Role of frontline autologous stem cell transplantation in young, high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients

Efficacy of ex vivo purging with CD34+ selection to maximize the effects of autologous stem cell transplantation in peripheral T-cell lymphoma patients

BACKGROUND AIMS

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are rare and aggressive tumors with uncertain optimal treatment. This study investigated the clinical outcomes of high-dose chemotherapy (HDT) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after CD34+ selective purging in PTCL patients.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis included 67 PTCL patients who achieved remission and underwent HDT/ASCT. CD34+ selective purging was performed using CliniMACS® (Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany). Survival outcomes, engraftment, lymphocyte subsets and viral infections were evaluated.

RESULTS

CD34+ selective purged autografts were associated with significantly improved overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) compared with unpurged autografts (5-year OS, 73.3% versus 37.8%, 5-year DFS, 73.8% versus 33.4%). The cumulative incidence of relapse was also lower in the purged group (31.5% versus 73.3%). Subgroup analysis revealed significant survival benefits in the high-risk group receiving purged autografts. Lymphocyte subset analysis showed increased natural killer (NK) cell counts in the purged group after ASCT. Higher post-ASCT lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) was associated with improved OS and DFS.

CONCLUSIONS

CD34+ selective purging in PTCL patients undergoing HDT/ASCT improved survival outcomes and reduced relapse risk. The procedure increased NK cell counts and post-ASCT LMR. CD34+ selective purging may minimize autograft tumor cell contamination and enhance efficacy in T-cell lymphomas.

The salvage role of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma

To clarify the role of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in the chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy era, we analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 52 patients treated with allo-HSCT with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Most enrolled patients had previously undergone intensive treatments, the median number of chemotherapy lines was 4, and the median time from diagnosis to allo-HSCT was 27.1 months. Patients were divided into remission-achieved (n = 30) and active-disease (n = 22) groups before allo-HSCT. Over a median follow-up period of 38.3 months, overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates were 38.4% and 30.6%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and the non-relapsed mortality (NRM) were 36.7% and 32.7%, respectively. OS, EFS, and graft-versus-host disease-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) outcomes were significantly superior in the remission-achieved group with lower CIR. In a multivariate analysis, a shorter interval from diagnosis to allo-HSCT reflected relatively rapid disease progression and showed significantly poor OS and EFS with higher CIR. Patients with active disease had significantly lower EFS, GRFS, and higher CIR. Previous autologous stem-cell transplantation was associated with better GRFS. Allo-HSCT is an established modality with a prominent group of cured patients and still has a role in the CAR T-cell era, particularly given its acceptable clinical outcomes in young patients with chemo-susceptible disease.

The significance of upfront autologous stem cell transplantation for high-intermediate/high-risk stage IV diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common (30%-35%) type of B-cell lymphoma. Only about 60% of all newly diagnosed advanced-stage DLBCL can be completely treated with x6 R-CHOP. High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the first remission (upfront auto-HSCT) can serve as an option to improve a prognosis in these patients.

AIMS

This trial aimed to improve prognosis in DLBCL by upfront auto-HSCT.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A group of 105 patients: DLBCL NOS, age 18-65, stage IV, IPI ≥2, CR/PR after x6 R-CHOP/DA-EPOCH-R from 2010 to 2019 at NMRC of Oncology named after N.N.Petrov of MoH of Russia was retrospectively analyzed. The HSCT group included patients with upfront HDCT followed by auto-HSCT (n = 35). The control group included patients with non-invasive follow-up after induction (n = 70). Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), response rate and relapse rate. The 3-year OS (p = .013) and 3-year PFS (p = .033) were significantly higher in the HSCT group. The 3-year OS was decreased by the occurrence of relapse (p ≤ .001) and weight loss (B-symptom) (p = .04). DEL was the negative prognostic factor for 3-year PFS in all patients (p = .001) and control group (p = .001). DA-EPOCH-R significantly increased the 3-year PFS (p = .041).

CONCLUSION

Upfront HDCT followed by auto-HSCT can increase 3-year OS and PFS and improve prognosis in DLBCL NOS, age 18-65, stage IV, IPI ≥2 patients.

High-dose Chemotherapy Combined with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation as Frontline Therapy for Intermediate/High-risk Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

The role of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) following high-dose chemotherapy has been validated and accepted as a standard treatment for patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, its clinical efficacy as frontline therapy remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of frontline auto-HSCT for newly diagnosed intermediate/high-risk DLBCL patients. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 223 patients treated with frontline auto-HSCT or chemotherapy alone (year 2008-2014) from four hospitals. The median follow-up time was 29.4 months. Between the two treatment arms among the intermediate/high-risk DLBCL patients, the 3-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates of patients given frontline auto-HSCT were 87.6% and 81.9%, respectively, and the chemotherapy-alone group showed 3-year OS and PFS rates of 64.9% and 59.59%, respectively. Compared with the chemotherapy-alone group, the frontline auto-HSCT could eliminate the adverse impact of non-germinal center B-cell (GCB) type. In addition, in the frontline auto-HSCT group, patients who achieved complete response (CR) at auto-HSCT had a longer survival time than those who did not achieve CR. Our results suggested that frontline auto-HSCT could improve the prognosis of intermediate/high-risk DLBCL patients.

Poor prognosis in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphomas with bone marrow involvement possessing chromosomal abnormalities, despite aggressive treatment

In 27% of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases, bone marrow (BM), assessed by BM biopsy, is involved. BM involvement, an extranodal site involvement, affects the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score adversely. However, chromosomal abnormalities are neither included as a prognostic factor nor are they considered in the IPI risk classification category. We retrospectively analyzed 600 DLBCL patients at diagnosis for BM involvement (by both BM biopsy immunohistochemistry [BMI] with karyotyping and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography [FDG-PET] high uptake [BMP]). The BM-involved DLBCL patients identified by both BMI and BMP showed significantly inferior survival outcomes. Chromosomal abnormalities, especially complex karyotype (CK) of the involved BM, are related to much worse survival outcomes due to the inadequate treatment response including frontline auto-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Therefore, CK population should either be considered for more aggressive treatment modalities, such as frontline allo-HSCT, or those further clinical trials are explored for alternative or novel treatment approaches. Furthermore, if the FDG-PET shows high possibility of marrow involvement, bilateral BM biopsy with cytogenetic evaluation should be incorporated into the routine workup for newly diagnosed DLBCL patients. This is to look for other markers of poor-risk factors, such as CK or further genetic mutations.

[A comparative study of induction chemotherapy with or without autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of newly diagnosed young medium/high risk diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients]

Objective: To compare the efficacy of induction chemotherapy with or without autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) for newly diagnosed young diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Methods: The retrospective study was performed in 90 cases of young patients (≤60 years) with newly diagnosed DLBCL and an age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aa-IPI) score of 2 or 3. All of them were treated with R-CHOP (32 cases, rituximab combined with CHOP), dose-intensive regimens (DA-EPOCH, Hyper CVAD/MA or ESHAP) combined with or without rituximab (25 cases), and consolidated with up-front auto-HSCT (33 cases), respectively. The efficacy and the potential predictors were evaluated. Results: ①The median age of 90 patients was 43 (18-60) years old. The median follow-up time was 42 (3-110) months. ②The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) for R-CHOP group, dose-intensive chemotherapy group and auto-HSCT group were (33.5±10.7) %, (55.3±10.1) % and (65.8±13.6) % (P=0.012), the 5-year overall survival (OS) were (49.7±9.0) %, (61.6±10.2) % and (78.6±7.8) % (P=0.035), respectively. There was no significant difference in 5-years PFS and OS between the R-CHOP group and dose-intensive chemotherapy group (P=0.519, P=0.437) compared with that of the dose-intensive chemotherapy group, auto-HSCT group has higher 5-year PFS (P=0.042). ③ When stratified with IPI score, the high-risk group treated with auto-HSCT (26 cases) showed similar 5-years PFS and 5-years OS to those in the low-risk group with chemotherapy alone (12 cases were in R-CHOP group and 8 cases were in dose-intensive chemotherapy group) [5-years PFS were (62.3 ±14.3)%, (58.3 ±18.6)% and (51.4±18.7)%, respectively, P=0.686; 5-years OS were (69.2±13.9)%, (62.5±15.5)% and (58.3±18.6)%, respectively, P=0.592]. ④However, the high-risk group treated with auto-HSCT (26 cases) showed superior 5-years PFS (P=0.002) and 5-years OS (P=0.019) compared to the high-risk group with chemotherapy alone (20 cases were in R-CHOP group and 17 cases were in dose-intensive chemotherapy group) [5-years PFS were (62.3±14.3)%, (41.1±13.5)% and (21.9±11.6)%, respectively; 5-years OS were (69.2±13.9)%, (51.5%±14.0)% and (35.4±13.6)%, respectively]. ⑤In the univariate analysis, as a whole, patients diagnosed with GCB subtype had higher 3-years PFS (P=0.022) and 3-years OS (P=0.037) compared to non-GCB subtype patients; in subgroup analysis, patients diagnosed with GCB subtype had higher 3-years PFS and 3-years OS compared to non-GCB subtype both in R-CHOP group (P=0.030, P=0.041) and dose-intensive chemotherapy group (P=0.044, P=0.047), but not in auto-HSCT group (P=0.199, P=0.093). ⑥In the multivariate analysis, different molecular classification (GCB/non-GCB) was an independent predictor for PFS and OS both in R-CHOP group [HR=0.274 (95% CI 0.094-0.800), P=0.018; HR=0.408 (95% CI 0.164-1.015), P=0.045] and dose-intensive chemotherapy group [HR=0.423 (95% CI 0.043-1.152), P=0.048; HR=5.758 (95% CI 0.882-6.592), P=0.035]. However, there was no significant difference in PFS and OS for auto-HSCT group between GCB/non-GCB patients. Conclusion: Induction chemotherapy followed by up-front auto-HSCT has significant effect on efficacy for young and untreated patients with high risk DLBCL. Combined with induction chemotherapy followed by up-front auto-HSCT could improve the prognosis of non-GCB patients.

Comparison of therapeutic efficacy and complications between autologous stem cell transplantation and chemotherapy for large B-cell lymphoma: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To contrast the clinical effects and complications for the treatment of large B-cell lymphoma between autologous stem cell transplantation and chemotherapy.

METHODS

Multiple databases were searched to identify relevant studies. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were included.

RESULTS

A total of 11 studies including 795 patients were involved, which eventually met the eligibility criteria. 385 and 410 samples were included in ASCT group and chemotherapy group respectively. The heterogeneity test suggested that clinical efficacy (RR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.17, 1.42], P < 0.00001; P for heterogeneity = 0.0002, I² = 72%), side effects (RR = 1.72, 95% CI [1.15, 2.58], P = 0.009; P for Heterogeneity < 0.0001, I² = 85%) and overall 5-year survival rate (RR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.05, 1.29], P = 0.004; P for Heterogeneity = 0.008, I² = 58%) were significantly different between ASCT group and chemotherapy group, while non-disease 5-year survival rate (RR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.04, 1.48], P = 0.02; P for Heterogeneity = 0.22, I² = 24%) appears insignificantly.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents a comprehensive summary and critical assessment of the current evidence for the treatment of large B-cell lymphoma. The evidence shows that the clinical efficacy of ASCT was better than that of chemotherapy to some extent, but ASCT might lead to more possibility of complications.

Prognostic analysis of DLBCL patients and the role of upfront ASCT in high-intermediate and high-risk patients

The role of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as a frontline treatment in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are in their first remission has not been fully elucidated in the rituximab era. We analyzed 272 DLBCL patients who received 4-6 cycles of R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) or R-CHOP followed by ASCT, from January 2005 to June 2013 in our institution. Multivariate analysis showed the none germinal center B cell (non-GCB) subtype (P=0.014, P=0.012) and International Prognostic Index (IPI) (3-5) (P=0.004, P=0.016) were independent unfavorable predictors of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), respectively. To investigate the treatment effect of upfront ASCT, we selected 94 high-intermediate and high-risk DLBCL patients who achieved complete remission after R-CHOP, with 41 in the ASCT and 53 in the non-ASCT groups. Survival analysis revealed patients who received upfront ASCT compared with those who did not had better OS (3-year OS: 74.5% vs. 50.4%, P=0.029) or PFS (3-year PFS: 59.6% vs. 32.1%, P=0.004), suggesting up-front ASCT following R-CHOP could improve the outcome of high-intermediate and high-risk DLBCL patients.

Assessment of bone marrow involvement in patients with lymphoma: report on a consensus meeting of the Korean Society of Hematology Lymphoma Working Party

In September 2011, the Korean Society of Hematology Lymphoma Working Party held a nationwide conference to establish a consensus for assessing bone marrow (BM) involvement in patients with lymphoma. At this conference, many clinicians, hematopathologists, and diagnostic hematologists discussed various topics for a uniform consensus in the evaluation process to determine whether the BM is involved. Now that the discussion has matured sufficiently to be published, we herein describe the consensus reached and limitations in current methods for assessing BM involvement in patients with lymphoma.

Prediction of survival by applying current prognostic models in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP followed by autologous transplantation

Background

Among the currently available prognostic models for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we investigated to determine which is most adoptable for DLBCL patients treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) followed by upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT).

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated survival differences among risk groups based on the International Prognostic Index (IPI), the age-adjusted IPI (aaIPI), the revised IPI (R-IPI), and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network IPI (NCCN-IPI) at diagnosis in 63 CD20-positive DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP followed by upfront auto-SCT.

Results

At the time of auto-SCT, 74.6% and 25.4% of patients had achieved complete remission and partial remission after R-CHOP, respectively. As a whole, the 5-year overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 78.8% and 74.2%, respectively. The 5-year OS and PFS rates according to the IPI, aaIPI, R-IPI, and NCCN-IPI did not significantly differ among the risk groups for each prognostic model (P-values for OS: 0.255, 0.337, 0.881, and 0.803, respectively; P-values for PFS: 0.177, 0.904, 0.295, and 0.609, respectively).

Conclusion

There was no ideal prognostic model among those currently available for CD20-positive DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP followed by upfront auto-SCT.