Comparison of standardized prophylactic high-dose and intrathecal methotrexate for DLBCL with a high risk of CNS relapse

The efficacy of high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) for central nervous system (CNS) relapse prophylaxis in patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is controversial. We compared the prophylactic effects of HD-MTX and intrathecal methotrexate (IT-MTX) on CNS relapse in high-risk DLBCL, in a multicenter retrospective study. A total of 132 patients with DLBCL at high risk of CNS relapse who received frontline chemotherapy and IT-MTX from 2003 to 2013 (n = 34) or HD-MTX from 2014 to 2020 (n = 98) were included. After a median follow-up of 52 months (range: 9-174), 11 patients had isolated CNS relapse: six (6.1%) in the HD-MTX group and five (14.7%) in the IT-MTX group. The median time until CNS relapse was 38 months (range: 11-122), and the cumulative incidence of CNS relapse at 3 years was 3.9% in the HD-MTX group and 6.1% in the IT-MTX group (P = 0.93). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for background factors using propensity score-matched analysis (4.5% HD-MTX vs. 7.6% IT-MTX, P = 0.84). The CNS relapse rate in HD-MTX-treated patients was equivalent to that in IT-MTX patients, demonstrating that HD-MTX was not superior to IT-MTX in preventing CNS relapse.

Factors Influencing Physician Discretion to Administer CNS Prophylaxis in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: A Single Institution Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse is an infrequent but serious and challenging complication of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that carries a dismal prognosis. While several risk factors have been identified to stratify the risk for CNS relapse including the 2015 CNS internal Prognostic index (CNS-IPI), controversy still remains regarding the indication, timing, and method of CNS prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether IT-MTX reduced the risk of CNS relapse, as well as treatment related and financial toxicity of CNS prophylaxis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, we identified 194 patients with DLBCL who received care at Loma Linda University Cancer Center between January 2010- August 2022. We evaluated the efficacy, side effect profile, and financial toxicity of IT-MTX for CNS prophylaxis in patients with DLBCL.

RESULTS

In patients with intermediate to high CNS relapse risk (CNS-IPI 2-5) IT-MTX did not reduce the 1 year risk of CNS relapse (RR 1.1296, 95% CI 0.1933-6.6012, P = .08924). The median time to CNS relapse was longer in patients who had received IT-MTX (13.5 months) vs. those who did not (7 months). Thirty-eight (52.8%) patients reported adverse side effects of any kind as a result of IT-MTX administration, with 23.6% of patients developing grade 2 to 3 adverse events. The average cost for CNS-prophylaxis was estimated to be approximately $8,059.04 over a patient's treatment course, but as high as $20,140.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that IT-MTX has limited and potential transient effectiveness in preventing CNS relapse. Given the high rate of side effects and significant cost of IT-MTX, we recommend that clinicians carefully consider the risks and benefits of prophylaxis before prescribing IT-MTX for CNS-prophylaxis.

Central nervous system recurrence in a patient treated for acute promyelocytic leukemia, resulting in sideroblastic anemia: A case report

BACKGROUND

Previous cases that have been stated in this article have displayed that around 1% to 7% of patients that have been treated with chemotherapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia developed myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. One can see that’s why this case presentation of a 60-year-old man that had a good response to acute promyelocytic leukemia treatment, that later presented with a central nervous system recurrence of acute promyelocytic leukemia and acquired sideroblastic anemia (a form of myelodysplasia) from treatment is a unique case report.

CASE SUMMARY

The presence of central nervous system relapse in acute promyelocytic leukemia patients is very unlikely compared to recurring mainly in the bone marrow. It is also uncommon to be diagnosed with sideroblastic anemia (form of myelodysplastic syndrome) as a result from treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia. This case report highlights the detection, treatment/maintenance with idarubicin, all-trans-retinoic-acid, arsenic trioxide, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, and ommaya reservoir intrathecal methotrexate administration in a patient that had central nervous system relapse of acute promyelocytic leukemia and acquired sideroblastic anemia.

CONCLUSION

In essence, first time relapse concerning the central nervous system in treated acute promyelocytic leukemia patients who had a good response to therapy is very uncommon. The acquirement of a myelodysplastic syndrome such as ringed sideroblastic anemia is also rare regarding this patient population. Although such cases are infrequent, this case report represents a unique insight of the detection, treatment, and maintenance of a 60-year-old man diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, resulting in the acquirement of sideroblastic anemia and central nervous system relapse.

Disseminated soft tissue diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving multiple abdominal wall muscles: A case report

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and patients with DLBCL typically present rapidly growing masses. Lymphoma involving muscle is rare and accounts for only 5%; furthermore, multiple muscles and soft tissue involvement of DLBCL is unusual. Due to unusual clinical manifestation, accurate diagnosis could be delayed.

CASE SUMMARY

A 61-year-old man complained of swelling, pain and erythematous changes in the lower abdomen. Initially, soft tissue infection was suspected, however, skin lesion did not respond to antibiotics. ¹⁸Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography demonstrated FDG uptake not only in the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen but also in the abdominal wall muscles, peritoneum, perineum, penis and testis. DLBCL was confirmed by biopsy of the abdominal wall muscle and subcutaneous tissue. After intensive treatment including chemotherapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone, central nervous system prophylaxis (intrathecal injection of methotrexate, cytarabine and hydrocortisone) and orchiectomy, he underwent peripheral blood stem cell mobilization for an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Despite intensive treatment, the disease progressed rapidly and the patient showed poor outcome (overall survival, 9 mo; disease free survival, 3 mo).

CONCLUSION

The first clinical manifestation of soft tissue DLBCL involving multiple muscles was similar to the infection of the soft tissue.

Distal chromosome 1q aberrations and initial response to ibrutinib in central nervous system relapsed mantle cell lymphoma

Relapse involving the central nervous system (CNS) is an infrequent event in the progression of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with an incidence of approximately four percent. We report four cases of MCL with CNS relapse. In three of the four patients a large chromosomal copy-number alteration (CNA) of 1q was demonstrated together with TP53 mutation/deletion. These patients experienced brief response to ibrutinib, whereas a fourth patient harboring mutated ATM demonstrated a long-term effect to ibrutinib and no CNA. Although it is unclear whether chromosome 1q CNA contribute to specific phenotypes these reports may be of value as such lesions are uncommon features of MCL.

Central Nervous System International Prognostic Index Impacts Overall Survival in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Treated with R-Chop in a third Level Cancer Center from Mexico: A Survey of 642 Patients

BACKGROUND

Central nervous system international prognosis index (CNS-IPI) is validated in European and the USA cancer databases. However, no validation has been done in Mexican population.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to assess the impact of the CNS-IPI on central nervous system (CNS) relapse and survival in Mexican patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODS

In this retrospective analysis, clinical, biochemical, and histological variables and the CNS-IPI were analyzed.

RESULTS

Six hundred and forty-two patients with DBLCL were included in the study. The mean ± SD age was 56.8 ± 14.9 years. Most had an ECOG of 0-1: 75% (n = 484) had absence of B-symptoms and advanced disease (clinical stage: III-IV, n = 433, 67.4%). According to the CNS-IPI, almost one-half were in the low-risk category. According to the CNS-IPI, CNS relapse rate was 1.36% (95% CI: 83.2-92.8), 3.1% (95% CI: 132.4-162.8), and 7.4% (95% CI 61-91) for patients in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories, respectively. The median overall survival in the high-risk group (CNS-IPI) was 22 months, and it has not been achieved after 80 months of follow-up for the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CNS-IPI was associated with survival; therefore, we propose its use as a prognostic tool for prospective validation.

Early central nervous system relapse of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma after cord blood transplantation

Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL) is a rare subtype of intestinal T-cell lymphoma that occurs mostly in Asia. CHOP-like therapy is usually selected, but the prognosis is very poor. This report concerns a 43-year-old woman with newly diagnosed stage IVA MEITL. The patient obtained a partial response after 4 cycles of GDP (gemcitabine, dexamethasone, cisplatin) and achieved a complete response (CR) after cord blood transplantation (CBT) conditioned with total body irradiation, cyclophosphamide, and cytarabine. Seven months after transplantation, the patient experienced cognitive impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a high-intensity lesion in the right cerebral peduncle and internal capsule. A cerebrospinal fluid examination confirmed central nervous system (CNS) relapse of MEITL. After 3 cycles of MPV (methotrexate, procarbazine, vincristine) followed by whole-brain radiotherapy, her cognitive impairment improved. Due to disease progression, she died 6 months after CNS relapse. Given the CNS relapse after achieving a CR with GDP and CBT in this patient, CNS prophylaxis during first-line therapy may be beneficial in the treatment of MEITL.

Clinical Effect of CD25 on the Prognosis of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma with Secondary Central Nervous System Relapse

In the present study, we investigated the effects of immunophenotyping on prognosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with central nervous system (CNS) relapse treated with rituximab-CHOP (R-CHOP). CNS relapse occurred in 9.5% of DLBCL patients. At the diagnosis of DLBCL, CD25 was detected in 14.3% of cases. CD25 positivity correlated with an advanced stage, higher R-IPI, higher CNS-IPI, the presence of B symptoms, the presence of extranodal involvement >1, and bone involvement. Moreover CNS relapse was more frequently observed in patients with CD25+ than in those with CD25-. The univariate analysis showed that an advanced stage, high-risk R-IPI, high-risk CNS-IPI, bone involvement, and CD25+ were associated with shorter overall survival (OS). The multivariate analysis confirmed that CD25+ and high-risk CNS-IPI were independent adverse prognostic factors for shorter OS. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the potential of CD25+ as a prognostic factor in patients with CNS relapse and that it correlated with shorter survival. The present results showed that the expression of CD25 in DLBCL patients with CNS relapse was associated with the patient prognosis independent other prognostic factors. The establishment of a treatment strategy for CNS relapse patients with CD25+ DLBCL cells is needed to improve poor outcomes.

Augmenting Total Body Irradiation with a Cranial Boost before Stem Cell Transplantation Protects Against Post-Transplant Central Nervous System Relapse in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a pretransplant cranial boost (CB) on post-transplant central nervous system (CNS) relapse and survival in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using a total body irradiation (TBI)-containing preparation regimen. Two hundred thirteen ALL patients were treated consecutively at our institution with allogeneic HSCT. Conditioning included TBI (1320 cGy in 8 fractions given twice daily) and cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) with or without fludarabine (75 mg/m²). Patients were divided into 4 groups based on history of CNS disease and whether a CB was given. Of the 160 patients with no history of CNS disease, none received a CB (CNS-/CB-). Of the 53 patients with prior CNS disease, 41 had not received prior cranial irradiation. Thirty of these 41 received a CB of 900 to 1000 cGy in 5 daily fractions (CNS+/CB+), whereas the other 11 did not receive a CB because of physician preference (CNS+/CB-). The remaining 12 patients with prior CNS involvement had previously received cranial irradiation and thus were not candidates for a CB (CNS + PriorRT). Two-year CNS relapse risk, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Seven patients experienced post-transplant CNS relapse: 4 in the CNS-/CB- group, 2 in the CNS+/CB- group, and 1 in the CNS + PriorRT group. None of the 30 patients who received a CB relapsed in the CNS. Two-year CNS relapse risk was 0% in the CNS+/CB+ group compared with 21% (95% CI, 0% to 45%) in the CNS+/CB- group (P = .03). Two-year OS and DFS did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, among ALL patients with prior CNS leukemia, there was a trend toward a reduced risk of post-transplant CNS relapse in patients who received a CB. However, the addition of a CB did not appear to have an impact on OS or DFS.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as bilateral renal infiltration leading to acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) because of bilateral renal infiltration is an uncommon presentation of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A 52-year-old man presented to our institution with AKI and complaints of fatigue. Ultrasonography revealed a large, 15 cm granulomatous mass arising from the bilateral kidneys. The mass was biopsied laparoscopically, and histopathological analysis revealed evidence of DLBCL. The patient subsequently underwent R-CHOP therapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). Chemotherapy resulted in a rapid decrease in mass size and improvement in kidney function. However, after five courses of R-CHOP, relapse was observed in the central nervous system, and the patient died 220 days after the initial onset of AKI. Post-mortem analysis of renal tissue confirmed the initial diagnosis of DLBCL-associated renal infiltration. To our knowledge, this is the first report of DLBCL presenting as bilateral renal infiltration and AKI.

Successful Intrathecal Chemotherapy Combined with Radiotherapy Followed by Pomalidomide and Low-Dose Dexamethasone Maintenance Therapy for a Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia Patient

Primary plasma cell leukemia (PPCL) is a rare aggressive variant of plasma cell disorder and frequently presents with extramedullary disease. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement with PPCL has an extremely poor prognosis. We describe a 46-year-old man with PPCL treated with a combination of lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone as induction therapy following upfront allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Despite achieving a very good partial response, the patient suffered from an isolated CNS relapse 12 months after allo-SCT. He was immediately started on concurrent intrathecal chemotherapy (IT) and cranial irradiation (RT). Subsequently, pomalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone (Pd) were given as maintenance therapy. He has been without CNS recurrence for more than 18 months. Our case suggests that concurrent IT and RT followed by Pd maintenance therapy may be an effective option to control CNS relapse of PPCL after allo-SCT.

New risk factors and new tendency for central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a retrospective study

Background

In patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), central nervous system (CNS) relapse is uncommon but is nearly always fatal. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for CNS relapse in DLBCL patients and to evaluate the efficacy of rituximab and intrathecal chemotherapy prophylaxis for CNS relapse reduction.

Methods

A total of 511 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL treated at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2003 and December 2012 were included in the study. Among these patients, 376 received R-CHOP regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) as primary treatment, and 135 received CHOP regimen (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) as primary treatment. Intrathecal chemotherapy prophylaxis (methotrexate plus cytarabine) was administered to those who were deemed at high risk for CNS relapse. In the entire cohort and in the R-CHOP set in particular, the Kaplan–Meier method coupled with the log-rank test was used for univariate analysis, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. Differences were evaluated using a two-tailed test, and P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

At a median follow-up of 46 months, 25 (4.9%) patients experienced CNS relapse. There was a trend of reduced occurrence of CNS relapse in patients treated with rituximab; the 3-year cumulative CNS relapse rates were 7.1% in CHOP group and 2.7% in R-CHOP group (P = 0.045). Intrathecal chemotherapy prophylaxis did not confer much benefit in terms of preventing CNS relapse. Bone involvement [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38–12.77], renal involvement (HR = 3.85, 95% CI 1.05–14.19), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) >110 U/L (HR = 3.59, 95% CI 1.25–10.34), serum albumin (ALB) <35 g/L (HR = 3.63, 95% CI 1.25–10.51), treatment with rituximab (HR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.12–0.96), and a time to complete remission ≤ 108 days (HR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.06–0.78) were independent predictive factors for CNS relapse in the entire cohort. Bone involvement (HR = 4.44, 95% CI 1.08–18.35), bone marrow involvement (HR = 11.70, 95% CI 2.24–60.99), and renal involvement (HR = 10.83, 95% CI 2.27–51.65) were independent risk factors for CNS relapse in the R-CHOP set.

Conclusions

In the present study, rituximab decreased the CNS relapse rate of DLBCL, whereas intrathecal chemotherapy prophylaxis alone was not sufficient for preventing CNS relapse. Serum levels of ALB and ALP, and the time to complete remission were new independent predictive factors for CNS relapse in the patients with DLBCL. In the patients received R-CHOP regimen, a trend of increased CNS relapse was found to be associated with extranodal lesions.

Central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma: analysis of the risk factors and proposal of a new prognostic model

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an uncommon event, and the outcome of patients with CNS relapse is poor. However, no reliable prediction models for CNS relapse have been developed. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive de novo DLBCL patients referred to our department between September 2004 and August 2015 and treated with R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like regimens. Of 413 patients analyzed in this study, a total of 27 patients (6.5 %) eventually developed CNS relapse. The 5-year probability of CNS relapse was 8.4 %. The median time from diagnosis of DLBCL to CNS relapse was 15 months, and the median survival after CNS relapse was 7 months. In univariate analysis, the risk factors significantly associated with CNS relapse were Ann Arbor stage 3 or 4, albumin level <3.2 mg/L, number of extranodal sites >1, and involvement of retroperitoneal lymph node. We developed a new prognostic model consisting of these four factors. The 5-year probability of CNS relapse was significantly higher in patients with at least three of these four factors than in those with two or fewer factors (26.4 vs. 3.0 %, P < 0.001). Using this model, we evaluated the incidence and the risk factors of CNS relapse in DLBCL patients. The new risk model consisting of the four factors demonstrated good risk stratification for CNS relapse, and could help to identify high-risk patients for whom CNS prophylaxis is warranted.

Central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma: analysis of the risk factors and proposal of a new prognostic model

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an uncommon event, and the outcome of patients with CNS relapse is poor. However, no reliable prediction models for CNS relapse have been developed. We retrospectively analyzed consecutive de novo DLBCL patients referred to our department between September 2004 and August 2015 and treated with R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like regimens. Of 413 patients analyzed in this study, a total of 27 patients (6.5 %) eventually developed CNS relapse. The 5-year probability of CNS relapse was 8.4 %. The median time from diagnosis of DLBCL to CNS relapse was 15 months, and the median survival after CNS relapse was 7 months. In univariate analysis, the risk factors significantly associated with CNS relapse were Ann Arbor stage 3 or 4, albumin level <3.2 mg/L, number of extranodal sites >1, and involvement of retroperitoneal lymph node. We developed a new prognostic model consisting of these four factors. The 5-year probability of CNS relapse was significantly higher in patients with at least three of these four factors than in those with two or fewer factors (26.4 vs. 3.0 %, P < 0.001). Using this model, we evaluated the incidence and the risk factors of CNS relapse in DLBCL patients. The new risk model consisting of the four factors demonstrated good risk stratification for CNS relapse, and could help to identify high-risk patients for whom CNS prophylaxis is warranted.

Central nervous system relapse in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) confers a poor prognosis in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Preventing CNS relapse after HSCT remains a therapeutic challenge, and criteria for post-HSCT CNS prophylaxis have not been addressed. In a 3-center retrospective analysis, we reviewed the data for 457 adult patients with ALL who received a first allogeneic HSCT in first or second complete remission (CR). All patients received CNS prophylaxis as part of their upfront therapy for ALL, but post-transplantation CNS prophylaxis practice varied by institution and was administered to 48% of the patients. Eighteen patients (4%) developed CNS relapse after HSCT (isolated CNS relapse, n = 8; combined bone marrow and CNS relapse, n = 10). Patients with a previous history of CNS involvement with leukemia had a significantly higher rate for CNS relapse (P = .002), and pretransplantation CNS involvement was the only risk factor for post-transplantation CNS relapse found in this study. We failed to find a significant effect of post-transplantation CNS prophylaxis to prevent relapse after transplantation. Furthermore, no benefit for post-transplantation CNS prophylaxis could be detected when a subgroup analysis of patients with (P = .10) and without previous CNS involvement (P = .52) was performed. Finally, we could not find any significant effect for intensity of the transplantation conditioning regimen on CNS relapse after HSCT. In conclusion, CNS relapse is an uncommon event after HSCT for patients with ALL in CR1 or CR2, but with higher risk among patients with CNS involvement before transplantation. Furthermore, neither the use of post-HSCT CNS prophylaxis nor the intensity of the HSCT conditioning regimen made a significant difference in the rate of post-HSCT CNS relapse.