Combination of rituximab with chlorambucil as first line treatment in patients with mantle cell lymphoma: a highly effective regimen

Laying the groundwork for the Biobank of Rare Malignant Neoplasms at the service of the Hellenic Network of Precision Medicine on Cancer

Biobanks constitute an integral part of precision medicine. They provide a repository of biospecimens that may be used to elucidate the pathophysiology, support diagnoses, and guide the treatment of diseases. The pilot biobank of rare malignant neoplasms has been established in the context of the Hellenic Network of Precision Medicine on Cancer and aims to enhance future clinical and/or research studies in Greece by collecting, processing, and storing rare malignant neoplasm samples with associated data. The biobank currently comprises 553 samples; 384 samples of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue malignancies, 72 samples of pediatric brain tumors and 97 samples of malignant skin neoplasms. In this article, sample collections and their individual significance in clinical research are described in detail along with computational methods developed specifically for this project. A concise review of the Greek biobanking landscape is also delineated, in addition to recommended technologies, methodologies and protocols that were integrated during the creation of the biobank. This project is expected to re‑enforce current clinical and research studies, introduce advances in clinical and genetic research and potentially aid in future targeted drug discovery. It is our belief that the future of medical research is entwined with accessible, effective, and ethical biobanking and that our project will facilitate research planning in the '‑omic' era by contributing high‑quality samples along with their associated data.

Mantle cell lymphoma treatment options for elderly/unfit patients: A systematic review

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that is aggressive and incurable with existing therapies, presenting a significant unmet clinical need. MCL occurs mainly in elderly patients with comorbidities; thus, intense treatment options including allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) are not feasible. New treatment options are emerging for this elderly/unfit treatment group, we therefore conducted a systematic review to determine whether they offered an advance on the existing recommended treatment, R-CHOP. The search strategies to identify MCL therapies were designed to capture the most relevant studies from 2013 to 2020. Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and population,interventions, observations and study design analysis, R-CHOP, ibrutinib and bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) were taken forward for critical and statistical analysis. All three therapies were effective in increasing the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival of elderly/unfit patients with MCL. However, none resulted in a significant increase in OS compared to R-CHOP. In addition, R-CHOP had a better toxicity profile when compared to both ibrutinib and BR. We therefore conclude that treatment of elderly/unfit patients with MCL is still a significant unmet clinical need; and suggest that outside of the clinical trial setting, R-CHOP should remain the recommended front-line treatment for this patient group.

A medicare database analysis of practice patterns in patients with mantle cell lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

Although treatment approaches to younger fit patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are well-described, the optimal treatment of older or less fit patients with varying comorbidities is less clear. The objectives of this study were to examine first-line treatment patterns, and the impact of comorbidities and age on treatment choices and overall survival (OS) in a large, predominantly older, Medicare population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In Medicare data from 1/1/2007-8/31/2015, 3,008 patients with MCL were identified. Data on age, gender, race, Charlson comorbidities, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), timing of injectable MCL therapies, and OS were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Median age of the study population was 75.5 (range, 33-107; 25th, 75th: 69.9, 81.5) years. Over half of the individuals had ≥two comorbidities. The CCI was 1-2 in 45%, and 3-4 in 26.6% of patients. Rituximab was the most commonly used agent, regardless of age or comorbidity, in the first 60 days following diagnosis, being administered to 40.2% of patients. In contrast, administration of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, or bendamustine in the first 60 days after diagnosis was less common (17.9%, 13.1%, 17.2%, and 12%, respectively). Overall survival was 3.23 (range, 0.003-7.668) years, and decreased with increasing number of comorbidities.

DISCUSSION

Our analysis of a real-world patient population with MCL found that older patients have a high rate of comorbidities which impact administered treatment and subsequent OS. Our findings can be used to prospectively guide treatment decisions in these older, frailer, non-transplant-eligible patients, considering the impact of age and comorbidities on such choices.

Leukemic Non-nodal Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Diagnosis and Treatment

OPINION STATEMENT

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) encompasses nearly 6% of all the non-Hodgkin lymphomas. It is considered an incurable neoplastic process arising from B cells. The cytogenetic abnormality t(11;14) (q13; q32) leading to cyclin D1 overexpression is the sentinel genetic event and provides an exceptional marker for diagnosis. MCL is generally considered to have an aggressive course as compared with other indolent lymphomas with traditionally reported median survival of 3-5 years. According to the 2016 WHO classification, there are two major known variants of MCL: classical which affects the lymph nodes and extra nodal sites and leukemic non-nodal MCL (L-NN-MCL) which characteristically involves the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and the spleen. It is important to distinguish between classical and leukemic non-nodal MCL since the latter variant of MCL follows a rather indolent course with a wait and watch approach in order to avoid overtreatment. However, a subset of patients with L-NN-MCL can transform into a more aggressive course requiring treatment. Current evidence suggests those patients with alteration in TP53 gene do not respond to standard chemotherapy agents and may need targeted therapy. In this review, we describe the characteristics of L-NN-MCL, its diagnosis, and management.

Clinical management of mantle cell lymphoma in the elderly

Introduction: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a disease with an indolent histology, but mostly aggressive clinical course. While treatment can yield more promising results in younger patients, the disease is most diagnosed at a median age of approximately 70 years, and treatment in this group still presents a major challenge for oncohematologists. Unfortunately, due to comorbidities and poorer general status, the implementation of intensive treatment approaches with the cytarabine-based regimens and autologous stem cell transplantation is generally not possible, and the disease remains incurable, especially in elderly patients. Areas covered: In this paper, the authors discuss the therapeutic options available for older patients with MCL in the first line and relapsed/refractory settings, indicating new therapeutic options, which may achieve longer remissions and overall survival. Expert opinion: Although great progress has been made in the treatment of MCL in recent years, there remains a need for new treatment lines which can allow improved patient outcomes. Novel agents targeting altered the signal transduction pathways in MCL cells may offer more promise than traditional chemotherapy or immunochemotherapy and are currently being tested in clinical trials.

ESMO Consensus Conference on malignant lymphoma: general perspectives and recommendations for the clinical management of the elderly patient with malignant lymphoma

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) consensus conference on mature B cell lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) was held on 20 June 2015 in Lugano, Switzerland, and included a multidisciplinary panel of 25 leading experts. The aim of the conference was to develop recommendations on critical subjects difficult to consider in detail in the ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines. The following areas were identified: (1) the elderly patient, (2) prognostic factors suitable for clinical use, and (3) the 'ultra-high-risk' group. Before the conference, the expert panel was divided into three working groups; each group focused on one of these areas in order to address clinically-relevant questions relating to that topic. All relevant scientific literature, as identified by the experts, was reviewed in advance. During the consensus conference, each working group developed recommendations to address each of the four questions assigned to their group. These recommendations were presented to the entire panel and a consensus was reached. This consensus, which was further developed in continuous post-meeting discussions, formed the basis of three manuscripts, each covering one of the three key areas identified. This manuscript presents the consensus recommendations regarding the clinical management of elderly patients diagnosed with malignant lymphoma. Four clinically-relevant topics identified by the panel were: 1) how to define patient fitness, 2) assessing quality of life, 3) diagnostic work-up and 4) clinical management of elderly patients with lymphoma. Each of these key topics is addressed in the context of five different lymphoma entities, namely: CLL, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Results, including a summary of evidence supporting each recommendation, are detailed in this manuscript.

Mantle cell lymphoma in the era of precision medicine-diagnosis, biomarkers and therapeutic agents

Despite advances in the development of clinical agents for treating Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), treatment of MCL remains a challenge due to complexity and frequent relapse associated with MCL. The incorporation of conventional and novel diagnostic approaches such as genomic sequencing have helped improve understanding of the pathogenesis of MCL, and have led to development of specific agents targeting signaling pathways that have recently been shown to be involved in MCL. In this review, we first provide a general overview of MCL and then discuss about the role of biomarkers in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment for MCL. We attempt to discuss major biomarkers for MCL and highlight published and ongoing clinical trials in an effort to evaluate the dominant signaling pathways as drugable targets for treating MCL so as to determine the potential combination of drugs for both untreated and relapse/refractory cases. Our analysis indicates that incorporation of biomarkers is crucial for patient stratification and improve diagnosis and predictability of disease outcome thus help us in designing future precision therapies. The evidence indicates that a combination of conventional chemotherapeutic agents and novel drugs designed to target specific dysregulated signaling pathways can provide the effective therapeutic options for both untreated and relapse/refractory MCL.

Treatment of the elderly patient with mantle cell lymphoma

Treatment options for mantle cell lymphomas have expanded considerably over recent years, offering hematologists solutions for older patients with an appropriate risk-to-benefit ratio. Indeed, unfit older patients are exposed to a higher risk of toxicity with a standard treatment. Although new treatments have generally good safety profiles, they may lead to unexpected consequences in unfit older patients. Involving geriatricians and a comprehensive geriatric assessment in patient care could help hematologists address these vulnerabilities. The geriatric evaluation process is time-consuming but can be simplified, and its potential to help hematologists foresee unexpected consequences of treatment has now been demonstrated.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma: First-line Therapy in Patients Not Eligible for Stem Cell Transplantation

OPINION STATEMENT

Mantle cell lymphoma is a distinct subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which has historically been associated with a poor prognosis. It is now recognized as a heterogeneous disease with variable biologic and clinical behavior. Treatment paradigms have evolved along two lines. Younger, fit mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients are generally treated with intensive strategies and older less fit patients with non-intensive strategies. Most of the published literature has focused on intensive strategies, which appear to result in more durable remissions, but with an unclear impact on overall survival. The literature is more sparse for the roughly 50% of patients who are not candidates for intensive strategies, and no "standard" approach has been established for this patient population. However, clues are emerging. Randomized clinical trials have (a) established that bendamustine-rituximab (BR) is more efficacious and less toxic than rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP); (b) established that bortezomib should replace vincristine if using an R-CHOP backbone; and (c) established that maintenance rituximab (MR) is beneficial after an R-CHOP induction. In our opinion, it is reasonable to extrapolate the data supporting MR after R-CHOP and apply MR after a BR induction. In our practice, we recommend BR followed by MR for 2 years to MCL patients not eligible for intensive therapy. An ongoing US intergroup trial is testing the addition of bortezomib to the BR backbone and the addition of lenalidomide to MR. This trial may establish a standard of care in the older MCL population. In addition, exciting options for relapsed MCL have emerged in the last few years, with the introduction of the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib and the development of the lenalidomide-rituximab combination. In this article, we will discuss the current available options for these older MCL patients and the evidence supporting those options.

Bortezomib in mantle cell lymphoma: comparative therapeutic outcomes

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an incurable, typically aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, accounting for 4%–7% of newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases. Chemoresistance commonly ensues in MCL, and patients with this heterogeneous disease invariably relapse, underscoring the unmet need for better therapies. Over the past few years, several novel agents with promising activity and unique mechanisms of action have been deemed effective in MCL. Bortezomib is a reversible proteasome inhibitor, approved as a single agent for patients with relapsed/refractory MCL who have received at least one prior line of therapy. Addition of bortezomib to chemoimmunotherapies has demonstrated good tolerability and superior efficacy, both in the upfront and salvage settings, and recently one such combination of bortezomib plus rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone was approved as a frontline regimen in untreated patients with MCL. This review examines the role of bortezomib in a multitude of clinical settings and ongoing clinical trials designed to optimize its integration in the current treatment paradigms of MCL.

Mantle cell lymphoma: evolving management strategies

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that generally affects older individuals and continues to have one of the worst outcomes of all the lymphomas. Over the last decade, there has been a widespread adoption of cytarabine-based therapy in younger patients, and the incorporation of rituximab into chemotherapeutic regimens has become an evidence-based standard of care. However MCL remains a largely incurable disease, and following relapse, it can be a challenge to manage. Although it is possible to define prognosis reliably, there are, as yet, no clear diagnostic or response-adjusted parameters that can help to guide therapeutic decisions. However, there are a number of highly active targeted therapies that are moving into the clinic that are set to transform the therapeutic paradigm for this disease in the very near future. This review will explore the molecular pathogenesis of MCL and the current and evolving therapeutic strategies for this disease.

Oral arsenic trioxide-based regimen as salvage treatment for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is aggressive, and relapsed/refractory disease has poor outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-nine patients (men = 34, women = 5) at 64 (41-82) years of age with relapsed/refractory MCL, ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy and had received 2 (1-5) prior regimens, were treated with a continuous oral regimen, comprising oral arsenic trioxide (oral-As2O3), chlorambucil and ascorbic acid.

RESULTS

Overall response rate was 49% (complete response, CR = 28%; partial response, PR = 21%). Only grade 1/2 toxicities were observed (hematologic: 56%, hepatic: 8%). Response was maintained in 11 patients (CR = 8; PR = 3), after a median of 24 (2-108) months. Independent prognostic factors for response were increased lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.04) and unfavorable MCL international prognostic index (P = 0.04). At a median follow-up of 21 (1-118) months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 16 months, and overall survival (OS) 38 months. Independent prognostic factors for PFS were female gender (P = 0.002), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score of 2 (P = 0.009). Independent prognostic factors for OS were female gender (P < 0.001), ECOG performance score of 2 (P = 0.03), non-response (P < 0.001), and disease progression after initial response (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

An oral regimen of oral-As2O3, chlorambucil and ascorbic acid was active with minimal toxicity in relapsed/refractory MCL, achieving durable responses in ∼30% of cases.

Mantle cell lymphoma mimicking rectal carcinoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After the (11;14) translocation was identified as its constant finding in 1992, MCL was recognized as a separate subgroup of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In MCL, extranodal involvement may be observed in the bone marrow, the spleen, the liver, and the gastrointestinal system (GIS). Cases of MCL that present with a massive and solitary rectal mass are rare in the literature. In this case report, our aim was to present an MCL patient with a rarely observed solitary rectal involvement mimicking rectal carcinoma and to discuss treatment options for this patient.

Pure red cell aplasia complicating the course of long-standing mantle cell lymphoma

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare cause of severe hypoplastic anemia characterized by profound depletion of erythroid precursors. Although PRCA may be associated with lymphoproliferative diseases, it has never been described in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). We report what to our knowledge is the first case of a patient with indolent, non-nodal MCL complicated by PRCA. The patient presented with severe hypoproliferative anemia in the setting of a long-standing diagnosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Bone marrow studies revealed the complete absence of erythroid progenitors. Cyclin D1 positivity on immunohistochemistry, confirmed by a positive FISH for t(11;14) (q13;q32), established the final diagnosis of MCL in conjunction with PRCA. Rituximab monotherapy led to rapid remission of splenomegaly and the leukemic picture, but the patient achieved transfusion independency only with subsequent administration of cyclosporine-A, and remained so during the subsequent 15 months despite the gradual disease recurrence.

Clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with mantle cell lymphoma. Recommendations from the GEL/TAMO Spanish Cooperative Group

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is considered a distinct type of B-cell lymphoma genetically characterized by the t(11;14) translocation and cyclin D1 overexpression. There is also a small subset of tumors negative for cyclin D1 expression that are morphologically and immunophenotypically indistinguishable from conventional MCL. Although in the last decades, the median overall survival of patients with MCL has improved significantly, it is still considered as one of the poorest prognoses diseases among B-cell lymphomas. Election of treatment for patients with MCL is complex due to the scarcity of solid evidence. Current available data shows that conventional chemotherapy does not yield satisfactory results as in other types of B-cell lymphomas. However, the role of other approaches such as autologous or allogenic stem cell transplantation, immunotherapy, the administration of consolidation or maintenance schedules, or the use of targeted therapies still lack clear indications. In view of this situation, the Spanish Group of Lymphomas/Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation has conducted a series of reviews on different aspects of MCL, namely its diagnosis, prognosis, first-line and salvage treatment (both in young and elderly patients), new targeted therapies, and detection of minimal residual disease. On the basis of the available evidence, a series of recommendations have been issued with the intention of providing guidance to clinicians on the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients with MCL.

Initial therapy of mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma is a well-recognized distinct clinicopathologic subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The current World Health Organization (WHO) classification subdivides this entity into aggressive and other variants. The disease has a predilection for older males, and patients typically present at an advanced stage with frequent splenomegaly and extranodal involvement including bone marrow, peripheral blood, gastrointestinal, and occasional central nervous system involvement. Early studies of therapy outcomes in this disease revealed that while response rates where high, relapse was expected after a limited period of time. Prolonged survival was uncommon, with initial median survival rates typically in the 3-4-year range. Those with a high proliferative rate, blastoid morphology, and selected clinical features were recognized as having a worse prognosis. Therapeutic approaches have diverged into aggressive therapies with high response rates and promising progression free survival rates, which may be applied to younger healthy patients, and less aggressive approaches. Aggressive therapies include intensive chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant, which has been shown to be most effective when applied in first remission. Whether these more intense therapies result in improved survival as compared with less aggressive therapies is not well established. Allogeneic transplant has also been investigated, although high treatment-related mortality and the risk of chronic graft versus host disease and the relatively advanced age of this patient population have tempered enthusiasm for this approach. A number of less aggressive therapies have been shown to produce promising results. Consolidation and maintenance strategies are an active area of investigation. A number of newer agents have shown promising activity in relapsed disease, and are being investigated in the front-line setting. Overall survival rates are improving in this disease, with current studies suggesting a median survival of 5 or more years.

ESMO Consensus conferences: guidelines on malignant lymphoma. part 2: marginal zone lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma

To complement the existing treatment guidelines for all tumour types, ESMO organizes consensus conferences to focus on specific issues in each type of tumour. In this setting, a consensus conference on the management of lymphoma was held on 18 June 2011 in Lugano, next to the 11th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma. The conference convened ∼30 experts from all around Europe, and selected six lymphoma entities to be addressed; for each of them, three to five open questions were to be addressed by the experts. For each question, a recommendation should be given by the panel, referring to the strength of the recommendation based on the level of evidence. This consensus report focuses on the three less common lymphoproliferative malignancies: marginal zone lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and peripheral T-cell lymphomas. A first report had focused on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Treatment of splenic marginal zone lymphoma with rituximab monotherapy: progress report and comparison with splenectomy

BACKGROUND

Treatment of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) patients is not standardized. Recent data suggest that rituximab is highly effective and could be considered as initial therapy.

AIM

To assess the efficacy of rituximab monotherapy in a large series of patients with SMZL and compare these results with splenectomy results.

METHODS

The studied population included 85 patients. Fifty-eight received rituximab at a dose of 375 mg/m2 per week for 6 weeks as induction followed by maintenance at the same dose every 2 months for 1-2 years, whereas 27 patients were treated using splenectomy only.

RESULTS

The overall response rate to rituximab 2 months after the end of induction was 95% (complete response [CR], 45%; unconfirmed CR, 26%; partial response, 24%). The median times to hematologic and clinical response were 2 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively. Forty-three of 55 patients already completed the maintenance phase: 28 sustained their initial response, 14 improved their response, and one progressed. Eighty-five percent of splenectomized patients responded, and two were treated with rituximab as consolidation after splenectomy and achieved a CR. The 5-year overall and progression-free survival (PFS) rates for rituximab-treated and splenectomized patients were 92% and 77% (p = .09) and 73% and 58% (p = .06), respectively. Furthermore, maintenance therapy with rituximab resulted in a longer duration of response (at 5 years, PFS was 84% for patients receiving maintenance and 36% for patients without maintenance, p <.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Rituximab is a very effective and well-tolerated therapy and may be substituted for splenectomy as the first-line treatment of choice for patients with SMZL.

Therapeutic Activity of Lenalidomide in Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Indolent Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) comprises 3–10% of NHL, with survival times ranging from 3 and 5 years. Indolent lymphomas represent approximately 30% of all NHLs with patient survival largely dependent on validated prognostic scores. High response rates are typically achieved in these patients with current first-line chemoimmunotherapy. However, most patients will eventually relapse and become chemorefractory with poor outcome. Alternative chemoimmunotherapy regimens are often used as salvage strategy and stem cell transplant remains an option for selected patients. However, novel approaches are urgently needed for patients no longer responding to conventional chemotherapy. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug with activity in multiple myeloma, myelodisplastic syndrome and chronic lymphoproliferative disorders. In phase II studies of indolent NHL and MCL lenalidomide has shown activity with encouraging response rates, both as a single agent and in combination with other drugs. Some of these responses may be durable. Optimal dose of lenalidomide has not been defined yet. The role of lenalidomide in the therapeutic armamentarium of patients with indolent NHL or MCL will be discussed in the present paper.

Dual-targeting immunotherapy of lymphoma: potent cytotoxicity of anti-CD20/CD74 bispecific antibodies in mantle cell and other lymphomas

We describe the use of novel bispecific hexavalent Abs (HexAbs) to enhance anticancer immunotherapy. Two bispecific HexAbs [IgG-(Fab)4 constructed from veltuzumab (anti-CD20 IgG) and milatuzumab (anti-CD74 IgG)] show enhanced cytotoxicity in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and other lymphoma/leukemia cell lines, as well as patient tumor samples, without a crosslinking Ab, compared with their parental mAb counterparts, alone or in combination. The bispecific HexAbs have different properties from and are more potent than their parental mAbs in vitro. The juxtaposition of CD20 and CD74 on MCL cells by the HexAbs resulted in homotypic adhesion and triggered intracellular changes that include loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, production of reactive oxygen species, rapid and sustained phosphorylation of ERKs and JNK, down-regulation of pAkt and Bcl-xL, actin reorganization, and lysosomal membrane permeabilization, culminating in cell death. They also displayed different potencies in depleting lymphoma cells and normal B cells from whole blood ex vivo and significantly extended the survival of nude mice bearing MCL xenografts in a dose-dependent manner, thus indicating stability and antitumor activity in vivo. Such bispecific HexAbs may constitute a new class of therapeutic agents for improved cancer immunotherapy, as shown here for MCL and other CD20+/CD74+ malignancies.