix HU133A microarrays, we analyzed the lymphoma transcriptional profile of 30 patients treated with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) and 23 patients treated with rituximab (R)-CHOP in the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte clinical centers. We used this data set to select transcripts showing an association with progression-free survival in all patients or showing a differential effect in the two treatment groups. We performed real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR in the 23 R-CHOP samples of the screening set and an additional 44 R-CHOP samples set to evaluate the prognostic significance of these transcripts. In these 67 patients, the level of expression of 16 genes and the cell-of-origin classification were significantly associated with overall survival, independently of the International Prognostic Index. A multivariate model comprising four genes of the cell-of-origin signature (LMO2, MME, LPP and FOXP1) and two genes related to immune response, identified for their differential effects in R-CHOP patients (APOBEC3G and RAB33A), demonstrated a high predictive efficiency in this set of patients, suggesting that both features affect outcome in DLBCL patients receiving immunochemotherapy.

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Background</h3> Protein kinase C beta (PKCβ), a pivotal enzyme in B-cell signaling and survival, is overexpressed in most cases of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Activation of PI3K/AKT pathway is involved in pathogenesis of MCL. Enzastaurin, an oral serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, suppresses signaling through PKCβ/PI3K/AKT pathways, induces apoptosis, reduces proliferation, and suppresses tumor-induced angiogenesis. <h3>Patients and methods</h3> Patients with relapsed/refractory MCL, and no more than four regimens of prior therapy, received 500 mg enzastaurin, orally, once daily. <h3>Results</h3> Sixty patients, median age 66 years (range 45–85), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of zero to two (48% had baseline International Prognostic Index of 3–5), were enrolled. Most patients had prior CHOP-like chemotherapy and/or rituximab (median=2 regimens). No drug-related deaths occurred. There was one case each of grade 3 anemia, diarrhea, dyspnea, vomiting, hypotension, and syncope. Fatigue was the most common toxicity. Although no objective tumor responses occurred, 22 patients (37%, 95% CI 25% to 49%) were free from progression (FFP) for ≥3 cycles (one cycle=28 days); 6 of 22 were FFP for >6 months. Two patients remain on treatment and FFP at >23 months. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Freedom from progression for >6 months in six patients and a favorable toxicity profile with minimal hematological toxicity indicate that enzastaurin warrants evaluation as maintenance therapy and combination chemotherapy in MCL.

p53 alterations have been associated with a poor prognosis in aggressive B-cell lymphoma. We investigated the clinical relevance of p53 status in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), focusing on patients who belong to lower risk groups of the international prognostic index and were uniformly treated. We aimed to determine whether this biological marker could identify among such patients those with a pejorative outcome who could benefit from a distinct therapeutic approach.We studied 69 patients presenting with no, one (low-risk, n = 40) or two (low-intermediate risk, n = 29) risk factors treated with an anthracyclin-containing induction regimen. p53 exons 5-8 mutations were screened for using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and confirmed by direct sequencing. Immunohistochemical detection of p53 protein and of its downstream target p21 were also evaluated in 60 of 69 cases.p53 mutations were detected in 16 of 69 (23%) lymphoma samples. The presence of a p53 gene mutation affected survival (P = 0.01), with a 6-year survival rate estimated to be 44% in mutated patients, compared with 79% in non-mutated ones. Using a stepwise Cox model, p53 mutation constituted the only parameter affecting survival (relative risk = 2.7, P = 0.03). A p53+/p21- immunohistochemical pattern (n = 15), suggestive of a disrupted p53 function, strongly correlated with p53 gene status and was associated with a lower 6-year survival rate when compared with a p53(-) or p53+/p21+ phenotype (47% versus 74%, P = 0.05).p53 alterations constitute a pejorative biological indicator able to discriminate among clinically defined lower risk patients with DLBCL.

The purpose of this study was to, assess the efficacy of glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (lenograstim) in the prevention of neutropenia and infection in patients receiving dose-intensive chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A second objective was to determine clinical predicators of delay to cytotoxic chemotherapy administration. One hundred-sixty two patients with intermediate- or high-grade NHL and at least one poor prognostic factor received a total of 4 cycles of the LNH-84-regimen every 2 weeks, with an open randomization to treatment with anthracyclines. Patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous lenograstim 5 micrograms/kg/day (n = 82) or placebo (n = 80) from day 6 to day 13 of each cycle. The incidence of severe neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 0.5 x 10(9)/L) was reduced in the lenograstim group compared with placebo (52% vs 75%). A significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the median duration of ANC < 0.5 x 10(9)/L was also observed in patients treated with lenograstim during each cycle of chemotherapy (0-1 day vs 2-4 days in placebo recipients). Fever occurred in 66 patients in each treatment group. Thirty-four percent of placebo recipients had documented infections during ANC < 1.0 x 10(9)/L compared with 18.5% of lenograstim-treated patients (p < 0.05). Infections of > or = 2 severity were significantly less frequent (p = 0.001) among lenograstim recipients compared with placebo (25 vs 49). The most common adverse events among lenograstim recipients were headache, mild bone pain and injection site reactions. Although lenograstim significantly increased (p = 0.0001) relative dose intensity compared with placebo (93% vs 80%), no difference in CR rate (67% vs 71%) or 3-year survival (63% vs 55%) was observed. The results of this study suggest that patients treated with a chemotherapy regimen that induces severe neutropenia can benefit from treatment with lenograstim. Furthermore, lenograstim permits treatment to be delivered at full dose intensity at 2 week intervals, even in patients with bone marrow involvement, and may permit further dose escalation of the chemotherapeutic regimen used.

MR appearance of multiple myeloma of the spine before and after treatment.A Rahmouni, M Divine, D Mathieu, M Golli, C Haioun, T Dao, M C Anglade, F Reyes and N VasileAudio Available | Share

Surface immunoglobulins (sIg) were detected on human lymphocytes by immunoelectron microscopy with peroxidase-conjugated antibodies. Blood, marrow, and thymus cells from normal individuals and patients with lymphoproliferative disorders were examined. Samples were fixed before exposure to specific reagents. Normal lymphocyts with detectable sIg, i.e. B lymphocytes, were characterized by a villous surface; nonlabeled blood lymphocytes and thymocytes were smooth cells. Intermediate cells were also found which in sections appeared moderately villous and labeled, thus identified as B lymphocytes. Further evidence for a relationship between villous surface and sIg was given by the finding of a few lymphocytes with polar concentration of labeled microvilli. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, most cells exhibited a villous surface with parallel variations of the number of microvilli and of anti-immunoglobulin-binding capacity. However, some labeled smooth blastic cells were also observed. On the other hand, abnormal lymphocytes from Sézary's syndrome which could exhibit segments of villous membrane had no detectable sIg. This study confirms that in most cases human B lymphocytes have a characteristic surface appearance and that the detection of sIg in normal lymphocytes correlates with the presence of microvilli.

In a child with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia--severe thrombocytopenia and myelofibrosis, EM studies on bone marrow showed a strict topographic relationship between the presence of clusters of abnormal megakaryocytes and the increased number of fibroblasts and extracellular fibers. Megakaryocytes and platelets lacked alpha-granules while the plasma thromboglobulin level was three times the normal level. This suggested that the alpha-granular proteins were synthesized but not retained in alpha-granules. If this occurs, the increased marrow levels of platelet-derived growth factor and factor 4 would favor the proliferation of fibroblasts and the synthesis of collagen, and thereby promote myelofibrosis. After therapy-induced remission, the number of marrow megakaryocytes decreased, the alpha-granules were normally produced, the plasma beta-thromboglobulin level was normal and the myelofibrosis disappeared. These observations suggest that during acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, an acquired gray-platelet syndrome occurs and that the local excretion of alpha-granule proteins triggers the myelofibrosis.

Abstract Nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma is a rare disease entity with a poor outcome. Expression of antiapoptotic proteins has not been extensively investigated in this entity. Forty-eight patients with nasal T/NK-cell lymphoma who received first-line polychemotherapy (n = 44) or chemoradiotherapy (n = 4) were analyzed for expression of active caspase-3 (aC3), granzyme B protease inhibitor 9 (PI9), and Bcl-2 proteins. Lymphomas were CD3+/CD5−/granzyme B+ and EBV-associated. Median age was 46 years. Stage I/II disease was present in 75% of the cases and an International Prognostic Index (IPI) score less than 1 in 65%. With a median follow-up of 6.3 years, 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 39% and 49%, respectively. Apoptotic index was scored as high in 32% of cases and PI9 expression as positive in 68%, whereas 35% disclosed a high number of aC3+ tumor cells. Univariate analysis showed that absence of PI9 and low apoptotic index were associated with poor outcome, but not aC3 expression nor IPI score. By multivariate analysis, both parameters affected independently EFS (P = .02 and .08, respectively) and OS (P = .009 and .04). In view of its constitutive expression by normal NK cells, it is suggested that loss of PI9 expression in tumor cells may reflect some mechanism associated with progression.

Data are still conflicting on the indication of front-line autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) as consolidation for aggressive lymphoma. To assess the therapeutic effect of ASCT among different aggressive lymphoma subtypes, we conducted a matched-control analysis by pooling the data from two Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA) trials.Between October 1987 and September 1998, 330 patients received ASCT after achieving complete remission with the ACBVP induction regimen. The histological slides showed: B aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) in 249 patients (75%), T-NHL in 52 patients (15%) (including 23 T anaplastic) and non-classified NHL in 29 patients. The age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI) was 2 or 3 in 66%. Patients were matched with controls from the same GELA database but treated with chemotherapy only.ASCT did not benefit non-anaplastic T-NHL patients [5-year overall survival (OS) 44% (chemotherapy) versus 49% (ASCT), P=0.87; disease-free survival (DFS) 38% versus 45%, P=0.89] in comparison with B-NHL [5-year OS 77% (chemotherapy) versus 79% (ASCT), P=0.64; DFS 67% versus 72%, P=0.13]. However, for B-NHL patients with aaIPI score 2 or 3, the benefit of ASCT was significant.This cohort study confirms the high efficacy of front-line ASCT in responding aggressive B-NHL patients with adverse prognostic factors.

To the Editor: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been shown to be the main etiologic agent of type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC),[1][1] [2][2] a disease associated with an underlying B-cell clonal proliferation, predisposing to B-cell malignancy, in 2% to 11% of the cases.[3][3] Italian studies have

A retrospective analysis was performed to delineate the factors associated with response, and to determine the duration of response, in 87 patients with CD20-positive mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL) treated with Rituximab (chimeric monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody) in two prior studies.Patients with newly-diagnosed MCL (MCL1, n = 37), and previously-treated MCL (MCL2, n = 50), received single-agent Rituximab, in the context of two multicentre clinical studies using different schedules and doses, conducted in 1996 and 1997. A follow-up analysis was performed at the end of 1998, including all 81 patients who completed therapy. Statistical modeling of factors associated with response was performed using ordered logistic regression. The duration of complete (CR) and partial response (PR), and the time to disease progression (TTP), were also derived.The overall response rate (RR) was 34% (30 of 87) (81 evaluable patients, RR 37%; CR 14%), and was equivalent for MCL1 and MCL2. On univariate analysis, elevated LDH (P = 0.004); prior therapy with alkylating agents (P = 0.01) or fludarabine phosphate (P = 0.04); WHO performance status = 2 (P = 0.02); MCL2 refractory to last prior therapy (P = 0.04); and splenomegaly (P = 0.04), each at the time of treatment with Rituximab, were significantly associated with a lower RR. On multivariate analysis, only LDH (P = 0.007) and prior alkylating agents (P = 0.03) retained statistical significance. At a median follow-up of 1.4 years, the median TTP was 7 months. The median duration of response was one year, and was significantly longer for patients achieving CR vs. PR (P = 0.04).Rituximab is active in MCL, and can induce complete responses in a minority of patients. Elevated LDH at the time of therapy, and prior therapy with alkylating agents, are associated with a significantly lower RR. The duration of response of one year is similar to that previously reported in follicular lymphoma.

Purpose Improved survival has been observed in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients with adverse prognostic factors when autotransplantation (ASCT) was performed after complete remission. However, there is no agreement on the prognostic factors for patients treated with ASCT. We aimed to estimate the prognostic effect of clinical and biologic variables on relapse and survival rates by pooling the data from two trials. Patients and Methods Of the patients treated in the LNH87 and LNH93 trials, 330 under age 60 years achieved complete remission after high-dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, and received consolidative ASCT; 16% of patients had T-cell NHL. The International Prognostic Index (IPI) score was 0 for 11%, 1 for 23%, 2 for 51%, and 3 for 15%. Univariate and Cox multivariate survival analyses were retrospectively performed on this population. Results Overall survival was 75 ± 5% at 5 years and disease-free survival (DFS) 67 ± 5%. For T-cell NHL, these scores were 54% and 44%, respectively. The IPI score had no prognostic value and only the following parameters adversely affected overall survival and DFS (P &lt; .05): marrow involvement; more than one extranodal site; histology (nonanaplastic T-cell v others); and type of anthracycline (mitoxantrone v doxorubicin, for DFS only). Conclusion These results suggest that ASCT can prevent relapse in patients with adverse IPI factors. However, patients presenting with a nonanaplastic T-cell phenotype, more than one extranodal site, or marrow involvement still have a higher risk of relapse. These factors should be taken into account when designing post-ASCT maintenance studies.

Fifty-seven cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma were studied for cell expression of the T-cell receptor (TCR) chains, using monoclonal antibodies specific for the beta chain (beta F1) of the alpha/beta TCR, and for the delta chain (anti-TCR delta-1) of the gamma/delta TCR. Three different patterns were demonstrated: in 39 cases (69%), the phenotype (CD3+beta F1+TCR delta-1-) was that of most normal T cells. A second pattern was found on six cases (10%), which were of CD3+beta F1-TCR delta-1+ phenotype, and in which DNA analysis showed a clonal rearrangement of the delta locus in the five cases studied. It is suggested that these cases are the neoplastic counterpart of the small subpopulation of normal T cells that express gamma delta receptor. It is of considerable interest that these gamma delta lymphomas had unusual clinicopathologic presentations, as one case corresponded to a lethal midline granuloma and the five others to hepatosplenic lymphomas with a sinusal/sinusoidal infiltration in spleen, marrow, and liver. The fact that the distribution of the neoplastic gamma delta cells in the splenic red pulp resembles that of normal gamma delta cells reinforces the concept of a preferential homing of gamma delta T cells to this tissue. A third pattern (CD3 +/- beta F1-TCR delta-1-) was seen in 12 cases (21%), in which, by contrast to normal post-thymic T cells, no evidence of either alpha beta or gamma delta T cell receptor was found.

The histologic and immunohistochemical findings in bone marrow (BM) biopsies from 38 patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) are reported. Routine light microscopy showed that BM involvement was unequivocal in 12 cases and question-able in 14 cases. There was no histologic evidence of lymphoma in the remaining 12 cases. Immunohistochemistry performed on BM frozen sections demonstrated the T-cell origin of the infiltrating lymphoid cells in 24 of the 26 patients with unequivocal or questionable involvement. The malignant nature of these cells was suggested by demonstration of an aberrant T-cell phenotype identical to that observed in the other sites of involvement. In addition, in four of the 12 cases with apparently normal BM at routine light microscopy, immunohistochemistry revealed a minimal but phenotypically abnormal T-cell population, suggesting mild infiltration by lymphoma. These combined histologic and immunohistochemical data documented a high incidence (73%) of BM involvement by PTCL. In addition, a very peculiar sinusal pattern of BM involvement was found in five patients who presented an unusual type of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma expressing the γδ T-cell receptor. The present study demonstrates the high incidence of BM involvement by PTCL and emphasizes the value of frozen section immunohistochemistry to establish this diagnosis, especially when routine light microscopy findings are questionable.

T-cell lymphomas expressing the γδ T-cell receptor (TCR) are uncommon, although their frequency may be underestimated. They show a broad clinicopathological spectrum. Besides precursor T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, various post-thymic γδ T-cell neoplasms have been recognized. Among these, hepatosplenic γδ T-cell lymphoma constitutes the prototype of T-cell lymphomas expressing the γδ TCR and was listed as a provisional entity in the Revised European-American Lymphoma (REAL) classification. The recognition of this lymphoma subtype was further supported by the demonstration that the neoplasm results from a proliferation of nonactivated cytotoxic T cells and is associated with a recurrent cytogenetic abnormality, the isochromosome 7q. More recently, a few cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma with similar clinicopathologic features and αβ phenotype have been described that are thought to belong to the same entity, and the term “hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma” is preferred in the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Most nonhepatosplenic γδ T-cell lymphomas occur in skin or in mucosal sites, a location that parallels that of normal γδ T cells. In contrast to hepatosplenic γδ T-cell lymphomas, they show an important clinical and morphological heterogeneity, have an activated cytotoxic phenotype, and are not believed to constitute a single disease entity.

Cutaneous lymphomas other than mycosis fungoides (MF) represent a rare and heterogeneous group of lymphomas. Their clinical behavior remains largely unknown. In this study, the clinical and immunohistologic characteristics and follow-up data of 52 well-documented cases of cutaneous lymphomas other than MF, presenting with initial cutaneous lesions, were reviewed. Twenty-seven patients presented with skin disease alone (stage IE), and 25 patients had concurrent cutaneous and extracutaneous disease (stage IV). The tumors were grouped into high-grade lymphomas (HGLs; 21%), intermediate-grade lymphomas (IGLs; 58%), and low-grade lymphomas (LGLs; 21%). A B-cell phenotype was most often expressed by cutaneous lymphomas (73%), particularly by stage IE lymphomas (85%). Among 13 cases of T-cell lymphomas, loss of one of the pan-T-cell antigens was detected in all cases but one. The clinical course of cutaneous lymphoma was closely dependent on stage and histologic subtype but not on T-cell or B-cell phenotype. Of 20 patients with stage IV HGL or IGL, 13 were treated by polychemotherapy with curative potential. Their median survival was 37 months. Fourteen patients with stage IE HGL or IGL were treated by radiotherapy alone. Nine patients (69%) relapsed within 2 years posttreatment. Seven of them relapsed in the skin outside the initial site involved, suggesting that radiotherapy alone is not an adequate treatment for these patients. Preliminary results concerning seven other patients with stage IE IGL or HGL treated by an initial third-generation polychemotherapy regimen are presented.

Antisera against purified acetylcholine receptors from the electric tissues of Torpedo californica and of Electrophorus electricus were raised in rabbits. The antisera contain antibodies which bind to both autologous and heterologous receptors in solution as shown by an immunoprecipitation assay. Antibodies in both types of antisera bind specifically to the postjunctional membrane on the innervated surface of the intact electroplax from Electrophorus electric tissue as demonstrated by an indirect immunohistochemical procedure using horseradish peroxidase conjugated to anti-rabbit IgG. Only anti-Electrophorus receptor antisera, however, cause inhibition of the receptor-mediated depolarization of the intact Electrophorus electroplax. The lack of inhibition by anti-Torpedo receptor antibodies, which do bind, suggests that the receptor does not undergo extensive movement during activity. The binding of anti-Torpedo antibodies to receptor-rich vesicles prepared by subcellular fractionation of Torpedo electric tissue was demonstrated by both direct and indirect immunohistochemical methods using ferritin conjugates. These vesicles can be conveniently collected and prepared for electron microscopy on Millipore filters, a procedure requiring only 25 micrograms of membrane protein per filter. In addition, it was possible to visualize the binding of anti-Torpedo receptor antibodies directly, without ferritin. These anti-Torpedo receptor antibodies, however, do not inhibit the binding of acetylcholine or of alpha-neurotoxin to receptor in Torpedo microsacs but do inhibit binding of alpha-neurotoxin to Torpedo receptor in Triton X-100 solution. It is likely that the principal antigenic determinants on receptor are at sites other than the acetylcholine-binding sites and that inhibition of receptor function, when it occurs, may be due to a stabilization by antibody binding of an inactive conformational state.

Abstract The nature of cells present in the blood, marrow, and spleen of patients with hairy cell leukemia is largely debated. These cells have been tentatively categorized on the basis of either monocytic or lymphocytic markers, and the accumulating data points to the fact that they share some characteristics of both cell types. Although hairy cells are known to lack myeloperoxidase-positive granules, present in normal human monocytes, we investigated the possible presence of other peroxidase activities differing from the granule-bound myeloperoxidase. The study was carried out with several methods based on the incubation of fixed and unfixed cells in the presence of diaminobenzidine and hydrogen peroxide. A peroxidase activity was found in hairy cells, located always in the endoplasmic reticulum but not in the Golgi apparatus or in any granule. By its cytochemical characteristics it appears to be closely related to that of tissue macrophages, activated blood monocytes, and other nonlymphocytic hematopoietic cells. This peroxidase is not found in lymphocytes with B or T phenotypes.

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2><h3>Background</h3> Rituximab induces clinical response in advanced B-cell lymphoma and is efficient in removing circulating B-cell from peripheral blood. We therefore postulated that rituximab might be a useful <i>in vivo</i> purging agent before high-dose therapy in this setting. <h3>Patients and methods</h3> Fourteen patients with relapsed follicular, marginal zone and mantle cell lymphomas (11, two and one cases, respectively) and a PCR-detectable molecular marker were treated first with rituximab, then a mobilization chemotherapeutic regimen, followed by high-dose therapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. PCR analyses were performed in peripheral blood before rituximab and during follow-up, and in harvest. <h3>Results</h3> Harvests were free of PCR-detectable molecular marker in nine of the 11 studied cases (82%). After high-dose therapy, clinical complete remission was obtained in 13 (93%) patients and molecular remission in 11 (79%). With a median follow-up of 3 years, the 14 transplanted patients were alive, 11 of them remaining in clinical complete remission and eight in molecular remission at last follow-up. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Rituximab treatment followed by high dose therapy appears to be effective in achieving complete clinical and molecular response. <i>In vivo</i> harvest purging is predictive of prolonged clinical and molecular remission.

A retrospective study of the clinical and endoscopic features of low grade gastric lymphomas of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in 16 patients together with treatment and outcome was undertaken. Immunohistochemical studies of fresh tissue easily distinguished MALT lymphoma from benign reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (pseudolymphoma) and showed that tumour cells had the characteristic phenotype indicative of their origin from MALT. Persistent epigastric pain was the main presenting complaint, and was often associated with acute bleeding, anaemia, or weight loss. Eight patients had a past history of recurrent peptic ulcers or gastritis. The endoscopic appearance suggested malignancy in only half the cases and was compatible with gastritis or a benign peptic ulcer in the remainder. There was extragastric involvement of other mucosal sites in eight patients (mainly the lung, but also the parotid gland and small bowel), but rarely was bone marrow and never the spleen or peripheral lymph nodes affected. Conservative treatment with long term cyclophosphamide was effective in both stage I and stage IV disease, and all the patients are alive after a median follow up of 4.5 years. These findings confirm that low grade gastric MALT lymphomas are usually indolent tumours with non-specific endoscopic aspects and show that dissemination to other mucosal sites was more frequent than previously reported. Monochemotherapy could be an effective alternative treatment to surgery.

Human gammadelta T lymphocytes represent a minor subset of T cells in the peripheral blood, which exhibit a limited diversity and a tissue-restricted repertoire in contrast to their broad specificity. Most postthymic neoplasms that arise from this T-cell subpopulation belong to the hepatosplenic gammadelta lymphoma entity. Only a few cases of nonhepatosplenic gammadelta lymphomas have been described in detail previously. This study presents the clinicopathologic features of 11 consecutive cases of nonhepatosplenic gammadelta lymphoma. All were characterized by mucosal or skin initial involvement: nasal cavity (n = 3), gastrointestinal tract (n = 3), skin (n = 3), lung (n = 1), larynx (n = 1). Most patients presented with B symptoms (eight of 11), without peripheral lymphadenopathy and bone marrow involvement. A past history of chronic antigen exposure was noted in six cases, and four patients had features of immune deficiency. On histology, they were classified as pleomorphic tumors. Features of epitheliotropism and angiocentrism was observed in most cases. Tumor cells had a CD2+, CD3+, T-cell receptor (TCR)delta-1+), betaF1- phenotype. They were CD5- (9 of 10) and CD4-/CD8- (9 of 10) or CD8+ (1 of 10). A clonal gamma-chain gene rearrangement was detected in all tested cases (9/9). All cases had an activated cytotoxic T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA-1)+, Granzyme B+ phenotype. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) sequences were detected in six cases by in situ hybridization (ISH). Despite an aggressive clinical course, complete remission was obtained in three patients, and one of the latter required a peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation. Nonhepatosplenic gammadelta peripheral T-cell lymphoma can be regarded as a model of activated cytotoxic lymphoma, occurring in mucosae or skin. These appear to be derived from the subpopulation of tissue-restricted gammadelta lymphocytes, which are involved in the host epithelial surface surveillance. The role of chronic antigen exposure in the pathogenesis of these rare lymphomas can be suggested, in view of the past history observed in at least some patients.

Recombinative events of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) delta-chain gene were studied in 37 cases of peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) and related to their clinical presentation and the expression of the alpha beta or gamma delta heterodimers as determined by immunostaining of frozen tissue samples. There were 22 cases of alpha beta, 5 cases of gamma delta, and 10 cases of silent TCR expressing neither the alpha beta nor gamma delta TCR. 5 different probes were used to examine the delta locus. The 22 cases of alpha beta PTCL displayed biallelic and monoallelic deletions; a monoallelic V delta 1 J delta 1 rearrangement was observed in 1 case and a monoallelic germ line configuration in 7 cases. The 5 cases of gamma delta PTCL displayed biallelic rearrangements: the productive rearrangements could be ascribed to V delta 1J delta 1 joining in 3 cases and VJ delta 1 joining in 2 cases according to the combined pattern of DNA hybridization with the appropriate probes and of cell reactivity with the TCR delta-1, delta TCS-1, and anti-V delta 2 monoclonal antibodies. In the VJ delta 1 joining, the rearranged V segments were located between V delta 1 and V delta 2. Interestingly, in the third group of 10 cases of silent PTCL, 5 cases were found to have a TCR gene configuration identical to that in the TCR alpha beta PTCL, as demonstrated by biallelic delta gene deletion. These 5 cases were CD3 positive. The 5 remaining cases showed a monoallelic delta gene rearrangement with a monoallelic germ line configuration in 4 and a monoallelic deletion in 1. Four of these cases were CD3 negative, which was consistent with an immature genotype the TCR commitent of which could not be ascertained. Finally, TCR gamma delta PTCL consisted of a distinct clinical morphological and molecular entity whereas TCR alpha beta and silent PTCL had a similar presentation.

Pathological lesions of the liver were studied in 14 cases of hairy cell leukemia, a rare hematologic neoplasm involving numerous organs. Tumor infiltration of hepatic parenchyma was observed in all cases. Tumor cells were easily recognized by their cytological features, namely their "halo" appearance consisting of a clear rim of abundant cytoplasm surrounding uniform round or slightly indented nuclei. Portal infiltration was observed in all cases, associated with sinusoidal infiltration in 12 cases. A peculiar change of the sinusoids, i.e., the angiomatous lesions, was noted in 9 of 14 patients. Angiomatous lesions consisted of intralobular cavities without zonal predominance which were lined by tumor cells which replaced the normal sinusoidal wall and were filled with red blood cells and tumor cells. This pattern of involvement is different from hepatic localization of other blood malignancies and is highly suggestive of hairy, cell leukemia. It might reflect the unique phenotype of the tumor cells, which express lymphocytic and monocytic features. The angiomatous lesion strongly mimics peliosis hepatis and could be, as well as in peliosis, the consequence of modification of the sinusoidal barrier. In hairy cell leukemia, sinusoidal wall abnormalities might be secondary to infiltration of the sinusoids by tumor cells.

PURPOSE To evaluate the trade-off of toxicity versus improved clinical outcome with interferon alfa-2b (IFN) administered concomitantly with a doxorubicin-containing regimen for the treatment of advanced follicular lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS A quality-of-life-adjusted survival analysis (Quality-Adjusted Time Without Symptoms or Toxicity [Q-TWiST]) was applied to the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes Folliculaires (GELF) trial 86, which compared a regimen of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, teniposide, and prednisone (CHVP) versus CHVP plus IFN in 242 patients with confirmed follicular lymphoma. CHVP was administered monthly for 6 months then every other month for 12 months. The IFN dosage was 5 x 10(6) U three times weekly for 18 months. RESULTS After a median follow-up duration of 72 months, the IFN group gained a mean of 12.3 months of progression-free survival (PFS) and 7.4 months of overall survival (OS), but also experienced additional time with grade 3 or worse toxicity compared with the CHVP group. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that CHVP plus IFN provided a greater amount of quality-adjusted survival regardless of the relative quality-of-life valuations placed on time with toxicity due to CVHP alone, time with toxicity due to CHVP plus IFN, and time following disease progression. This gain was significant (P &lt; .05) in all cases except for patients who consider time with toxicity to have a low relative value and time following disease progression to have a high relative value. CONCLUSION In patients with advanced follicular lymphoma, the clinical benefits of concomitant IFN can significantly offset the associated grade 3 or worse toxic effects. The magnitude of this clinical benefit depends on an individual patient's relative quality-of-life valuations for time with toxicity and time following disease progression.

There is a dogma in tumor immunology that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are defective based on their lack of antitumoral efficacy in vivo and on impaired response to in vitro functional tests. However, TIL have been compared usually with peripheral blood T lymphocytes, raising doubts on the conclusions drawn. Therefore, we compared TIL from B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) with T cells from nonmalignant secondary lymphoid organs. NHL-TIL were unresponsive to activation by immobilized anti-CD3 mAb, although bypassing T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 signaling led to proliferation. The poor proliferative responses of NHL-TIL could not be explained by quantitative defects in TCRzeta expression. NHL-TIL underwent marked spontaneous apoptosis in vitro with loss of approximately 50% of cells after 24 h of culture. This was associated with downregulation of the antiapoptotic Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 proteins, whereas viable NHL-TIL maintained their expression. IL-2, anti-CD3/IL-2, and manipulation of the Fas/Fas-ligand death pathway had no effect on NHL-TIL survival. Apoptosis was not due to increased cell cycling, as NHL-TIL were quiescent, nonproliferating cells. T cells from inflammatory, nonmalignant tissues gave similar functional results to NHL-TIL, suggesting the existence of factors common to the microenvironment of these diverse pathologies. Thus, the quiescent, anergic phenotype of NHL-TIL cannot be attributed solely to tumor factors, but rather is a feature of T cells from chronic inflammatory lesions.

Twenty cases of leukemia involving platelet precursors have been identified by a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antiplatelet antibodies and by the ultrastructural demonstration of platelet peroxidase (PPO). The two techniques were in close agreement both for identification and for the quantitation of the blast cells except in three cases where PPO was present in the absence of the immunological markers. The immunological appearance of the leukemic megakaryocytic precursors was identical to that of their normal counterparts; the cells were positive with J 15 (anti GP IIb-IIIa complex), C 17 (anti GP IIIa), J 2 (anti GP 26,000) AN 51 (anti GP Ib). A diffuse cytoplasmic labelling was observed with anti factor VIII vwF and anti platelet factor 4 (PF 4). In addition, the leukemic maturation was quite similar to normal megakaryocyte differentiation since in micromegakaryocytes the expression of Gp Ib was strong and an intense granular pattern of labelling with anti factor VIII vwF and anti PF 4 was observed. In no case was the leukemic megakaryocytic series labelled by anti-erythroid antibodies, anti myeloid antibodies or J 5, B 1, OKT 11 antibodies. Using ultrastructural immunoferritin with J 15 it was possible to demonstrate that labelling with this antibody only occured on PPO-positive cells. Immunogold or peroxidase labelling with AN 51 at the EM level in cases of mixed leukemia showed that Gp Ib was absent from proerythroblasts and myeloblasts. Therefore, in no case were specific platelet markers expressed in the leukemias of other cell lineages.

In 164 patients with Hodgkin's disease staged between 1973 and 1979 the response to the 3 initial cycles of multiagent chemotherapy was evaluated as a prognosticator of survival. Treatment of localized disease (Stages I, II, III1) consisted of 3 cycles of chemotherapy followed by subtotal nodal irradiation, including the splenic area in non splenectomized patients. Treatment of extended disease (Stage III2 and IV) consisted of 6 cycles followed by low-dosage radiotherapy of initial bulky disease. Five-year actuarial survival was 88% in Stage I, 80% in II, 100% in III1, 45% in III2 and IV. Chemotherapy-induced complete remission after 3 cycles (CH → CR) was associated with a favorable prognosis. Five-year survival of Stage III2 and IV patients was better in those who reached CH → CR than in those who did not (75% versus 25%; P < 0.01). This relationship between CH → CR and five-year survival was confirmed in patients with localized disease, as shown in Stage II patients (respectively 97% versus 63%; P < 0.05). Therefore the response to initial chemotherapy provides a new prognostic factor that may serve to delineate a “high-risk” group of patients. The latter deserve aggressive therapy while those in the favorable group would benefit from a less aggressive combined regimen that would minimize long-term complications.

Positive selection of CD34 + cells in autologous grafts, designed to deplete tumour cells, also results in T‐cell depletion. To assess the reconstitution of the different lymphocyte subsets and of the T‐cell repertoire diversity following autologous transplantation of selected CD34 + peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), we analysed sequential blood samples in eight patients autografted for advanced B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma in a phase I–II pilot study. Although natural killer cell recovery was rapid, T‐ and B‐cell recovery was delayed with a median of 110/μl CD4 + , 175/μl CD8 + T cells and 45/μl B cells at 12 months post‐transplant. The naive CD45RA + T‐cell compartment was profoundly deficient up to 12 months for both CD4 + and CD8 + subsets. A transient expansion of memory CD8 + CD45RO + T cells consisting of an increased percentage of CD57 + CD28 − cells occurred within the first 3 months post‐transplant, but the memory CD4 + CD45RO + T cells remained far below the normal value. The CD8 + CD28 + T‐cell subset did not recover. Using multiplex PCR analysis of the T‐cell receptor γ locus, we found that the repertoire diversity improved at 12 months after being poor and oligoclonal during the first 3 months post‐transplant. As shown by monoplex PCRγ analysis of every VJ combination, despite T‐cell depletion of the graft, mature T cells were carried over with the selected CD34 + PBSC and contributed to the T‐cell recovery after transplantation.

PURPOSE: To compare changes in gadolinium enhancement at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with outcome in mediastinal lymphoma after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with bulky mediastinal lymphoma (17 with Hodgkin disease, 14 with non–Hodgkin lymphoma) underwent serial MR imaging before and up to 50 months after treatment, with routine follow-up (including computed tomography). Signal intensity ratios between masses and muscle were calculated on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and contrast material–enhanced T1-weighted spin-echo MR images. The percentage enhancement and signal intensity ratios of mediastinal masses on T2-weighted MR images were calculated at diagnosis and during and after treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients with persistent complete remission had a mean percentage enhancement of residual masses (4%; range, −26% to 40%) that was significantly lower than that of initial masses (78%; range, 41%–124%). Although the mean signal intensity ratio of residual masses on T2-weighted images was significantly lower than that of initial masses, an increase in this ratio was observed in four patients after treatment. In seven patients with relapse, the percentage enhancement value of the residual mass was as high as that of the initial mass. CONCLUSION: Gadolinium enhancement of lymphomatous masses of the mediastinum decreased markedly after treatment in patients in continuous complete remission but not in patients with relapse.

Abstract The authors describe a patient who presented an association of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia. An eventual relationship between these two rare entities is analyzed. Hairy cells (HCs) were present in the blood, bone marrow, and spleen. An excess of LGLs was found only in the blood and bone marrow. After splenectomy the patient received an alpha 2-interferon (alpha 2-IFN) treatment. The HCs surface phenotype was mu+delta+kappa+, CD20+, and CD25+. The LGLs consisted in CD3+, CD8+, HNK1+, WT31+ T lymphocytes. These were absent in the spleen. alpha 2-IFN treatment resulted in the disappearance of the HCs in the blood and bone marrow, whereas the LGLs remained unchanged. Before alpha 2-IFN treatment, peripheral blood cells, predominantly LGLs, exerted low cytotoxicity that increased up to a normal level after treatment. Using Southern blotting the authors studied the rearrangements of the T-cell receptor beta--chain (C beta) and gamma-chain (J gamma) genes and immunoglobulin heavy (JH)- and light (C kappa, C lambda)- chain genes. An unique JH and C kappa gene rearrangement was found in the blood and spleen, whereas C beta and J gamma gene rearrangements were present in the blood, not in the spleen. Under alpha 2-IFN treatment, the JH gene rearrangement fainted dramatically, in contrast to that of the C beta gene. The study of messenger RNA (mRNA) of the T cell receptor alpha and beta chains evidenced the 1.3-kilobase (kb) and 1.6-kb bands in the blood and their absence in the spleen. The patient was human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-II negative by Southern analysis of blood and spleen cells. It is concluded that the LGL expansion was clonal and not reactive to the HCL. Although the authors cannot definitely exclude that both HC and LGL proliferations stem in a common leukemic precursor, their findings support an association of the two entities.

A and A1 antigen were detected on human blood erythrocytes by immunoelectron microscopy using peroxidase-conjugated antibodies. Cells were obtained from various normal A subgroups, including rare weak A phenotypes and infant (cord blood) samples. Erythrocytes were fixed prior to incubation with specific reagents. The detection of surface antigens was carried out by an indirect method involving anti-A and anti-A1 antibodies and conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. The surface labelling was seen as a diffuse dense layer. Haemperoxidase-like activity resulted in a faint background which did not interfere at the level of ultrathin sections, with surface staining due to exogeneous peroxidase. The most significant finding was the existence, in a given sample, of several populations of cells as revealed by their antibody-binding capacity. The distribution of the various populations varied from one sample to another according to its subgroup. The progressive weakening of phenotype expression which characterizes the various subgroups from A1 to A weak was paralleled by a decreasing number of "antigen rich" cells, which were still detectable in weak phenotypes as a minor population. This study confirms that a given normal phenotype in fact represents a mixture of antigenically different populations of erythrocytes.

Death during the induction phase of chemotherapy remains a common event in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). In a series of patients with aggressive NHL homogeneously treated with intensive induction chemotherapy [ACVB (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, prednisone) regimen], we determined the clinical and biological parameters that were predictive of early death. Early death was defined as death, for whatever reason, occurring within 100 d of randomization. Predictive factors were identified by logistic regression and an index predictive for individual risk of early death was designed. Among the 2210 patients treated with ACVB, there were 162 (7.3%) early deaths. There was no significant reduction in the rate of early death between 1987 and 1998. In a multivariate analysis, age > 60 years, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status > 1, serum lactate dehydrogenase > normal, serum albumin < 30 g/l, leucocyte counts > 10 x 10(9)/l and haemoglobin levels < 8.5 g/dl were found to be independent predictive factors for early death. An early death index was designed, enabling the evaluation of the individual risk of early death in young (range 2-31% risk of early death) and elderly patients (range 5-53%). Clinical and biological parameters available at diagnosis can help physicians identify patients with aggressive lymphoma at low or high risk of early death.

An analysis of prognostic factors was performed on a series of 92 adult patients with acute non-myeloid leukaemia (ANML). Four factors were shown to be correlated with a poor short-term prognosis: (1) Neuropathy involving a single cranial nerve (numbness of the chin) as a presenting feature. (2) A low percentage blast cell infiltration of bone marrow (less than 55%). (3) Cytological L2 type or L3 type of cells according to FAB classification proposals. (4) Increased age. Two factors were shown to be correlated with a poor long-term prognosis: 1) A high level of circulating blast cells; 2) A high tumour burden, as in childhood ANML. These two long-term prognostic factors were interrelated. In addition, our results suggested that myelofibrosis could be a poor long-term prognosis factor as well.

Spontaneous rosettes, obtained with nonimmunized mouse spleen cells and heterologous erythrocytes, have been examined. For electron microscopy, the rosettes are isolated by micromanipulation; embedding is performed by a technique suitable for single-cell study. Furthermore the morphology of these spontaneous rosette-forming cells (RFC sp.) has been investigated in other experiments where spleen cells are incubated with antilymphocyte serum (ALS) and complement, at a concentration which inhibits rosette formation in vitro. The population of RFC sp. contains two classes of cells: lymphocytes and macrophages. The lymphocytes appear to have a constant morphology, corresponding to the “inactive” monoribosomal small lymphocyte. The macrophages exhibit to a variable degree signs of erythrophagocytosis. These observations are compared with the already known morphology of cells involved in antibody production. The existence of two cell types in the RFC sp. population is discussed in relation to recent data concerning cellular cooperation in the induction of an immunological response to antigens such as heterologous erythrocytes. After incubation with ALS and complement, the RFC sp. show no alterations at the ultrastructural level.

Abstract The cellular distribution of immunoglobulins in human malignant and normal B cells was investigated by immunoelectron microscopy by direct incubation of fixed cells with electron microscopy by direct incubation of fixed cells with peroxidase-coupled antibody. These conjugates penetrated into the cell, resulting in the simultaneous detection of surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulins. The latter were seen as specific intracisternal staining of the perinuclear space and endoplasmic reticulum and occasionally of the Golgi complex. Plasma cells were frequently characterized by a heterogeneity of reactivity of the endoplasmic reticulum. Minute amounts of cytoplasmic immunoglobulin were demonstrated in cells without developed secretory organelles, such as lymphoma cells and lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The method allowed us to define several subsets of cells according to the expression of surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulins and thus to determine the stage of maturation of cells involved in monoclonal proliferation.

An increased glucose metabolic rate is observed with various degrees of intensity in different subtypes of aggressive lymphomas. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)–positron emission tomography (PET; FDG-PET) allows functional imaging of this phenomenon through 3-dimensional tomographic slices, which are now easily fused with computed tomography (CT) images. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography staging appears superior to conventional staging modalities for detecting nodal and extranodal lymphoma. When performed after first-line chemotherapy, FDG-PET is more efficient than CT and conventional diagnostic methods to predict the disease outcome. Some studies have reported that the relapse rate is 100% in patients with positive PET findings after treatment and 17% in patients with negative PET findings. This imaging modality can also assess early response after 1-2 cycles of chemotherapy, thus identifying responders from patients whose cancer will fail to respond to first-line therapy or will relapse shortly after having exhibited a partial or complete remission. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose–PET also seems useful for an accurate selection of patients who will benefit from highly intensive treatment.

Two immunoperoxidase procedures, direct conjugate and peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) nonconjugate, were compared by studying surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulins in identical smeared or embedded material from patients having various conditions involving B-cell proliferation. The direct procedure was carried out with affinity purified antibodies; the PAP procedure was carried out with commercially available antisera and in some experiments by also using purified antibodies as a primary layer. This study confirms the feasibility of both procedures for staining human B cells, although surface immunoglobulins were not visualized in tissue sections. By comparing the phenotypes obtained with both procedures, this study also emphasizes the need for highly specific reagents and the possible shortcoming represented by contaminating specificities present in the first serdm layer of the PAP procedure. Diluting primary antiserum was effective in eliminating such unwanted specificities, but at the same time could alter the genuine phenotype of cells. This study emphasizes the need for highly specific reagents such as solid-phase immunoadsorbed antibodies.

PURPOSE To study the prognostic significance of the small non-cleaved-cell lymphoma (SNCCL) histologic subtype, we compared the outcome of adult patients with SNCCL with that of patients with aggressive lymphoma other than SNCCL by means of two case-controlled studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed the results of the doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone (ACVBP) regimen used as a reference scheme in our cooperative study group (Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adult [GELA]) in 52 adult SNCCL patients with no bone marrow (BM) or CNS involvement. Forty-five SNCCL patients younger than 60 years could be compared with two separate case-matched groups of patients with aggressive lymphoma other than SNCCL undergoing the same therapeutic regimen. In the first case-controlled study, matching ensured identity of each risk factor of the age-adjusted International Index (ie, Ann Arbor stage, performance status, and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] level); in the second study, matching was performed according to the number of presenting risk factors (zero, one, two, or three), regardless of their nature. RESULTS The 5-year overall survival rates were not significantly different between SNCCL and control patients in both case-controlled studies: 48% versus 51% in the first study, and 48% versus 55% in the second study. CONCLUSION These results support the thesis that in patients with no bone marrow or CNS involvement, the SNCCL histologic subtype does not confer a prognosis worse than that of other aggressive lymphoma.

A case of high-grade malignant extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP), unusual in its initial cutaneous localization and major involvement in the central nervous system rapidly resulting in death, is reported. Light- and electron-microscopic studies of a skin nodule revealed a high proportion of immature and mature plasmacytes. Immunohistological study revealed that both cells synthesized different amounts of a monotypic cytoplasmic kappa light chain. Neuropathological study revealed extensive infiltration of the leptomeninges and perivascular spaces as far as the deep parenchyma. In several places, effraction of vessels resulted in parenchymatous, tumor-like, plasmacytic infiltration. The findings of this case were compared with those of the few previously reported cases of EMP with initial cutaneous or intracranial localization, and with those of immunoblastic sarcoma occurring in some cases of myeloma.

Abstract The membrane phenotype of human T cell colony progenitors and that of their clonal progeny was studied for expression of the T4 and T8 determinants. Using clonal culture conditions, the colonies were grown in semi‐solid agar medium from peripheral blood cells. Clonality was assessed using the glucose‐6‐phosphate‐dehydrogenase isoenzyme marker. Combination of this marker with the culture of sorted cell fractions allowed us to ascribe the colony progenitors to a subset of OKT4 + lymphocytes. The progeny consisted of the mixture of single OKT4 + , single OKT8 + and double OKT4 + 8 + cells, as determined by double staining. Double staining was performed on mass‐harvested colony cells and on individual colonies expanded in liquid culture with fresh interleukin 2. Expression of the OKT8 positivity on colony cells deriving from OKT4 + progenitors required an interaction with radioresistant OKT8 + cells that were co‐cultured with these progenitors. Furthermore, the functional capacities of the cell progeny were assayed on the pokeweed mitogen‐driven immunoglobulin production by B cells. It was found that OKT4 T colony cells were helper whereas OKT8 + colony cells were suppressor cells. It is concluded that a subset of OKT4 + peripheral blood T lymphocytes can generate colonies containing both helper OKT4 + cells and suppressor OKT8 + cells.

Abstract Chemoradiotherapy is standard treatment for localized aggressive lymphoma (Miller et al., NEJM, 1998). Because previously published series were heterogeneous with regard to prognostic factors such as age, we aimed to determine the optimal therapy for elderly patients with low risk localized lymphoma. From March 1993 to June 2002, 576 patients (pts) over 60y of age with aggressive lymphoma (WF histology: F, G, H or Kiel anaplastic) and without any adverse factor of the age-adjusted International Pronostic Index were randomly assigned to a chemoradiotherapy arm (299 pts) consisting of 4 cycles of CHOP (doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 d1, cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 d1, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 [up to 2 mg] d1, prednisone 60 mg/m2 d1-5) given every 3 weeks followed by 40 Gy involved-field radiotherapy or to a chemotherapy-alone arm (277 pts) consisting of 4 cycles of CHOP given every 3 weeks. Randomization was stratified according to center and the presence of bulky disease (≥ 10 cm). Principal characteristics were: median age, 68y; male gender, 52%; stage I, 63%; bulky disease, 8%; extranodal involvement, 56%; diffuse large B-cell histology, 80%. Complete response at the end of treatment was similar in both groups (89% and 90 % respectively). Treatment-related death occurred in 1% of pts in each group. On an intent-to-treat basis and with a median follow-up of 6.8y, event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups (p= 0.7 and p = 0.6, respectively). 5y-EFS rates were 68% for pts treated with chemotherapy alone as compared to 66% for those receiving chemoradiotherapy; 5y-OS rates were 72% and 68% respectively. 66%, of deaths resulted from lymphoma progression. In the subgroup of 247 pts over 70y of age, the 5y-OS was higher in those treated by chemotherapy alone (70% as compared to 58%) but this trend did not reach significance (p=0.1). In a multivariate analysis of the 576 pts, EFS and OS were affected by stage II (p&amp;lt;0.0001), male gender (p=0.02), not by tumor bulk. Conclusion: mature data of the LNH93-4 trial indicate that CHOP plus radiotherapy does not provide any advantage over CHOP alone for the treatment of low risk localized aggressive lymphoma in elderly pts. To note, although the majority of patients had stage I disease, local control by irradiation did not decrease the overall relapse rate. A similar conclusion was recently reached in young adult pts treated by chemotherapy alone (Reyes et al, NEMJ 2005). Taking these results together, we consider that local irradiation following chemotherapy has no role in the treatment of pts with low risk localized aggressive lymphoma. On the basis of its previous published results (Coiffier et al, NEJM, 2002), the GELA recommends to treat such elderly pts with rituximab plus CHOP.

S ummary . Unusual intracytoplasmic immunoglobulin inclusions were found by immunofluorescence in three patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The inclusions contained the same immunoglobulin chains as those detected on the plasma membrane, except for δ chains which were expressed on the cell surface and not in the cytoplasmic inclusions. The cytoplasmic staining persisted throughout culture for 8 or more days. An initial study of patients l's cells showed that the inclusions contained only μ chains, and κ chains gradually became apparent after in vitro culture. In a second study, the fresh lymphocytes contained both μ and κ chains. Initially, biosynthetic experiments showed production of μ chains which polymerized in the cytoplasm and were not secreted. Subsequently there was synthesis of heavy and light chains which assembled into monomeric subunits that were retained and secretion of free light chains. The apparent molecular weight of these immunoglobulin chains was larger than that of their secretory counterparts. Immunoelectronmicroscopy revealed cytoplasmic μ chains in strands of endoplasmic reticulum. In the two other patients, immunofluorescence displayed unusual staining patterns of bright networks in perinuclear areas.

Rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) has been proven to increase overall survival in aggressive bcl-2-positive lymphoma patients. Using competing risk analysis, we studied the long-term impact of this treatment in patients from a GELA trial: R-CHOP prevented from progression or relapse in both bcl-2-positive and bcl-2-negative patients without increasing the risk of death in complete remission.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) accounts for 15-20% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the Western World. Clinical, histopathologic, phenotypic and genotypic data were received from 33 cases of PTCL referred to our institution. The median age order was 50 years, 78% were males, and 18% had a history of a preceeding disorder of the lymphoid system. 60% had stage 4 at diagnosis and B symptoms were also present in 60%. The most frequent sites of extranodal involvement were bone marrow (54%), liver (45%) and skin (33%). Twenty-eight of 33 cases were histologically classified according to the Working Formulation (most in the diffuse mixed and large-cell subgroups) and the Kiel updated system.Phenotypic and genotypic studies of malignant cells showed a considerable heterogeneity with respect to the expression of either T-cell receptor (TCR) αβ and γδ and pan-T differentiation molecules. Of the studied cases 63% expressed TCR-αβ. All five patients with PTCL of the TCR-γδ subtype had a peculiar extra-nodal presentation. The vast majority of cases expressed an abnormal T-cell phenotype with respect to the expression of pan-T antigens, including the lack of expression of the TCR-associated CD3 molecule in 2 cases. Rearrangements of the TCR β and/or δ-chain genes showed clonality in 21 of the 23 studied cases.Twenty-five patients were treated with a multiagent chemotherapy regimen with curative intent and the remainder received a less intensive palliative regimen.Only 9 patients achieved CR (8 of whom had received an anthracycline-containing regimen) and the 4-year survival rate was 25%. The 4-year survival of CR and non-CR patients differed significantly, 67% versus 21% (p = 0.02). Thus in our limited single institute experience PTCL patients, most of whom had stage IV disease, have a very poor prognosis.

Abstract The phenotype of fresh and cultured leukemic cells from patients with hairy cell leukemia was studied using a panel of monoclonal antibodies in addition to the detection of peroxidase activity under electron microscopy. In fresh samples, the leukemic cells from 11 patients displayed predominantly a B phenotype, as judged by their reactivity with the B1 monoclonal antibody and surface immunoglobulin expression. Ultrastructural peroxidase activity, characteristic of hairy cells, was observed in all cases studied. When hairy cells were cultured in the presence of phytohemagglutinin and irradiated T cells, their phenotype converted from surface Ig+, B1+, OKT3-, OKT11- to surface Ig-, B1+, OKT3-, OKT11+. In contrast, the peroxidase activity remained unchanged. Some hairy cells were also OKM1+, but no conclusion could be made about the MO2 antigen, a more specific marker of monocytes. The variability of the phenotype in vivo and in vitro indicates that reliable markers are required for identifying hairy cells. When studied together, the staining by B1 monoclonal antibody and the ultrastructural detection of peroxidase, enable the identification of hairy cells with certainty.

HepatologyVolume 30, Issue 3 p. 822-823 CorrespondenceFree Access Hepatitis C virus infection, mixed cryoglobulinemia, and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Georgios Germanidis, Georgios Germanidis M.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorCorinne Haioun, Corinne Haioun M.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorDaniel Dhumeaux, Daniel Dhumeaux M.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorFelix Reyes, Felix Reyes M.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorJean-Michel Pawlotsky, Jean-Michel Pawlotsky M.D, Ph.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this author Georgios Germanidis, Georgios Germanidis M.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorCorinne Haioun, Corinne Haioun M.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorDaniel Dhumeaux, Daniel Dhumeaux M.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorFelix Reyes, Felix Reyes M.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorJean-Michel Pawlotsky, Jean-Michel Pawlotsky M.D, Ph.D. Departments of Bacteriology and Virology, Hepatology and Gastroenterology, and Hematology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Université Paris XII, Créteil, FranceSearch for more papers by this author First published: 30 December 2003 https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.510300323Citations: 14AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. References 1 Collier JD, Zanke B, Moore M, Kessler G, Krajden M, Shepherd F, Heathcote J. No association between hepatitis C and B-cell lymphoma. Hepatology 1999; 29: 1259– 1261. MEDLINE 2 Germanidis G, Haioun C, Pourquier J, Gaulard P, Pawlotsky JM, Dhumeaux D, Reyes F. Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with overt B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a French center. Blood 1999; 93: 1778– 1779. MEDLINE 3 Silvestri F, Pipan C, Barillari G, Zaja F, Fanin R, Infanti L, Russo D, et al. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. Blood 1996; 87: 4296– 4301. MEDLINE 4 Mazzaro C, Zagonel V, Monfardini S, Tulissi P, Pussini E, Fanni M, Sorio R, et al. Hepatitis C virus and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Br J Haematol 1996; 94: 544– 550. MEDLINE 5 Rasul I, Shepherd FA, Kamel-Reid S, Krajden M, Pantalony D, Heathcote EJ. Detection of occult low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and mixed cryoglobulinemia. Hepatology 1999; 29: 543– 547. MEDLINE 6 Silvestri F, Barillari G, Fanin R, Salmaso F, Pipan C, Falasca E, Puglisi F, et al. Impact of hepatitis C virus infection on clinical features, quality of life and survival of patients with lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma/immunocytoma. Ann Oncol 1998; 9: 499– 504. MEDLINE 7 Pileri P, Uematsu Y, Campagnoli S, Galli G, Falugi F, Petracca R, Weiner AJ, et al. Binding of hepatitis C virus to CD81. Science 1998; 282: 938– 941. MEDLINE 8 Crouzier R, Martin T, Pasquali JL. Monoclonal IgM rheumatoid factor secreted by CD5-negative B cells during mixed cryoglobulinemia. Evidence for somatic mutations and intraclonal diversity of the expressed VH region gene. J Immunol 1995; 154: 413– 421. MEDLINE 9 Ivanovski M, Silvestri F, Pozzato G, Anand S, Mazzaro C, Burrone OR, Efremov DG. Somatic hypermutation, clonal diversity, and preferential expression of the VH51p1/VL kv325 immunoglobulin gene combination in hepatitis C virus-associated immunocytomas. Blood 1998; 91: 2433– 2442. MEDLINE 10 Mazzaro C, Franzin F, Tulissi P, Pussini E, Crovatto M, Carniello GS, Efremov DG, et al. Regression of monoclonal B-cell expansion in patients affected by mixed cryoglobulinemia responsive to α-interferon therapy. Cancer 1996; 77: 2604– 2613. MEDLINE Citing Literature Volume30, Issue3September 1999Pages 822-823 ReferencesRelatedInformation

High dose therapy with or without hematopoietic stem cell rescue has been widely used in the past decade for treating aggressive Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Recent data in high and intermediate grade lymphoma were reviewed. Evidence that dose intensity is a critical factor for remission in poor prognosis lymphoma has been accumulated, although the impact on survival has not been clearly established through randomized studies. Intensive treatment with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) have been reported in more than 1,000 relapsing patients in non randomized trials. For those who are still sensitive to salvage chemotherapy, at 5 years a 40% probability of disease free survival has been uniformly noted. ABMT is accepted by most centers as the treatment of choice for relapsing lymphoma. Consequently, very few randomized studies testing ABMT vs. conventional chemotherapy such as the PARMA protocol are in progress. In patients achieving complete remission, ABMT has been proposed for consolidation in a group of lymphoma sharing adverse prognostic factors with a high risk of relapse. Results from pilot studies were encouraging. However, interim analysis of the large randomized trial LNH87, did not show at the present time an advantage for ABMT performed after CR when compared to conventional chemotherapy. Such a strategy should be only proposed in prospective studies. For patients who did not achieve CR after conventional treatment, but who are still sensitive to chemotherapy, ABMT may improve the results. Pilot studies as well as recent randomized study are in support of this approach.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluating high-dose therapy (HDT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in term of both duration and quality of life (QOL) presents major interests for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The quality-adjusted time without symptom and toxicity (Q-TWiST) methodology was applied to the LNH87-2 trial comparing HDT with ASCT versus sequential chemotherapy in 541 patients in first complete remission (CR). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) curves were used to estimate duration of 4 health states: acute short-term toxicity (Tox1), secondary toxicity (Tox2), time without symptom and toxicity (TWiST), and relapse (Rel). Areas under survival curves (AUC) were retrospectively weighted according to QOL coefficients. HDT increased, but not significantly, TWiST (+2. 4 months in AUC, P =.17) and decreased Rel (-3 months, P <.01). Survival estimates did not differ between the 2 treatments (AUC 47.7 months for OS, 39.7 months for DFS). High-risk patients treated by HDT versus chemotherapy had a significant benefit in DFS (AUC 28.8 versus 24.9 months, P <.01) but not in OS (AUC 37.3 versus 36 months, P =.27). Sensitivity analysis, performed by varying QOL coefficients, demonstrated significant quality-adjusted survival gain in high-risk patients treated by HDT. In low-risk patients, a diagram provided an aid to clinical decision-making. This analysis supports the use of HDT in these patients with adverse prognostic factors in the first CR, even after adjusting for QOL using the Q-TWiST method. (Blood. 2000;95:3687-3692)

Abstract PHA-driven monoclonal colony formation by low concentrations of resting T4 lymphocytes in agar culture requires the presence of interleukin 2 (IL 2) and accessory cells. Using recombinant IL 2 and anti-Tac monoclonal antibody as a probe for the IL 2 receptor, we demonstrate that the requirement of accessory cells (here an irradiated B cell line) in inducing IL 2 responsiveness relies on their enhancing effect in functional IL 2 receptor expression by the T colony progenitors. Furthermore, it is shown that cell to cell interaction between accessory cells and colony progenitors results in IL 2 response, i.e., colony formation, when the IL 2 receptor density reaches a critical threshold. The asynchronism in IL 2 responsiveness expression by the T colony progenitors upon activation and the short-lived T cell-accessory cell interaction, due to accessory cell death, determine the 10% colony efficiency of the culture system. In addition, we demonstrate that the accessory function in IL 2 receptor and IL 2 responsiveness expression by the T colony progenitors can be supported by irradiated T lymphocytes as well as B cells. The absence of lineage restriction of the signal delivered by accessory cells, and the requirement of physical interaction between T colony progenitors and accessory cells, emphasize the necessity of cross-linking the activation-signal receptors in inducing IL 2 responsiveness by resting T4 cells.

Abstract AITL, as most T cell lymphomas, follows an aggressive clinical course with a 5-year overall survival of about 30%. Features consistent with B cell hyperstimulation including hypergammaglobulinemia with M component, autoimmune manifestations and B blast expansion in the tumoral tissue (sometimes culminating in overt B-cell lymphoma) are frequently seen. Clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements are detected in 20 to 40% of AITL. We postulated that AITL might benefit from a treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) combined to the standard CHOP regimen (R-CHOP). Between january 2001 et august 2004, 9 consecutive patients older than 60 years with newly diagnosed AITL were treated in our institution with a combination of rituximab (375mg/m2 given at day 1 of each cycle) and CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone at day 1) chemotherapy delivered every 3 weeks. Patients were planned to receive 8 cycles, if a good response (at least partial response) was observed after the first 4 cycles. All patients presented characteristic features of AITL with generalized lymphadenopathy and poor performance status. Elevated LDH were seen in 6 patients. Four out of 9 patients had a serum M-component. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia was concomitantly diagnosed in 3 patients. Histopathological analysis revealed features of AITL in all cases associated with a significant expansion of large CD20+ B cells in 5 patients, CD10 positivity of tumor cells in 7 cases and EBV association in 5 cases (LMP-1 expression and/or EBER in situ hybridization positivity). DNA extracted from the biopsies was amplified using PCR and analyzed on a ABI 310 sequencing analyser. B and T-cell clonality analyses were performed according to the Biomed 2 procedure (Dongen et al. Leukemia 2003). Analysis of tumoral lymph node were available in 8 patients: a dominant T-cell clone was present in 5 cases, 2 of them showing also a dominant B-cell clone and 3 an oligoclonal B-cell repertoire. The 3 remaining cases had oligoclonal T-cell populations with a polyclonal B-cell repertoire. Eight patients achieved a complete remission at the end of treatment and one patient progressed after 3 cycles. Two patients relapsed at 13 and 14 months. Among these 3 refractory/relapsed patients, two were salvaged with additional treatment (alkylating agent alone or MabCampath). In July 2005, with a median follow-up of 12 months (7 to 53 months), all the patients are alive, 8 of them without evolutive disease. No additionnal toxicity was observed in this population of T-cell lymphoma patients as compared to that observed in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP (Coiffier, N Engl J Med 2002). These results led us to consider that rituximab adjunction to CHOP could improve the prognosis of AITL in elderly patients. This approach is currently evaluated in an ongoing multicentric phase II study led by the GELA.

Rosettes obtained by mixing blood mononuclear cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and rabbit IgG-coated erythrocytes were examined after micromanipulation. When leucocytes were fractionated by filtration on polyamide fibres, rosettes were all formed by lymphocytes which had an homogeneous morphological appearance. They contained monoribosomes, dense lysosomes and exhibited some degree of membrane activity giving rise to small cytoplasmic projections which firmly bound red cells. On some occasions ingestion of small erythrocyte fragments could be seen. When rosette formation was carried out with cells isolated by centrifugation on Ficoll, a great number of rosette-forming cells appeared to be monocytes. These cells had numerous finger-like projections which deformed and phagocytosed red cells. The detection of monocytes in this system is interpreted as resulting from the presence of surface receptors for IgG molecules. The ultrastructural features of the rosette-forming lymphocytes are discussed with respect to their content in organelles related to protein synthesis and pinocytosis, and also to their membrane activity induced by interaction with IgG-coated erythrocytes.

Abstract In 1998, the GELA (Groupe d’Etude des Lymphomes de l’Adulte) ran a randomized study to evaluate the benefit of the addition of rituximab to CHOP chemotherapy in elderly patients (60 to 80 years old) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Early results were presented at ASH 2000 and published in NEJM (2002;346:235) with a median follow-up of 1 and 2 years, respectively. An update of these results is presented with a median follow-up of 5 years. 399 patients were included, 197 in the CHOP group and 202 in the R-CHOP group, 60% had a high risk disease according to the IPI score. Characteristics of the patients did not differ between both groups. Rituximab was given at 375 mg/m² the same day of CHOP for 8 cycles. Primary endpoint was event-free survival with events defined as progressive disease (PD) during or after treatment, relapse, institution of a new treatment, and death whatever the cause. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with progression defined as PD, relapse, or death from lymphoma or lymphoma treatment. Response rates for R-CHOP and CHOP were: CR/CRu 75% and 63%, PD 9% and 22%, and death during treatment 6% and 6%, respectively (P=.005), as previously published. With a median follow-up of 5 years, 106 events (52.5% of the patients) were observed in R-CHOP arm and 142 (72%) in CHOP arm: 19% and 31% PD or death during treatment, 5.5% and 4.5% institution of a new treatment, 20% and 34% relapses, 8% and 2.5% death in CR for R-CHOP and CHOP, respectively. Survival outcomes are presented in the table. Table 1. 5-year survivals R-CHOP CHOP P value Median event-free survival 3.8 y 1.1 y =0.00002 5-year event-free survival 47% 29% Median progression-free survival Not reached 1 y &amp;lt;0.00001 5-year progression-free survival 54% 30% Median overall survival Not reached 3.1 y =0.0073 5-year overall survival 58% 45% Progression-free survival is shown in the figure; PFS does not included 19 patients who died in CR from causes not related to lymphoma or its treatment, 5 in CHOP arm and 14 in R-CHOP arm. It better reflects the long term effect of treatment on the disease. No severe late toxicity was observed in R-CHOP treated patients and deaths not related to lymphoma did not show any pattern. In conclusion, long term results continue to show a major benefit for the addition of rituximab to CHOP in the treatment of patients with DLBCL. This improvement increases with time.

Studies of surface markers in lymphoproliferative disorders have provided important help in the understanding of the nature of involved cells. Among available assays, the detection of surface immunoglobulins (SIg) has been shown to be essential for the identification of B-lymphocytes [5]. However, there is a possibility that cells of the B-lymphocyte series express few or no SIg as they produce and secrete intracellular immunoglobulins (Ig) [3]. Therefore, the absence of SIg does not preclude a cell, at certain maturation stages, from being of B-derivation. Immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) using conjugated anti-Ig antibodies has been used in recent years. Satisfactory results have been obtained more easily in detecting surface rather than intracellular components. This has been generally taken as evidence of the poor penetration of conjugates into fixed cells [for more detailed discussion, see [2]]. As a matter of fact, using IEM and peroxidase-conjugated anti-Ig antibodies, we initially found that in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) proliferating small lymphocytes strongly reacted at the surface without any intracellular staining, just as normal human small B-lymphocytes [4]. However, in more recent studies including various samples from patients with lymphomas, we found that penetration of conjugates was readily achieved, resulting in an intracellular specific staining.

Abstract Introduction: Whether erythropoietin (Epo) has an impact on survival of patients (pts) with malignancies is debated. Since Dec 2003, the GELA has conducted a prospective randomized study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Darbepoetin alfa (DA) in elderly pts with DLBCL treated by immunochemotherapy. In 2005, new recommendations about the use of Epo for patients with chemotherapy induced anemia have been published. Following these recommendations, the protocol was temporarily stopped and a first safety analysis was performed. Here we report the preliminary results on the first 130 enrolled patients. Patients and methods: pts between 66 and 80 years old with DLBCL and aaIPI ≥1 have been enrolled from Dec 2003 to Aug 2005. Pts were firstly randomised between two regimens combining Rituximab and the classical CHOP (Coiffier and al. NEJM 2002) delivered every 2 (R-CHOP14) or 3 weeks (R-CHOP21) for 8 cycles and were subsequently randomised between an investigational arm with DA (Arm 1) given in order to maintain hemoglobin (Hb) level between 13 and 15 g/dL and a conventional arm (Arm 2) with usual treatment of chemotherapy induced anemia, including transfusions and Epo according to usual practices. G-CSF was given according to physicians’decision. Results: 63 pts were randomised in Arm 1 and 67 in Arm 2. Median age is 71 y (66 – 80). Patients’characteristics were similar between arms and the percentage of patients with aaIPI 2–3 is 59%. Mean Hb level at randomisation is 12.2 g/dL (7.1 – 15.6). There rate of deaths during the treatment period is similar between arms (8% and 10%) and mainly related to treatment toxicity or lymphoma progression. The number of serious adverse events of any cause is lower in Arm 1 (96 events) compared to Arm 2 (153 events). Grade 3–4 Hb toxicity is higher in Arm 2 (39% versus 22%, p = NS). 18/63 (29%) patients received red blood cells transfusions in Arm 1 compared to 37/67 (55%) in Arm 2 (p=0.01). The number of patients with at least one episode of febrile neutropenia is lower in Arm 1 as compared to in Arm 2 (23% vs 36%, p = NS). There is no increase of cardiac and vascular events (respectively 9% and 9% in Arm 1 compared to 8% and 10% in Arm 2). The median level of Hb in Arm 1 during treatment is 12.05 g/dL and 10.65 g/dL in Arm 2. Sixteen percent of patients in Arm 1 have had at least one episode of Hb &gt; 15 g/dL during treatment compared to 5% in Arm 2. The rate of thromboembolic events is similar in these patients (2/10) and in those who never have reached this Hb level (7/53). One year after completion of treatment, overall survival (OS) of the entire population is estimated at 74% and event free survival (EFS) at 67%. OS (78% in Arm 1 versus 70% in Arm 2 at 1 year) and EFS (73% in Arm 1 versus 64% in Arm 2 at 1 year) are similar between the two arms. Conclusions: these preliminary results provide encouraging results about the safety of a prophylactic use of Darbepoetin alfa and support the continuation of accrual to draw definite conclusions about safety and also efficacy.

Abstract Background : High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell support (HDT) is an established treatment for chemosensitive relapse in aggressive lymphoma. However, not all patients are candidates for HDT because of age, comorbidities or previous HDT. Effective and well tolerated salvage therapies with minimal toxicities are thus needed. Methods : We designed the R-GEMOX regimen, with rituximab 375mg/m2 d1, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 d2 and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 d2 (recycling on d15). Between January 2002 and April 2004, 31 patients with refractory/relapsing B-cell lymphoma not eligible for HDT were enrolled in an open unicenter pilot study whose primary objective was to determine the overall response rate (ORR) after 4 cycles (induction phase) of R-GEMOX. Patients were planned to receive 8 cycles if a good response (at least PR) was observed after 4 cycles. Median age was 63 years (range: 43–77) and histological subtypes were : diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n=22), follicular (n=6) and mantle cell (n=3). Prior treatment included anthracyclin in 30 patients (98%), rituximab in 16 (52%) and HDT in 8 (26%). International prognostic index at enrollment was ≥ 2 in 13 patients (42%). The median number of prior treatments was 2 (range : 1 to 5) and 9 patients had received at least 3 prior regimens. Results : 226 cycles were given. The dose administered was 100% of the intended dose for the three drugs in all patients but 6, for whom the dose of oxaliplatin was reduced due to neurotoxicity (n=5) or preexisting renal insufficiency (n=1). The median number of cycles per patient was 8 (range: 2–8).Three patients progressed during the induction phase. After 4 cycles, observed responses were : 6 CR, 8 CRu, 12 PR and 2 failures resulting in an ORR of 84 %. At the end of treatment, among the 26 responder-patients at 4 cycles, 23 patients achieved CR/CRu and one patient progressed. As of August 2004, 22 patients are alive, 17 in continuous complete remission and 5 with evolutive disease. NCIC grade 3–4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were reported in 49% and 23% of the cycles. Six patients developed a grade 4 infection during one cycle. There was no renal toxicity. Conclusion : The R-GEMOX regimen shows promising activity with an acceptable toxicity. It is currently evaluated in an ongoing multicentric phase II study on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients at first relapse. (=69.03% taille max abstract)

Vaccine-based therapies are being developed for a variety of cancers and their efficacy will be determined by their ability to stimulate T cells in the secondary lymphoid tissue. We found that T cells isolated from human secondary lymphoid organs (LT-T), in contrast to peripheral blood T cells (PB-T) are hyporesponsive to cross-linked anti-CD3 mAb (CD3c) even in the presence of exogenous IL-2. Using mAb to trigger CD2 and CD28 co-stimulatory molecules, we found that such dual co-stimulation of LT-T induces profound and sustained responses including CD25 expression, IL-2 secretion and proliferation. Different levels of co-stimulation produced a hierarchical pattern of responses in LT-T, which correlated with the degree of CD3-TCR down-regulation. Mature antigen-presenting cells (APC) restored the capacity of LT-T to proliferate to stimulation of the CD3-TCR complex. Blocking studies demonstrated that optimal proliferation was critically dependent on co-stimulation via CD2 and CD28 engaged by their ligands on the APC. Therefore, LT-T have increased co-stimulatory requirements as compared to PB-T, i.e. multiple co-stimulatory signals coupled to CD3-TCR triggering. Furthermore, LT-T were found to be dependent on APC for survival, in contrast to PB-T. Clearly, LT-T do not behave in a comparable way to PB-T and in vitro experiments assessing novel cancer vaccines should therefore use LT-T as the most appropriate population of responder T cells.

Lymph node specimens from 125 patients with malignant lymphomas and related disorders were studied by immunoperoxidase procedure for the presence of intracytoplasmic immunoglobulin (CIg) and J chain CIg staining was present in 22/24 cases of lymphoplasmacytic-lymphoplasmacytoid lymphomas, and in 10/10 cases of extramedullary plasmacytomas and myelomas. In the majority of these cases J chain could be demonstrated in plasmacytoid or neoplastic plasma cells. In 21/36 cases of immunoblastic lymphomas, intracytoplasmic Ig staining was present. In only two of the 36 cases were the lymphomatous cells stained positively for J chain. J chain was not detected in other lymphomas such as lymphocytic lymphomas, follicular lymphomas, lymphoblastic lymphomas or in Reed-Sternberg cells or hairy cells. J chain was demonstrated in mature plasma cells and immunoblastic cells in hyperplastic lymph nodes, and in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy. These findings show that J chain is not detectable in all B cell lymphomas even in the presence of CIg synthesis, irrespective of class.

Background Infants with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) are known to exhibit characteristic brain abnormalities. However, the brain anatomy of Zika virus (ZIKV)-exposed infants, born to ZIKV-positive pregnant mothers, who have normal-appearing head characteristics at birth, has not been evaluated in detail. The aim of this prospective study is, therefore, to compare the cortical and subcortical brain structural volume measures of ZIKV-exposed normocephalic infants to age-matched healthy controls. Methods and findings We acquired T2-MRI of the whole brain of 18 ZIKV-exposed infants and 8 normal controls on a 3T MRI scanner. The MR images were auto-segmented into eight tissue types and anatomical regions including the white matter, cortical grey matter, deep nuclear grey matter, corticospinal fluid, amygdala, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem. We determined the volumes of these regions and calculated the total intracranial volume (TICV) and head circumference (HC). We compared these measurements between the two groups, controlling for infant age at scan, by first comparing results for all subjects in each group and secondly performing a subgroup analysis for subjects below 8 weeks of postnatal age at scan. ZIKV-exposed infants demonstrated a significant decrease in amygdala volume compared to the control group in both the group and subgroup comparisons (p&lt;0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons using FDR). No significant volume differences were observed in TICV, HC, or any specific brain tissue structures or regions. Study limitations include small sample size, which was due to abrupt cessation of extramural funding as the ZIKV epidemic waned. Conclusion ZIKV-exposed infants exhibited smaller volumes in the amygdala, a brain region primarily involved in emotional and behavioral processing. This brain MRI finding may lead to poorer behavioral outcomes and warrants long-term monitoring of pediatric cases of infants with gestational exposure to Zika virus as well as other neurotropic viruses.

Relapsed/refractory T-cell malignancies have a particularly poor prognosis and novel therapies are direly needed. CD5 is a great candidate for adoptive cellular therapy to target T-cell malignancies since it is ubiquitously expressed on T cells with restricted expression on other hematopoietic cells. NK cells are an attractive platform for CAR engineering to target CD5 since, unlike T cells, they do not express CD5 on their surface, which eliminates the risk of fratricide. Another advantage of NK cells for CAR engineering is their safety profile; in contrast to T cells, they do not cause cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) and they are not associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in the allogeneic setting, opening the potential for a completely off-the-shelf cellular product to be used at point of care. Therefore, we sought to develop CD5 targeting CAR-NK cells for the treatment of T-cell malignancies. Multiple studies have demonstrated that the choice of co-stimulatory domain in CAR-T cells influences their function, persistence and metabolic profile. In the field of CAR-NK cells, the first constructs tested in the clinic have incorporated CD28, a T cell specific co-stimulatory domain, borrowing from the design of CAR-T cells. There is a sparsity of data regarding the impact of co-stimulatory domains on the proliferation, transcriptomic and proteomic profile, polyfunctionality, metabolism and fitness of CAR-NK cells. In this study, we aimed to do so, by comprehensively studying the impact of co-stimulatory domains including some that are more relevant for NK cell biology, namely DNAX-activating Protein 10 (DAP10), a major adaptor protein and the exclusive signaling intermediate of NKG2D in human NK cells, DNAX-activating Protein 12 (DAP12), an important adaptor molecule that associates with multiple activating receptors (e.g. NKG2C, NKp44, activating KIRs) and NKG2D, one of the most potent NK cytotoxicity receptors which is essential for anti-tumor immunity. Our results show that CD5 CAR-NK cells with DAP10 co-stimulatory domain show enhanced cytotoxicity against CD5+ T-cell leukemia targets even after multiple tumor rechallenges in an Incucyte live-cell imaging assay. They also show augmented polyfunctionality compared to CD5 CAR-NK cells with other co-stimulatory domains in an Isoplexis single-cell secretome assay. Moreover, DAP10 co-stimulation endowed CD5 CAR-NK cells with enhanced metabolic fitness as evidenced by increased oxidative phosphorylation compared to other co-stimulatory molecules. At the epigenetic level, CD5 CAR-NK cells with DAP10 co-stimulation interrogated by sc-ATACseq show enrichment in AP-1 complex and BATF transcription factors related to memory formation and exhaustion resistance. This translates to better in vivo performance as CD5 CAR-NK cells with DAP10 co-stimulatory domain significantly improve tumor control and survival in an NSG mouse model of CD5+ T-cell leukemia (CCRF-CEM) and show evidence of recall response following tumor rechallenge. In conclusion, our data show that DAP10 co-stimulation induces epigenetic reprogramming of CD5 CAR-NK cells leading to enhanced cellular fitness and memory formation ensuing better anti-tumor potential. Based on these preclinical data, a Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of CD5 CAR-NK cells for the treatment of CD5+ malignancies is in preparation.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) belong to the same spectrum of myeloid malignancies and have extremely poor outcomes in the relapsed/refractory setting. Despite advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms of these disorders, and incremental improvements in treatment regimens, patients with MDS and AML often relapse and fail to achieve cure. These and other factors underscore the urgent need for new therapeutic alternatives that will improve the clinical outcomes of these patients. Immunotherapy using checkpoint molecule inhibitors and adoptive cell therapy using autologous immune effector cells have been mostly unsuccessful in patients with MDS and AML. This could be due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in the bone marrow niche or to intrinsic dysfunction in the immune effector cells of these patients. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play an important role in cancer immune surveillance and have distinct advantages over T cells as candidates for immunotherapy. Myeloid blasts are inherently susceptible to NK cell-mediated killing as they express many of the ligands recognized by NK cell activating receptors. However, malignant myeloid blasts are capable of adapting and developing defense mechanisms that allow them to evade NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Little is known about the mechanisms of NK cell immune evasion developed by myeloid blasts. Here, we show that NK cells from patients with myeloid malignancies display a global dysfunction with severely impaired secretory function and killing capacity. Single cell RNAseq and mass cytometry experiments revealed that these NK cells from MDS and AML patients display an exhausted phenotype at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels. We also show that these NK cells have an altered metabolism compared with age matched healthy control NK cells. We show that this dysfunction is mediated by a crosstalk between myeloid blasts and NK cells and cell-cell contact dependent release of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). This crosstalk leads to a profound epigenetic reprogramming of NK cells driven by transcription factors known to mediate exhaustion and immune suppression. Myeloid blast-induced NK dysfunction and epigenetic state of exhaustion can be prevented by pharmacologically inhibiting the TGF-β pathway or knockout of TGFBR2 in NK cells. However, our data reveal that once this dysfunction occurs it is irreversible owing to epigenetic scarring driven by the transcription factor BATF. In fact, we show that TGF-β induces the expression of BATF in NK cells, which in turn mediates a gene regulatory program leading to NK cell dysfunction by driving the expression of exhaustion and inhibitory genes (e.g. HAVCR2, ENTPD1, CTLA4, TGFBR2). Collectively, our findings reveal a novel mechanism of NK cell immune evasion manifested by stable epigenetic rewiring and inactivation of NK cells by myeloid blasts. Our data support the use of allogeneic sources for adoptive NK cell therapy in combination with strategies aiming at preventing immune suppression to treat myeloid malignancies rather than therapies aiming at reversing or rescuing the function of autologous NK cells.

Patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who fail to achieve a complete remission (CR) with standard induction therapy have a poor prognosis with conventional-dose salvage therapy alone. Retrospective series have suggested that early introduction of high-dose salvage therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) may benefit partial-responder (PR) patients. However, two randomized studies (of 69 and 51 patients with partial clinical responses) failed to demonstrate any advantage of intensive therapy. By contrast, the GELA comparative study on 94 PR-patients (residual disease being histologically documented in 53 patients) suggested that high-dose therapy with ASCT improves survival. Interpretation of all these results is complicated by the heterogeneity of patient populations with respect to initial prognostic factors, induction regimens and, in particular, the criteria used to define partial response. Gallium CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging are now used to better explore residual masses. In the future, early restaging with these imaging techniques might be used to delineate patients who are likely to achieve CR from those who will fail to induction treatment and could be candidates for experimental treatments.

S ummary . U‐937 represents a well‐established permanent human haematopoietic cell line, which exhibits characteristics of the monocyte/macrophage series. U‐937 cells were investigated by peroxidase ultrastructural cytochemistry in order to determine the normal developmental stage to which they correspond. This study was performed in non‐ and TPA‐stimulated cells, in conjunction with surface analysis by monoclonal antibodies. It is concluded: (1) peroxidase‐positive U‐937 cells are monoblasts and promonocytes involved in myeloperoxidase synthesis; (2) TPA‐stimulation caricatures transformation of these cells into monocytes but not into resident macrophages, as far as peroxidase cytochemistry is concerned; (3) the reactivity of myeloperoxidase present in the endoplasmic reticulum of synthesizing cells is inhibited by glutaraldehyde fixation.

Human T lymphocytes require the cooperation of accessory cells to generate lymphocyte colonies in agar culture under PHA stimulation. Various hairy cell enriched fractions, as well as normal monocytes, have been found to be able to initiate colony formation by normal lymphocytes. Leukemic monocytes from CMML patients were also effective, but not the leukemic lymphocytes from CLL patients. The phenotype expressed by HC in agar colonies was further studied using cell surface and enzymatic markers. We have concluded that HC in agar culture in the presence of both normal T lymphocytes and PHA lose the B phenotype that they express in vivo and function like an accessory cell in contrast to normal or leukemic B lymphocytes.