Malignant pleural effusions in lymphoproliferative disorders

Application of flow cytometry in the analysis of lymphoid disease in the lung and pleural space

Various types of lymphoid neoplasms can occur in the lung. Lung parenchyma, the pleura or the pleural cavity can be the primary site of a lymphoid neoplasm or can be involved secondarily as a result of systemic dissemination from a separate primary site. Recognition of pulmonary lymphoid neoplasms (PLN) has increased secondary to technological advances in the medical field. Multiparameter flow cytometry (FC) is a one of the diagnostic tools that serves an essential role in the detecting and categorizing PLNs. FC allows for rapid identification and immunophenotypic characterization of PLN. In this article, we discuss the role of FC in the diagnosis of the most commonly encountered PLNs as well as their basic clinicopathologic features. We briefly discuss the role of FC in identifying non-hematolymphoid neoplasms in lung specimens as well.

Therapeutic options for patients with Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who relapse after autologous transplant

Although autologous stem cell transplantation for Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has become a safe and effective therapy, relapses after transplant are common. Emerging data indicate that an increasing number of patients can be re-induced into durable complete remission. Conventional dose- salvage chemotherapy and single-agent monoclonal antibody treatment provided limited success, but combination chemotherapy-monoclonal antibody treatments, second autografts, and reduced-intensity conditioning allografts provide encouraging results. For some patients, the best strategy may consist of participation in phase I to II studies of novel agents. New strategies designed to prevent relapse after autograft include cytokine therapy such as interleukin-2 in combination with monoclonal antibodies and the use of autologous antilymphoma vaccines.