High-dose therapy followed by autologous purged stem-cell transplantation and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced follicular lymphoma: a randomized multicenter study by GOELAMS

Follicular lymphoma: 2023 update on diagnosis and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is generally an indolent B cell lymphoproliferative disorder of transformed follicular center B cells. FL is characterized by diffuse lymphadenopathy, bone marrow involvement, and splenomegaly. Extranodal involvement is less common. Cytopenias are relatively common but constitutional symptoms of fever, night sweats, and weight loss are uncommon in the absence of transformation to diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis is based on histology from a biopsy of a lymph node or other affected tissue. Incisional biopsy is preferred over needle biopsies in order to give adequate tissue to assign grade and assess for transformation. Immunohistochemical staining is positive in virtually all cases for cell surface CD19, CD20, CD10, and monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2 protein. The overwhelming majority of cases have the characteristic t(14;18) translocation involving the IgH/bcl-2 genes.

RISK STRATIFICATION

The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) uses five independent predictors of inferior survival: age >60 years, hemoglobin <12 g/dL, serum LDH > normal, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, number of involved nodal areas >4. The presence of 0-1, 2, and ≥3 adverse factors defines low, intermediate, and high-risk disease. There are other clinical prognostic models but the FLIPI remains the most common. Other factors such as time to relapse of less than 2 years from chemoimmunotherapy and specific gene mutations may also be useful for prognosis. Regardless of the prognostic model used, modern therapies have demonstrably improved prognosis.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Observation continues to be appropriate for asymptomatic patients with low bulk disease and no cytopenias. There is no overall survival (OS) advantage for early treatment with either chemotherapy or single-agent rituximab. For patients needing therapy, most patients are treated with chemoimmunotherapy, which has improved overall response rates (ORR), DOR, and OS. Randomized studies have shown additional benefits for maintenance of rituximab. Lenalidomide was non-inferior to chemoimmunotherapy in a randomized front-line study and, when combined with rituximab, was superior to rituximab alone in relapsed FL. Kinase inhibitors, stem cell transplantation (SCT), and chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) are also considered for recurrent disease.

Cellular Therapy in Follicular Lymphoma: Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation, Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy

A subset of follicular lymphoma patients with high-risk clinical features continues to pose a therapeutic challenge. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a suitable consolidative treatment option for these patients. Data on chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy are promising in relapsed/refractory and transformed patients. The increasing armamentarium of nontransplant options coupled with the associated potential long-term sequelae of transplantation raises questions about the placement of transplant strategies in the follicular lymphoma treatment hierarchy.

Follicular lymphoma: 2020 update on diagnosis and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is generally an indolent B cell lymphoproliferative disorder of transformed follicular center B cells. Follicular lymphoma is characterized by diffuse lymphadenopathy, bone marrow involvement, and splenomegaly. Extranodal involvement is less common. Cytopenias are relatively common but constitutional symptoms of fever, night sweats, and weight loss are uncommon in the absence of transformation to diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis is based on histology from a biopsy of a lymph node or other affected tissue. Incisional biopsy is preferred over needle biopsies in order to give adequate tissue to assign grade and assess for transformation. Immunohistochemical staining is positive in virtually all cases for cell surface CD19, CD20, CD10 and monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2 protein. The overwhelming majority of cases have the characteristic t(14;18) translocation involving the IgH/bcl-2 genes.

RISK STRATIFICATION

The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) uses five independent predictors of inferior survival: age > 60 years, hemoglobin <12 g/dL, serum LDH > normal, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, number of involved nodal areas >4. The presence of 0-1, 2, and ≥ 3 adverse factors defines low, intermediate, and high-risk disease. There are other clinical prognostic models but the FLIPI remains the most common. Other factors such as time to relapse of less than 2 years from chemoimmunotherapy and specific gene mutations may also be useful for prognosis. Regardless of the prognostic model used, modern therapies have demonstrably improved prognosis.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Observation continues to be appropriate for asymptomatic patients with low bulk disease and no cytopenias. There is no overall survival advantage for early treatment with either chemotherapy or single agent rituximab. For patients needing therapy, most patients are treated with chemoimmunotherapy, which has improved response rates, duration of response and overall survival (OS). Randomized studies have shown additional benefit for maintenance rituximab. Lenalidomide was non-inferior to chemoimmunotherapy in a randomized front-line study and, when combined with rituximab, was superior to rituximab alone in relapsed FL. Kinase inhibitors, other immunotherapies, and stem cell transplantation (SCT) are also considered for recurrent disease.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of relapsed follicular lymphoma after autologous stem cell transplantation in the rituximab era

High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a therapeutic option for patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma (FL). The clinical characteristics and outcomes of FL relapse after ASCT in the rituximab era have not yet been fully elucidated. We retrospectively reviewed 414 FL patients treated with ASCT between 2000 and 2014 in four hematology departments. All patients received rituximab as a first-line treatment. We specifically analyzed the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies at relapse, and outcomes of 95 patients (23%) who relapsed after ASCT. The patients (median age, 57 y) received a median of two lines of therapy (range, 2-6) prior to ASCT, with 92% in complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) before ASCT. Histological transformation at relapse after ASCT was observed in 20% of the patients. Treatment at relapse after ASCT consisted of chemotherapy with or without rituximab (n = 45/90, 50%), targeted agents (18%), rituximab monotherapy (14%), or consolidation allogeneic transplantation after induction chemotherapy (12%) and radiotherapy (6%). After relapse, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 1 year (95% CI, 0.541-1.579) and 5.5 years (95% CI, 1.910-9.099), respectively. In the multivariate analysis, histological transformation (HT) was associated with OS (P = .044; HR 2.439; 95% CI, 1.025-5.806), and a high FLIPI score at relapse was associated with PFS (P = .028; HR 2.469; 95% CI, 1.104-5.521). This retrospective study showed that the period of PFS of patients who relapsed after ASCT is short. A biopsy should be performed for these patients to document the HT. Our results indicate that new treatment strategies will need to be developed for these patients.

Diagnosis and management of follicular lymphoma: A comprehensive review

Follicular Lymphoma (FL) is an indolent lymphoma and may have various clinical courses. Worldwide, FL is the second most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) type after diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In this review article, the author is discussing relevant diagnostic tools, prognostic factors, and updated study results on the management of patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory FL. Controversies in the treatment, maintenance therapy, stem cell transplantation, and novel treatment approaches will be comprehensively discussed.

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

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

Radioimmunotherapy as the first line of treatment in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematologic malignancy. The estimated deaths and new cases of NHL in the USA in 2018 have reached 19,910 and 74,680, respectively, with 5-year survival rate of 71%. Therapeutic interventions for NHL consist of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is a potential alternative treatment for NHL that is currently used in different lines of treatment. Studies show that nuclear medicine physicians and radiation oncologists are not yet certain about the proper line for administration of RIT. Herein, we have reviewed the efficiency and toxicity of RIT as the first line of treatment, and discussed potential novel indications, and strategies such as modifying induction therapy and using rituximab maintenance to optimize the efficiency of RIT as the first line of treatment. Our review indicates that it is more logical to postpone conventional therapies to the second or third lines of treatment instead of RIT.

Follicular lymphoma: 2018 update on diagnosis and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Follicular lymphoma is generally an indolent B cell lymphoproliferative disorder of transformed follicular center B cells. Follicular lymphoma (FL) is characterized by diffuse lymphadenopathy, bone marrow involvement, splenomegaly and less commonly other extranodal sites of involvement. In general, cytopenias can occur but constitutional symptoms of fever, nightsweats, and weight loss are uncommon.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is based on histology of preferably a biopsy of a lymph node. Immunohistochemical staining is positive in virtually all cases for cell surface CD19, CD20, CD10, and monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2 protein. The overwhelming majority of cases have the characteristic t(14;18) translocation involving the IgH/bcl-2 genes.

RISK STRATIFICATION

The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index prognostic model for FL uses five independent predictors of inferior survival: age >60 years, hemoglobin <12 g/dL, serum LDH > normal, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, number of involved nodal areas > 4. The presence of 0, 1, 2, and ≥ 3 adverse factors defines low, intermediate, and high-risk disease. With the use of more modern therapies, outcomes have improved.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Observation continues to be adequate for asymptomatic patients with low bulk disease and no cytopenias, with no survival advantage for early treatment with either chemotherapy or rituximab alone. For patients needing therapy, most patients are treated with chemotherapy plus rituximab, which has improved response rates, duration of response and overall survival. Randomized studies have shown additional benefit for maintenance rituximab both following chemotherapy-rituximab and single agent rituximab. Experimental therapies as well as stem cell transplantation (SCT) are considered for recurrent disease.

The role of stem cell transplantation in follicular lymphoma

With the introduction of novel treatments paradigms to if or when to use transplantation strategies for patients with follicular lymphoma have changed substantially. Autologous transplantation has been intensively evaluated as consolidation after first induction treatment with positive effects, however the introduction of Rituximab led to comparable improvements and HDT has been moved to relapse treatment. In this indication HDT was frequently use already at first relapse, but now is dominantly used in patients with a highrisk profile, e.g. failure of response, early or multiply relapse and/or signs of transformation. The ideal place for allogeneic transplantation is even harder to define, as the curative potential might be outweighed by the substantial side effect profile and the indication must always be discussed in the light of available alternatives. In consequence, transplantation strategies remain an important therapeutic instrument for patients with FL, however timing within the treatment course has to be defined individually.

Riboflavin-containing telodendrimer nanocarriers for efficient doxorubicin delivery: High loading capacity, increased stability, and improved anticancer efficacy

We have developed two linear-dendritic telodendrimers (TDs) with rational design using amphiphilic riboflavin (Rf) as building blocks for efficient doxorubicin (DOX) delivery. Micellar TD nanoparticles (NPs) are composed of a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) shell and a Rf-containing affinitive core for DOX encapsulation. Strong DOX-Rf interactions and amphiphilic Rf structure render these nanocarriers with an ultra-high DOX loading capacity (>1/1, DOX/TD, w/w), ∼100% loading efficiency, the sustained drug release and the optimal particle sizes (20-40 nm) for efficient tumor-targeted drug delivery. These nanoformulations significantly prolonged DOX circulation time in the blood without the accelerated clearance observed after multiple injections. DOX-TDs target several types of tumors efficiently in vivo, e.g. Raji lymphoma, MDA-MB-231 breast cancer, and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer. In vivo maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of DOX was increased by 2-2.5 folds for the nanoformulations in mice relative to those of free DOX and Doxil^®. These nanoformulations significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival of mice bearing SKOV-3 ovarian cancer xenografts. In summary, Rf-containing nanoformulations with high DOX loading capacity, improved stability and efficient tumor targeting lead to superior antitumor efficacy, which merit the further development for clinical application.

Risk of Second Primary Malignancies in Patients With Follicular Lymphoma: A United States Population-based Study

BACKGROUND

With the improving outcomes of patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), it is imperative to focus on survivorship issues, including the development of second primary malignancies (SPMs). We used a large US database to measure the risk of SPMs among FL survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-13 registry to identify FL patients from 1992 to 2011. We calculated the risk of SPMs, developing ≥ 6 months after diagnosis, using the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and absolute excess risk. We calculated the cumulative incidence of SPMs using the competing risk method and risk factors for SPMs using univariate and multivariate methods.

RESULTS

Of a total of 15,517 patients with FL followed up for a median of 71 months, 1540 (9.9%) developed SPMs, with a SIR of 1.08 and absolute excess risk of 11.3 per 10,000 person-years. A significantly increased risk was noted for Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR, 5.85), acute myeloid leukemia (SIR, 4.88), and the following sites: oral cavity and pharynx (SIR, 1.43), stomach (SIR, 1.43), lung and bronchus (SIR, 1.35), melanoma of skin (SIR, 1.38), other nonepithelial cancers of the skin (SIR, 2.88), urinary bladder (SIR, 1.24), and kidney/renal pelvis (SIR, 1.43). The cumulative incidence of SPMs was 11.06% at 10 years. Multivariate regression showed that age > 65 years (SIR, 1.57; P < .001), male gender (SIR, 1.43; P < .001), and receipt of radiation (SIR, 1.24; P = .001) predicted a higher rate of SPMs.

CONCLUSION

Patients with FL have increased risk of both hematologic and solid malignancies. Risk factors for SPMs include advanced age, male gender, and receipt of radiation therapy.

The role of stem-cell transplantation in the treatment of marginal zone lymphoma

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) is standard therapy in relapsed/refractory aggressive lymphoma. The optimal therapy of relapsed/refractory disseminated marginal-zone lymphoma (MZL) has not been defined. Limited data on ASCT in this setting suggests outcomes are similar to what is expected in follicular lymphoma. International guidelines suggest that ASCT should be considered in follicular lymphoma in second or subsequent remission, in particular in high-risk disease, or following disease transformation. These guidelines can be extrapolated to MZL. ASCT is not considered curative but a subset of patients achieve very long remissions. The major concern is the occurrence of secondary malignancies possibly related to total-body irradiation. Allogeneic SCT is usually considered after failure of ASCT, but can also be considered upfront in younger patients seeking curative approach. The introduction of novel/targeted therapies may change the role and timing SCT may have in the treatment algorithm of indolent lymphomas.

Thirty-Month Complete Response as a Surrogate End Point in First-Line Follicular Lymphoma Therapy: An Individual Patient-Level Analysis of Multiple Randomized Trials

Purpose Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent cancer, with effective but rarely curative treatment options. As a standard study end point for first-line FL therapy, progression-free survival (PFS) requires extended follow-up (median PFS, > 7 years). To provide patients with earlier access to newer therapies, an earlier end point to expedite clinical trials is needed. Our objective was to formally assess the complete response rate at 30 months (CR30) after initiation of induction therapy as a potential surrogate end point for PFS in first-line FL therapy. Patients and Methods We analyzed individual patient data from 13 randomized multicenter trials of induction and maintenance regimens in first-line FL therapy published after 1990 and with sufficient data to evaluate whether CR30 could predict treatment effects on PFS. Correlation of the CR30 odds ratio with the PFS hazard ratio was evaluated by both linear regression (R²_WLS) and bivariate copula (R²_Copula) models. Prespecified criteria for surrogacy required either R²_WLS or R²_Copula ≥ 0.80, with a lower-bound 95% CI > 0.60. Results Data from eight induction and five maintenance randomized trials in 3,837 evaluable patients were analyzed. The prespecified surrogacy threshold was met, with an R²_WLS of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.96) and an R²_Copula of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.72 to 1.00). Multiple sensitivity and supplemental analyses supported the robustness of the findings. A minimum 11% absolute improvement in CR30 from a 50% control rate predicted a significant treatment effect on PFS (hazard ratio, 0.69). Conclusion This large, prospective, pooled analysis of randomized chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and chemoimmunotherapy trials demonstrates that CR30 is a surrogate end point for PFS in first-line FL treatment trials. Use of this end point may expedite therapeutic development with the intent of bringing novel therapies to this patient population years before PFS results are mature.

Outcome Comparison of Allogeneic versus Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Transformed Low-Grade Lymphoid Malignancies: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of Comparative Studies

BACKGROUND

Some patients with low-grade lymphoid malignancies develop transformed disease, requiring stem cell transplantation (SCT). SCT outcomes in transformed low-grade lymphoid malignancies may differ from those of nontransformed disease or other aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas. We conducted a pooled analysis of the clinical outcomes of allogeneic versus high-dose therapy (HDT) with autologous SCT in adult patients with transformed low-grade lymphoid malignancies.

METHODS

A PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane search yielded 4 comparative studies reporting allogeneic versus HDT with autologous SCT outcomes in adults (age ≥18) with transformed low-grade lymphoid malignancies, including follicular, chronic/small lymphocytic, and marginal zone lymphoma. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% CI were calculated using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Rates for overall survival (OS) were 51.0 versus 69.5% (RR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.19-2.02, p = 0.001), rates of relapse were 37.3 versus 35.3% (RR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.70-1.55, p = 0.84), and rates of transplant-related mortality (TRM) were 33.3 versus 7.2% (RR = 4.52, 95% CI 2.75-7.43, p < 0.00001) for allogeneic versus autologous SCT. Previous rituximab treatment, reduced intensity conditioning regimen prior to SCT, or original pathology had no prognostic impact.

CONCLUSION

HDT followed by autologous SCT was associated with lower TRM and a better OS, but there was no difference in relapse versus allogeneic SCT. Autologous SCT may be the better therapeutic option, considering the second chance of allogeneic SCT in the case of relapse.

The role of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the management of indolent B-cell lymphoma

Despite improvements over the past decade in the overall survival of patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas, these lymphomas remain largely incurable with standard therapies. Immunochemotherapy with rituximab-based regimens has become a well-established standard of care in the primary and relapsed disease settings. The role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in indolent lymphoma has been defined by the adoption of this therapy largely in the relapse setting because randomized trials in the first-line setting have not shown survival advantages. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has the possibility for cure because of the potential for immunologic graft-versus-lymphoma effect, but there are significant concerns regarding nonrelapse mortality. Autologous stem cell transplantation offers a safe treatment platform, but relapse remains a significant issue. The role of transplantation in the current treatment landscape of immunochemotherapy has not been conclusively proven, and randomized trials are lacking. This review summarizes the current relevant data regarding transplantation in indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma and highlights the issues relevant to clinicians in the field.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation as Curative Therapy for Patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Increasingly Successful Application to Older Patients

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) constitutes a collection of lymphoproliferative disorders with widely varying biological, histological, and clinical features. For the B cell NHLs, great progress has been made due to the addition of monoclonal antibodies and, more recently, other novel agents including B cell receptor signaling inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, and proteasome inhibitors. Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) offers the promise of cure or prolonged remission in some NHL patients. For some patients, however, auto-HCT may never be a viable option, whereas in others, the disease may progress despite auto-HCT. In those settings, allogeneic HCT (allo-HCT) offers the potential for cure. Over the past 10 to 15 years, considerable progress has been made in the implementation of allo-HCT, such that this approach now is a highly effective therapy for patients up to (and even beyond) age 75 years. Recent advances in conventional lymphoma therapy, peritransplantation supportive care, patient selection, and donor selection (including the use of alternative hematopoietic cell donors), has allowed broader application of allo-HCT to patients with NHL. As a result, an ever-increasing number of NHL patients over age 60 to 65 years stand to benefit from allo-HCT. In this review, we present data in support of the use of allo-HCT for patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. These histologies account for a large majority of allo-HCTs performed for patients over age 60 in the United States. Where possible, we highlight available data in older patients. This body of literature strongly supports the concept that allo-HCT should be offered to fit patients well beyond age 65 and, accordingly, that this treatment should be covered by their insurance carriers.

Is There a Best Initial Treatment for a New Patient With Low Grade Follicular Lymphoma

The treatment landscape for newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma (FL) has dramatically changed over the past decade, first with the advent of rituximab and then with the activity of old and new drugs, like bendamustine and lenalidomide, in this disease. The efficacy and tolerability of rituximab has led to a paradigm shift for the management of patients with low volume FL for many oncologists. Despite the lack of a survival benefit seen with this approach, many now use this single agent in patients who had historically been observed. Likewise, its use as maintenance therapy following successful front-line induction therapy of patients with symptomatic FL, with either rituximab alone or specific chemoimmunotherapy regimens, has improved remission duration and widely been adopted. As newer chemoimmunotherapy regimens, like bendamustine and rituximab, have superior outcomes with improved tolerability, upfront treatment options are redefined and questions emerge: whom do maintenance strategies benefit, and what is the optimal sequencing of therapies? Finally, as newer targeted and potentially better tolerated therapies demonstrate efficacy in the relapsed setting, their use, both in combination with and in place of chemotherapy, is being explored. The promising regimen of lenalidomide with rituximab is being compared with chemoimmunotherapy in a randomized fashion. Cure remains elusive, however, in advanced stage disease and so safety and tolerability, in addition to efficacy, remain important endpoints.

Follicular lymphoma: 2015 update on diagnosis and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Follicular lymphoma is generally an indolent B cell lymphoproliferative disorder of transformed follicular center B cells. Follicular lymphoma (FL) is characterized by diffuse lymphoadenopathy, bone marrow involvement, splenomegaly, and less commonly other extranodal sites of involvement. In general, cytopenias can occur but constitutional symptoms of fever, night sweats, and weight loss are uncommon.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is based on histology of preferably a biopsy of a lymph node. Immunohistochemical staining is positive in virtually all cases for cell surface CD19, CD20, CD10, and monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2 protein. The overwhelming majority of cases have the characteristic t(14;18) translocation involving the IgH/bcl-2 genes.

RISK STRATIFICATION

The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index prognostic model for FL uses five independent predictors of inferior survival: age >60 years, hemoglobin <12 g/dL, serum LDH > normal, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, number of involved nodal areas > 4. The presence of 0, 1, 2, and ≥ 3 adverse factors defines low, intermediate, and high-risk disease. With the use of more modern therapies, outcomes have improved.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Observation continues to be adequate for asymptomatic patients with low bulk disease and no cytopenias, with no survival advantage for early treatment with either chemotherapy or rituximab alone. For patients needing therapy, most patients are treated with chemotherapy plus rituximab, which has improved response rates, duration of response and overall survival. Randomized studies have shown additional benefit for maintenance rituximab both following chemotherapy-rituximab and single agent rituximab. Experimental therapies as well as stem cell transplantation (SCT) are considered for recurrent disease.

Secondary malignancies following high dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation-systematic review and meta-analysis

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) with other treatment modalities to analyze the risk for various secondary malignancies (SMs). Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated and pooled. Our search yielded 36 trials. The median follow-up was 55 (range 12-144) months. Overall, the RR for developing SMs was 1.23 ((0.97-1.55), I(2)=4%, 9870 patients). Subgroup analysis of trials assessing TBI-containing preparative regimens and of patients with baseline lymphoproliferative diseases, showed there was a higher risk for SMs in patients given autografts (RR=1.61 (1.05-2.48), I(2)=14%, 2218 patients and RR=1.62 (1.12-2.33), I(2)=22%, 3343 patients, respectively). Among all patients, there was a higher rate of myelodysplastic syndrome MDS/AML in patients given HCT compared with other treatments (RR=1.71 (1.18-2.48), I(2)=0%, 8778 patients). The risk of secondary solid malignancies was comparable in the short term between patients given HCT and patients given other treatments (RR=0.95 (0.67-1.32), I(2)=0%, 5925 patients). We conclude that overall the risk of secondary MDS/AML is higher in patients given autologous HCT compared with other treatments. In the subgroup of patients given a TBI-based regimen and in those with a baseline lymphoproliferative disease, there was a higher risk of overall SMs.

The use of anthracycline at first-line compared to alkylating agents or nucleoside analogs improves the outcome of salvage treatments after relapse in follicular lymphoma The REFOLL study by the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi

Follicular lymphoma (FL) patients experience multiple remissions and relapses and commonly receive multiple treatment lines. A crucial question is whether anthracyclines should be used at first-line or whether they would be better "reserved" for relapse and whether FL outcome can be optimized by definite sequences of treatments. Randomized trials can be hardly designed to address this question. In this retrospective multi-institutional study, time-to-next-treatment after first relapse was analyzed in 510 patients who had received either alkylating agents- or anthracycline- or nucleoside analogs-based chemotherapy with/without rituximab at first-line and different second-line therapies. After a median of 42 months, median time-to-next-treatment after relapse was 41 months (CI95%:34-47 months). After adjustment for covariates, first-line anthracycline-based chemotherapy with/without rituximab was associated with better time-to-next-treatment after any salvage than alkylating agents-based chemotherapy with/without rituximab or nucleoside analogs-based chemotherapy with/without rituximab (HR:0.74, P = 0.027). The addition of rituximab to first-line chemotherapy had no significant impact (HR:1.22, P = 0.140). Autologs stem cell transplantation performed better than any other salvage treatment (HR:0.53, P < 0.001). First-line anthracycline-based chemotherapy significantly improved time-to-next-treatment even in patients receiving salvage autologs stem cell transplantation (P = 0.041). This study supports the concept that in FL previous treatments significantly impact on the outcome of subsequent therapies. The outcome of second-line treatments, either with salvage chemoimmunotherapy or with autologs stem cell transplantation, was better when an anthracycline-containing regimen was used at first-line.

Comparative effectiveness research in follicular lymphoma: current and future perspectives and challenges

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in northern America. FL is an incurable disease with relapsing-remitting courses requiring serial intermittent treatments. Duration of remission will often become progressively shorter and most patients will die from refractory disease or transformation to aggressive lymphoma. Given the incurable nature of FL, current goals of treatment are focused on improving symptoms and survival by a variety of available treatment options, while considering potential adverse events. Although randomized controlled trials are universally perceived as the gold standard of clinical research, randomized controlled trials are not always practical and have several limitations. Therapeutic and diagnostic options of FLs are expanding faster than randomized controlled trials can test them, so employing comparative effectiveness research on other research designs are needed to efficiently improve global FL care. Implementing comparative effectiveness research with judicious use of appropriate research designs will hopefully fill current knowledge gaps and provide insights for FL managements.

Autologous stem cell transplantation for follicular lymphoma is of most benefit early in the disease course and can result in durable remissions, irrespective of prior rituximab exposure

The role of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and the optimal timing of such transplants in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) remains contentious. We present a single-centre experience documenting the outcomes of 70 FL patients who underwent BEAM (carmustine, cytarabine, etopside, melphalan)-conditioned ASCT between 1988 and 2009. With a median follow-up of 6·8 years (0·1-19·2), the 7-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) from the date of ASCT was 76% and 60%, respectively. A significant difference in OS was found when comparing the patients transplanted in first or second remission versus those transplanted in later remissions (P = 0·02) and this significance was maintained when OS was calculated from the date of diagnosis (P = 0·03). There was a plateau on the PFS curves for patients transplanted in either first or second remissions after 9·3 and 6·4 years respectively, suggesting that these groups may never relapse. No differences were seen in OS or PFS in those treated with rituximab prior to transplant versus those who were not. Our data shows that BEAM ASCT can be a highly effective treatment in patients with FL early in the disease course, and that a proportion of patients experience prolonged disease-free survival and may be cured.

Follicular lymphoma: 2014 update on diagnosis and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Follicular lymphoma is generally an indolent B cell lymphoproliferative disorder of transformed follicular center B cells. Follicular lymphoma (FL) is characterized by diffuse lymphoadenopathy, bone marrow involvement, splenomegaly, and less commonly other extranodal sites of involvement. In general cytopenias can occur but constitutional symptoms of fever, nightsweats, and weight loss are uncommon.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is based on histology of preferably a biopsy of a lymph node. Immunohistochemical staining is positive in virtually all cases for cell surface CD19, CD20, CD10, and monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2 protein. The overwhelming majority of cases have the characteristic t(14;18) translocation involving the IgH/bcl-2 genes.

RISK STRATIFICATION

The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index prognostic model for FL uses five independent predictors of inferior survival: age >60 years, hemoglobin <12 g/dL, serum LDH > normal, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, number of involved nodal areas > 4. The presence of 0, 1, 2, and  ≥ 3 adverse factors defines low, intermediate, and high-risk disease. With the use of more modern therapies, outcomes have improved.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Observation continues to be adequate for asymptomatic patients with low bulk disease and no cytopenias. For patients needing therapy, most patients are treated with chemotherapy plus rituximab, which has improved response rates, duration of response and overall survival. Randomized studies have shown additional benefit for maintenance rituximab both following chemotherapy-rituximab and single agent rituximab. Experimental therapies as well as stem cell transplantation (SCT) are considered for recurrent disease.

How we manage follicular lymphoma

Major changes have taken place within the last few years in the management of follicular lymphoma (FL) leading to substantial improvement in prognosis and overall survival. For some patients with limited disease stages I and II, radiotherapy may be associated with durable responses; however, it is unclear whether patients are cured and new approaches such as the combination of irradiation with rituximab or even single-agent rituximab need to be explored. Whereas watch and wait is the current standard for stage III and IV disease with low tumour burden, better indices are warranted to potentially select patients for whom early intervention is preferred. For advanced stages with a high tumour burden, immunochemotherapy followed by 2 years of rituximab maintenance is widely accepted as standard therapy, although re-treatment at recurrence may be an alternative option. Highly attractive new therapeutic options have recently arisen from new antibodies, and from new agents targeting oncogenic pathways such as B-cell receptor signalling pathways or inhibition of bcl 2. Furthermore, immunomodulatory drugs may add to the therapeutic armamentarium and may lead to 'chemotherapy-free' therapies in the near future. Hence, the management of FLs has become a moving target and the hope is justified that the long-term perspectives of patients suffering from the disease will be further improved in the near future.

Update on front-line therapy for follicular lymphoma: chemo-immunotherapy with rituximab and survival

Over the last three decades, there has been a wide range of options in the management of follicular lymphoma, including observation (watching and waiting), single-agent or combination (e.g., alkylating agents, anthracyclines or purine nucleoside analogs) radiation therapy, immunotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy, and interferon. A number of trials studying the treatment of follicular lymphoma patients have investigated the benefit of adding rituximab either concurrently or sequentially to chemotherapy. In the current review, these studies were selected based on the fact that they were randomized Phase III studies with two arms comparing chemotherapy alone with rituximab-based chemo-immunotherapy regimens. In September 2006, the US FDA approved the use of rituximab (Rituxan) as front-line treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma in combination with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (R-CVP) as well as for the treatment of patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma who achieve stable disease or better following first-line treatment with the same chemotherapy regimen (CVP --> R). The European Medicines Agency also approved the use of rituximab (MabThera) as front-line treatment of patients with stage III-IV disease in combination with CVP chemotherapy. In conclusion, although the clinical studies discussed in this article provide evidence for a progression-free survival benefit, overall survival advantage was clearly shown for the first time in a recent update of the initial study in patients with follicular lymphoma.

Is there a role for autotransplants in patients with follicular lymphoma in the rituximab era?

Patients with low grad follicular lymphoma were shown to be able to achieve long-term disease-free survival when transplanted after relapse in the era before the wide spread use of rituximab. It appears that the availability of rituximab has not diminished the value of transplantation (i.e., either autologous or allogeneic) in the care of these patients. A similar overall survival and less treatment related toxicity make autologous transplantation the better choice for most patients transplanted at first treatment failure.

A new approach for eradication of residual lymphoma cells by host nonreactive anti-third-party central memory CD8 T cells

Generation of T cells endowed with graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) and depleted of graft-versus-host (GVH) activity represents a highly desirable goal in bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Here, we demonstrate that donor anti-third-party CD8 T cells with central memory phenotype (Tcm) exhibit marked GVL reactivity through a unique T-cell receptor-independent mechanism. Thus, in a residual disease mouse model, Tcm therapy following autologous BMT led to significant survival prolongation, with 30% to 40% of the treated mice displaying long-term tumor-free survival. A more impressive finding was that infusion of donor Tcm in an allogeneic model rapidly eliminated residual lymphoma cells and led to long-term survival of 100% in the absence of GVH disease. Collectively, the strong GVL reactivity of anti-third-party Tcm, coupled with their demonstrated enhancement of bone marrow allografting, suggests that the use of Tcm therapy in conjunction with allogeneic T-cell-depleted BMT could be of particular benefit in patients with B-cell malignancies who cannot tolerate intensive myeloablative conditioning.

Update on the role of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) remains incurable despite advances in new strategies of treatment, including monoclonal antibodies (MoAb). Except for early stages, FL is characterized by responses to treatments and systematic relapses. The main objective in this disease is to achieve a better progression free survival (PFS) and to increase overall survival (OS), mainly in young patients. In order to improve the results of conventional chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is a feasible treatment in these patients. In this moment, ASCT is not recommended as first line treatment, except for transformed FL, but is a good strategy as salvage therapy with an improved PFS and OS. New drugs have been introduced to enhance responses of ASCT, but nowadays they are not part of conventional conditioning regimen.

Follicular lymphoma: 2012 update on diagnosis and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is generally an indolent B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of transformed follicular center B cells. FL is characterized by diffuse lymphoadenopathy, involvement of bone marrow, splenomegaly, and less commonly other extranodal sites of involvement. In general, cytopenias can occur but constitutional symptoms of fever, night sweats, and weight loss are uncommon.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is based on histology of preferably a biopsy of a lymph node. Immunohistochemical staining is positive in virtually all cases for cell surface CD19, CD20, CD10, and monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2 protein. The overwhelming majority of cases have the characteristic t(14;18) translocation involving the IgH/bcl-2 genes.

RISK STRATIFICATION

The FL International Prognostic Index prognostic model for FL uses five independent predictors of inferior survival: age > 60 years, hemoglobin < 12 g/dL, serum lactate dehydrogenase > normal, Ann Arbor stage III/IV, number of involved nodal areas > 4. The presence of 0, 1, 2, and ≥ 3 adverse factors defines low, intermediate, and high-risk disease with median 10-year survivals in the pre-rituximab era of ~71, 51, and 36 months, respectively. With the use of more modern therapies, specifically anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, the outcome has improved.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Observation continues to be adequate for asymptomatic patients with low bulk disease and no cytopenias. For patients needing therapy, most patients are treated with chemotherapy plus rituximab, which has improved response rates, duration of response, and overall survival. Randomized studies have shown additional benefit for maintenance rituximab both following chemotherapy-rituximab and single-agent rituximab. Autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) has not shown a survival benefit in first remission patients. SCT including both autologous and allogeneic SCT or experimental agent therapy is considered for recurrent disease.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Lymphomas are solid tumours of the immune system. Hodgkin's lymphoma accounts for about 10% of all lymphomas, and the remaining 90% are referred to as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas have a wide range of histological appearances and clinical features at presentation, which can make diagnosis difficult. Lymphomas are not rare, and most physicians, irrespective of their specialty, will probably have come across a patient with lymphoma. Timely diagnosis is important because effective, and often curative, therapies are available for many subtypes. In this Seminar we discuss advances in the understanding of the biology of these malignancies and new, available treatments.

High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation versus chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy for follicular lymphoma in adults

BACKGROUND

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent and second most common Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma (NHL) in the Western world. Standard treatment usually includes rituximab and chemotherapy. High-dose therapy (HDT) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an option for patients in advanced stages or for second-line therapy, leading to improved progression-free survival (PFS) rates. However, the impact of HDT and ASCT remains unclear, as there are hints of an increased risk of second cancers.

OBJECTIVES

We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HDT plus ASCT with chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy in patients with FL with respect to overall survival (OS), PFS, treatment-related mortality (TRM), adverse events and secondary malignancies.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE as well as conference proceedings from January 1985 to September 2011 for RCTs. Two review authors independently screened search results.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials comparing chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy with HDT followed by ASCT in adults with previously untreated or relapsed FL.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used hazard ratios (HR) as effect measures used for OS and PFS as well as relative risks for response rates. Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the quality of trials.

MAIN RESULTS

Our search strategies led to 3046 potentially relevant references. Of these, five RCTs involving 1093 patients were included; four trials in previously untreated patients and one trial in relapsed patients. Overall, the quality of the five trials is judged to be moderate. All trials were reported as randomised and judged to be open-label studies, because usually trials evaluating stem cell transplantation are not blinded. Due to the small number of studies in each analysis (four or less), the quantification of heterogeneity was not reliable and not evaluated in further detail. A potential source of bias are uncertainties in the HR calculation. For OS, the HR had to be calculated for three trials from survival curves, for PFS for two trials.We found a statistically significant increased PFS in previously untreated FL patients in the HDT + ASCT arm (HR = 0.42 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33 to 0.54; P < 0.00001). However, this effect is not transferred into a statistically significant OS advantage (HR = 0.97; 95% 0.76 to 1.24; P = 0.81). The subgroup of trials adding rituximab to both intervention arms (one trial) confirms these results and the trial had to be stopped early after an interim analysis due to a statistically significant PFS advantage in the HDT + ASCT arm (PFS: HR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.55; OS: HR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.40 to 1.92). In the four trials in previously untreated patients there are no statistically significant differences between HDT + ASCT and the control-arm in terms of TRM (RR = 1.28; 95% CI 0.25 to 6.61; P = 0.77), secondary acute myeloid leukaemia/myelodysplastic syndromes (RR = 2.87; 95% CI 0.7 to 11.75; P = 0.14) or solid cancers (RR = 1.20; 95% CI 0.25 to 5.77; P = 0.82). Adverse events were rarely reported and were observed more frequently in patients undergoing HDT + ASCT (mostly infections and haematological toxicity).For patients with relapsed FL, there is some evidence (one trial, N = 70) that HDT + ASCT is advantageous in terms of PFS and OS (PFS: HR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.61; OS: HR = 0.40; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.89). For this trial, no results were reported for TRM, adverse events or secondary cancers.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the currently available evidence suggests a strong PFS benefit for HDT + ASCT compared with chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with FL. No statistically significant differences in terms of OS, TRM and secondary cancers were detected. These effects are confirmed in a subgroup analysis (one trial) adding rituximab to both treatment arms. Further trials evaluating this approach are needed to determine this effect more precisely in the era of rituximab. Moreover, longer follow-up data are necessary to find out whether the PFS advantage will translate into an OS advantage in previously untreated patients with FL.There is evidence that HDT + ASCT is advantageous in patients with relapsed FL.

The evolving role of stem cell transplants in lymphomas

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an established therapeutic modality in the treatment of lymphomas, especially in the relapse setting. It is also under investigation after first-line therapy, for example, in patients with mantle cell or T cell lymphomas. Each year more than 6000 autotransplants for lymphomas are reported to the European Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) registry. The number of allogeneic stem cell transplantations (alloSCT) in lymphoma patients has increased over the last decade, with about 1200 transplanted lymphoma patients annually reported to the registry. Optimal timing and indications for alloSCT are not well defined because of absence of randomized trials. Developments in the treatment of lymphomas including immunotherapy have changed the clinical scenarios in regard to ASCT, and many published studies are now outdated. On the other hand, patients relapsing after immunochemotherapy may derive less benefit from ASCT. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in using alloSCT not only in lymphoma patients relapsing after ASCT but also in earlier phases in specific circumstances. Although curative potential is higher with alloSCT compared with ASCT, its wider use has been hindered by excessive nonrelapse mortality (NRM). Along with decreasing NRM figures, popularity of alloSCT may increase in the near future, possibly with the expense of ASCT. Prospective, randomized studies are needed to evaluate feasibility and efficacy of alloSCT in several clinical settings, as most published evidence is based on retrospective registry data or single-center experiences.

Perspective of clinical research in follicular NHL: interaction between science and industry

Despite advancements in the treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL), curative therapy remains an elusive unmet medical need. Improvements in progression-free survival result in new logistical and financial challenges to clinical investigation and drug development in this indolent disease. Surrogate endpoints that utilize imaging and sensitive markers of treatment effect may serve to address this problem. Additionally, alternative trial designs may help to bypass some of the logistical hurdles.