[Radiotherapy for localized gastric and orbital MALT lymphomas]

Primary gastric and orbital MALT lymphomas are both low grade (indolent) B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Traditionally, these tumors are radiosensitive and have a good prognosis. In localized orbital and stages IE-IIE gastric MALT lymphomas without Helicobacter pylori infection or in case of persistent H. pylori infection after eradication therapy, several retrospective studies have shown that radiotherapy was an effective and well-tolerated treatment.

EGILS consensus report. Gastric extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT

This consensus report of the EGILS (European Gastro-Intestinal Lymphoma Study) group includes recommendations on the management of gastric extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT. They are based on data from the literature and on intensive discussions and votings of the experts during their annual meetings.

Les lymphomes gastriques du MALT

INTRODUCTION

The stomach is the most common site involved in primary gastrointestinal lymphoma. Gastric lymphoma originates from the mucosa-associated lymphoïd tissue so called MALT. It comprises a group of distinctive clinicopathological entities which are important to consider for clinical management.

CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS

In recent years, new diagnostic tools and new treatment strategies have improved the overall prognosis. One of the most exciting recent discoveries is the hypothesis that an infection by a bacterium, Helicobacter pylori has a decisive role in gastric lymphoma.

FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS

Recent advances, essentially due to molecular biology and cytogenetic studies may emerge with the understanding of pathogenesis and new prognostic factors of these different types of gastric lymphomas. It is the aim of our oncoming studies together with the evaluation of the new therapeutic options such as radiotherapy and monoclonal antibodies in prospective studies.

Surgical resection plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone: comparison of two strategies to treat diffuse large B-cell gastric lymphoma

BACKGROUND

The usefulness of chemotherapy to treat gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) is well known. Whether or not chemotherapy should be performed as the only treatment or after surgical resection is debated. The aim of this study was to compare two strategies: surgical resection plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 1988 and December 1996, 58 patients included in the trials promoted by the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA) (LNH-87 and LNH-93) received chemotherapy and 48 included in the protocol of the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes Digestifs (GELD) underwent surgical resection followed by chemotherapy. They all presented with localized DLBCL (stage IE and IIE according to the Ann Arbor classification). From the GELA group, seven patients received additional radiotherapy. Gastrectomy was total in 27 of the 48 patients in the GELD group. In both groups chemotherapy included anthracyclin and alkylating agents. Chemotherapy was more intensive in the GELA group than in the GELD group.

RESULTS

In the GELA and the GELD groups, distribution according to sex ratio, age (>60 or < or = 60 years), ECOG performance status (> or = 2 or <2) and staging (IE or IIE) was similar. Univariate analysis comparing prognostic factors in both groups showed significant differences: serum lactate dehydrogenase level above normal (28.6% versus 2.4%, P = 0.001), tumor size >10 cm (28.6% versus 12.5%, P = 0.04), patients with International Prognostic Index (IPI) >1 (21.4% versus 11.1%, P = 0.168) and 5-year survival (79% versus 90%, P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors with a Cox model showed that IPI was the only independent prognostic factor (odds ratio 3, P = 0.03). Consequently, patients with IPI 0-1 were selected for comparison between the GELA group (44 patients) and the GELD group (40 patients). There was no significant difference between the two groups. Median follow-up was 59 months (range 3-128). Estimates of 5-year survival rates and event-free survival rates were 90.5% versus 91.1% (P = 0.303) and 85.9% versus 91.6% (P = 0.187), respectively. In the GELA group, seven of 44 patients died: five from a lymphoma-unrelated cause and two from tumor progression. In the GELD group, four of 40 patients died: two of unrelated causes and two from tumor progression.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that in localized gastric DLBCL with IPI 0-1, a similar 5-year survival rate (>90%) is to be expected with either surgery plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone.

A digestive tolerance study of maltitol after occasional and regular consumption in healthy humans

AIM

We aimed to evaluate the gastro-intestinal tolerance to an indigestible bulking sweetener containing sugar alcohol using a double-blind random cross-over study.

METHOD

In order to simulate their usual pattern of consumption, 12 healthy volunteers ingested maltitol or sucrose throughout the day, either occasionally (once a week for each sugar, first period) or regularly (every day for two 9 day periods, second period). In both patterns of consumption, daily sugar doses were increased until diarrhea and/or a grade 3 (ie severe) digestive symptom occurred, at which the dose level was defined as the threshold dose (TD).

RESULTS

In the first period (occasional consumption), the mean TD was 92+/-6 g with maltitol and 106+/-4 g with sucrose (P=0.059). The mean intensity of digestive symptoms was 1.1 and 1.3, respectively (P=NS). Diarrhea appeared in six and one subjects respectively (P=0.035). In the second period (regular consumption), the mean TD was 93+/-9 g with maltitol and 113+/-7 g with sucrose (P=0.008). The mean intensity of digestive symptoms was 1.7 and 1.2, respectively (P=NS). However, diarrhea appeared in eight and three subjects, respectively (P=0.04). Maltitol and sucrose TDs between the two periods were not different.

CONCLUSIONS

Under our experimental conditions, in comparison to sucrose: (a) occasional or regular consumption of maltitol is not associated with severe digestive symptoms; (b) in both patterns of maltitol consumption, diarrhea frequency is higher, but it appeared only for very high doses of maltitol, much greater than those currently used; (c) maltitol does not lead to intestinal flora adaptation after a 9 day period of consumption.

Gastrointestinal lymphoma: prevention and treatment of early lesions

Gastrointestinal lymphomas comprise a group of distinct clinicopathological entities. Differences in lifestyle and environmental factors between countries could account for the variety in the distribution of the main subtypes: low-grade B-cell lymphomas of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type, alpha-chain disease and enteropathy (coeliac disease)-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL). The possibility of preventing these lymphomas implies a knowledge of their natural history together with an identification of potential predisposing factors. The development of the lymphoid hyperplasia and subsequently low-grade lymphoma with the possibility of high-grade transformation is a multifactorial process involving both antigenic and host-related factors. The pathogenic role of Helicobacter pylori and gluten has been demonstrated in gastric lymphoma and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma respectively, while environmental factors, especially non-specific bacterial ones, may play a major role in the pathogenesis of alpha-chain disease. The most difficult task in preventing these lymphomas is the recognition of early lesions likely to regress after the removal of the exogenous stimulus.

Histological and immunological parameters to predict treatment outcome of Helicobacter pylori eradication in low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma

Helicobacter pylori eradication is generally accepted as the first choice of treatment for stage IE low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma). Treatment failure may be attributed to the extent of the disease and to progression into an antigen-independent phase. This study assessed the value of morphological grading and the expression of the co-stimulatory markers CD40, CD80 and CD86 and their ligands to predict clinical outcome in 23 consecutive low-grade MALT lymphoma patients treated with H. pylori eradication. Complete regression was achieved in 13/23 patients (56%), partial regression in two (9%), and no response in eight (35%). Histological grading was highly predictive of clinical response, especially in stage IE(1) patients, with complete remissions in 10/12 tumours with purely low-grade (type A) morphology and 1/8 tumours with increased numbers of blasts (type B) (p=0.0046) and was related to the expression of costimulatory markers (p=0.0061). Moreover, CD86 as a single marker proved to be of predictive value for treatment outcome (p=0.0086). These results suggest that morphological grading and immunological criteria can be defined to recognize the transition into the antigen-independent phase of gastric MALT-NHL. In addition to clinical stage, these critera may in future serve as a practical pathological guide to the choice of therapy.

Histological and immunological parameters to predict treatment outcome of Helicobacter pylori eradication in low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma

Helicobacter pylori eradication is generally accepted as the first choice of treatment for stage IE low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphoma). Treatment failure may be attributed to the extent of the disease and to progression into an antigen-independent phase. This study assessed the value of morphological grading and the expression of the co-stimulatory markers CD40, CD80 and CD86 and their ligands to predict clinical outcome in 23 consecutive low-grade MALT lymphoma patients treated with H. pylori eradication. Complete regression was achieved in 13/23 patients (56%), partial regression in two (9%), and no response in eight (35%). Histological grading was highly predictive of clinical response, especially in stage IE(1) patients, with complete remissions in 10/12 tumours with purely low-grade (type A) morphology and 1/8 tumours with increased numbers of blasts (type B) (p=0.0046) and was related to the expression of costimulatory markers (p=0.0061). Moreover, CD86 as a single marker proved to be of predictive value for treatment outcome (p=0.0086). These results suggest that morphological grading and immunological criteria can be defined to recognize the transition into the antigen-independent phase of gastric MALT-NHL. In addition to clinical stage, these critera may in future serve as a practical pathological guide to the choice of therapy.

Predictive factors for regression of gastric MALT lymphoma after anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Discrepant remission rates (41-100%) have been reported for patients with localised low grade gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma after eradication of Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to explain these discrepancies and to determine the predictive factors of gastric lymphoma regression after anti- H pylori treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty six consecutive patients with localised gastric MALT lymphoma (Ann Arbor stages I(E) and II(E)) were prospectively enrolled. All had gastric endoscopic ultrasonography and H pylori status assessment (histology, culture, polymerase chain reaction, and serology). After anti-H pylori treatment, patients were re-examined every four months.

RESULTS

Histological regression of the lymphoma was complete in 19/44 patients (43%) (two lost to follow up). Median follow up time for these 19 responders was 35 months (range 10-47). No regression was noted in the 10 H pylori negative patients. Among the 34 H pylori positive patients, the H pylori eradication rate was 100%; complete regression rate of the lymphoma increased from 56% (19/34) to 79% (19/24) when there was no nodal involvement at endoscopic ultrasonography. There was a significant difference between the response of the lymphoma restricted to the mucosa and other more deep seated lesions (p<0.006). However, using multivariate analysis, the only predictive factor of regression was the absence of nodal involvement (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

In H pylori positive patients with localised gastric MALT lymphoma, carefully evaluated and treated without any lymph node involvement assessed by endoscopic ultrasonography, complete remission of lymphoma was reached in 79% of cases.

Gastrointestinal lymphomas: the French experience of the Groupe D'etude des Lymphomes Digestifs (GELD)

Since 1983, the French Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes Digestifs (GELD), under the aegis of the Fondation Française de Cancérologie Digestive, has aimed to identify the different prognostic groups of the primary digestive-tract lymphomas (PDTL) and their optimal treatment. Successive multicenter studies were conducted and 91 PDTL were evaluated. A marked improvement in their prognosis was obtained by a strategy including precise histologic typing and clinical staging followed by a therapeutic approach combining initial surgical resection, whenever possible or reasonable, followed by chemotherapy adapted to the grade of malignancy and resectability of the lymphoma. The multivariate analysis indicated that the factors for good prognosis were age (< 65 yrs), gastric localisation, stage IE and radical or even incomplete surgery. However, Helicobacter pylori eradication should be the first treatment in stage IE low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) tumors. The long-term results of such medical treatment are evaluated together with the management and the place of surgery in these localised tumors. However, owing to the limited number of patients, a large international co-operative trial is needed to confirm the findings. Thirty-one cases of multiple lymphomatous polyposis were also collected and confirmed to be a distinct entity among PDTL and the gastrointestinal counterpart of the mantle-cell-zone lymphomas. High-dose radio-chemotherapy supported by auto-transplantation improved their prognosis.

Management and long-term results of surgery for localized gastric lymphomas

BACKGROUND

High- and low-grade gastric lymphomas (GL) differ in their behavior and chemosensitivity. Surgery has to be reevaluated according to the histologic grade of malignancy. We aimed to assess the place of surgery in the management of GL and its results after long-term follow-up.

METHODS

Among 54 patients with primary GL prospectively enrolled from 1984 to 1990, 45 with localized disease were studied. Primary resection was done whenever safe. All patients received chemotherapy adapted to the grade of malignancy and/or to the completeness of the resection.

RESULTS

Among 18 low- and 27 high-grade GL, 35 patients had primary resections; of those, 23 were complete. The complete response rate for all patients with low- and high-grade GL was 67% and 89%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 8 years, the disease-free survival rates for low-grade GL and high-grade GL were 94% and 89%, respectively. It was better after complete resection.

CONCLUSION

Complete resection is a major determinant of prolonged complete remission.

Homing receptor alpha4beta7 integrin expression predicts digestive tract involvement in mantle cell lymphoma

Appropriate staging and evaluation of residual disease is critical to improving the treatment of patients with lymphoma. The specific expression of homing receptors may determine the preferential dissemination pattern of tumoral cells. We investigated the expression of the mucosal homing receptor alpha4beta7 on tumoral cells from peripheral lymph node in patients with newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) to check whether it is associated with gastrointestinal involvement. Expression of the alpha4beta1 integrin and the peripheral lymph node addressin CD62L were also examined. Thirteen MCL patients presenting with peripheral lymphadenopathy were studied. Expression of the mucosal homing receptor integrin alpha4beta7 by peripheral lymph node lymphoma cells was found to be frequent (5/13) and associated with gastrointestinal involvement (5/7). In contrast, lymphoma cells from patients without gastrointestinal involvement did not express alpha4beta7 (6/6) (P = 0.03). These data suggest that alpha4beta7 integrin is expressed by a subset of MCLs and that its expression may predict digestive tract involvement in MCL, furnishing a basis for recognizing two distinct clinical and phenotypic forms, ie, "digestive homing (or digestive primitive)" versus "peripheral" MCL. Further studies on more patients will be needed to understand the impact of biological differences on the prognosis of these two clinical forms.

[Gastric lymphoma]

The stomach is the most common site involved in primary gastrointestinal lymphoma. Gastric lymphoma originates from the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue so called MALT. It comprises a group of distinctive clinicopathological entities which are important to take in account for clinical behavior. In recent years, new diagnostic tools and modern modes of treatment have improved their overall prognosis. One of the most exciting recent discoveries is the hypothesis that an infection by a bacterium. Helicobacter pylori has a decisive role in gastric lymphoma.

Multiple lymphomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract: prospective clinicopathologic study of 31 cases. Groupe D'étude des Lymphomes Digestifs

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP) is an uncommon type of gastrointestinal lymphoma. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinicopathologic features and outcome of a large series of patients.

METHODS

From 1984 to 1995, 31 patients were enrolled prospectively. Exhaustive staging and immunohistochemical analysis were performed. The first 10 patients were treated with cyclophosphamide-vincristine-prednisolone (COP) and the subsequent 21 with doxorubicin-teniposide-cyclophosphamide-prednisolone (AVmCP). Eleven patients were treated with high-dose radiochemotherapy and stem cell autotransplantation because of partial response or relapse.

RESULTS

Advanced age and multiple polyps involving several gastrointestinal segments characterized initial clinical presentation. The typical tumor cell phenotype (pan-B+, CD5+, and CD10-) along with Bcl-1 rearrangement indicated that MLP is the gastrointestinal counterpart of mantle cell lymphoma. After COP treatment, only 3 patients achieved partial remissions, whereas 80% of patients after AVmCP treatment achieved complete or good partial remission. High-dose radiochemotherapy changed partial into complete remission in 80% of cases. None of the initial 10 patients survived for 3 years, but the expected 5-year survival rate was 59% in patients receiving the anthracycline-containing regimen (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

MLP is a distinct entity among gastrointestinal lymphomas. An anthracycline-containing multidrug regimen and high-dose radiochemotherapy supported by autotransplantation seem to improve its poor prognosis.

Primary digestive tract lymphoma: a prospective multicentric study of 91 patients. Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes Digestifs

BACKGROUND

The optimal management of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma including the use of surgery remains unsettled. This prospective study aimed to determine the prognostic factors of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma and to evaluate a therapeutic strategy based on surgical tumor reduction, followed by chemotherapy adapted to the histological type of tumor and tumor removal or nonremoval.

METHODS

Ninety-one patients were included (mean age, 50.4 years) with mainly gastric (61%) or several digestive tract organ (18%) involved sites in clinical stages IE (43%), IIE (27%), and IV (30%). Three therapeutic groups were defined: group I, patients with low-grade lymphoma (n = 28); group II, patients with high-grade lymphoma who had complete tumor removal (n = 24); and group III, patients with high-grade lymphoma who had only partial or no tumor removal (n = 39). Each group underwent adapted chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The respective overall 5-year survival rates for groups I, II, and III were 81% +/- 6%, 100%, and 56% +/- 8%, respectively (P < 0.0001). By Cox multivariate analysis, the prognostic factors of survival were age under 65 (P < 0.05), gastric localization (P < 0.05), stage IE (P < 0.001), and radical or incomplete surgery (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined radical surgery and chemotherapy according to histological grading is associated with prolonged remission in patients with primary digestive tract lymphoma. Moreover, compared with chemotherapy alone, incomplete resection of tumor is associated with increased survival of high-grade lymphomas.

[Treatment of high malignancy lymphoma with intensive short-term chemotherapy using the MACOP-B regimen]

We present our results of a MACOP-B regimen in a series of 46 patients with high-grade NHL. The complete remission rate was 74% for patients with advanced stage disease. The excellent tolerance allowed this regimen to be given on an outpatient basis in the majority of cases. The median follow-up for the living patients is 28 months. Although some patients received additional treatment that could influence the results, the predicted DFS (disease-free survival) at 45 months of 57% compares favorably with the best results published so far with more toxic regimens.