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Salvage immunochemotherapy and transplant consolidation is the standard treatment for relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We tested a combination of Obinutuzumab and DHAP for treating R/R DLBCL. The primary end point was the rate of complete metabolic response (CMR). Secondary end points were stem cell mobilization, stem cell engraftment, overall survival, and feasibility. In this prospective, phase-2, single-arm trial (EudraCT 2014-004014-17) patients received the standard three doses of Obinutuzumab for the first cycle, and then one dose. Patients with CMR were consolidated with an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). An interim analysis was provided after the first 29 patients to confirm the initial null hypothesis that at least 10/29 patients would achieve CMR. Among the 29 patients evaluated for the first stage only six patients (6/29, 21%) achieved CMR, thus, study enrollment was stopped. Nine patients exhibited extra-hematologic toxicities ≥ grade 3. Among the 19 patients that started stem cell mobilization, one failed (5%) and 18 achieved mobilization (95%). Of these 18 patients, nine were reinfused. Mobilization was observed in 16 patients (89%) after one or two apheresis rounds. The mean number of CD34 + cells mobilized was 5.8 × 10

Background: Patient-related factors, namely comorbidities, impact the clinical outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods: The prevalence and prognostic impact of comorbidities were examined using the validated scores Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) in 181 patients with DLBCL at initial diagnosis before treatment with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and prednisone (R-CHOP). Results: Pronounced comorbidities as defined by CCI and HCT-CI scoring of &ge, 2 were detected in 9.9% and 28.2% of patients, respectively, and occurred more frequently at advanced age (p &lt, 0.001). Higher CCI scoring was associated with lower complete response rate (p = 0.020). Both advanced CCI and HCT-CI were significantly associated with shortened overall survival (3-year OS: CCI &ge, 2 vs. 0&ndash, 1, 38.9% vs. 81.3%, p &lt, 0.001, HCT-CI &ge, 1, 56.9% vs. 84.9%, p &lt, 0.001). Both comorbidity scores remained independent risk factors in the multivariate analysis (HCT-CI &ge, 2 HR: 2.6, p = 0.004, CCI &ge, 2 HR: 3.6, p = 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the prognostic relevance of comorbidities classified by CCI and HCT-CI in patients with DLBCL undergoing curative treatment with R-CHOP. A structured evaluation of comorbidities might refine prognostication alongside currently used prognostic parameters, namely age, and should be evaluated in prospective trials.

The optimal first-line treatment for advanced-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is still a matter of debate. While ABVD is less toxic and as effective as other, more intensive chemotherapy regimens, escalated BEACOPP (BEACOPPesc) is superior to ABVD for initial disease control and prolonged time-to-relapse. However, this advantage is associated with higher rate of early and late toxicities. As most of these data have been accumulated from clinical trials, a retrospective analysis was conducted in a large database of patients treated outside clinical trials to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of these regimes in a real-world setting. From October 2009 to October 2018, 397 advanced-stage HL patients treated with either ABVD or BEACOPPesc were retrospectively assessed in 7 European cancer centers (2 Austrian and 5 Italian centers). Complete metabolic remission (CMR) by PET was achieved in 76% and 85% of patients in the ABVD and BEACOPPesc groups, respectively (p = .01). Severe adverse events occurred more frequently with BEACOPPesc than ABVD. At a median follow-up of 8 years, 9% of the patients who achieved CMR after BEACOPPesc relapsed compared to 16.6% in the ABVD group (p = .043). No statistical difference in progression free survival (PFS) was observed between the two cohorts overall (p = .11), but there was a trend towards a superior PFS in high-risk patients treated with BEACOPPesc (p = .074). Nevertheless, overall survival was similar between the two groups (p = .94). In conclusion, we confirm that ABVD is an effective and less toxic therapeutic option for advanced-stage HL. Although BEACOPP results in better initial tumor control, the long-term outcome remains similar between the two regimens.

// Patrizia Mondello 1,2,3 , Salvatore Cuzzocrea 2 , Michele Navarra 2 and Michael Mian 4,5 1 Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy 2 Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy 3 Lymphoma Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 4 Department of Hematology and Center of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy 5 Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology & Oncology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria Correspondence to: Patrizia Mondello, email: // Keywords : multiple myeloma, micro-environment, therapeutic opportunities, osteoclast activation, angiogenesis Received : July 18, 2016 Accepted : January 05, 2017 Published : January 12, 2017 Abstract Despite the advent of many therapeutic agents, such as bortezomib and lenalidomide that have significantly improved the overall survival, multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease. Failure to cure is multifactorial and can be attributed to the underlying genetic heterogeneity of the cancer and to the surrounding micro-environment. Understanding the mutual interaction between myeloma cells and micro-environment may lead to the development of novel treatment strategies able to eradicate this disease. In this review we discuss the principal molecules involved in the micro-environment network in multiple myeloma and the currently available therapies targeting them.

Although the majority of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can be cured with the standard immunochemotherapy R-CHOP, one-third of them relapses with a dismal outcome in most cases. In the recent years, remarkable advances have been achieved based on the discovery of molecular genetics in DLBCL. In addition to the major cell-of-origin designations of germinal center B-cell and activated B-cell subtypes, next-generation sequencing has unveiled the remarkable complexity of DLBCL and identified potential molecular targets for tailored therapies. Despite these findings, the current standard of care for DLBCL patients is still R-CHOP, and optimization of frontline therapy remains an important goal. In this review, we summarize recent updates on the evolution of frontline therapies for DLBCL.

Despite the important progress in the research of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), treatment options are still limited. Currently, a cytoreductive approach is the backbone treatment, with hydroxyurea (HU) being the most important agent. However, this drug is not always well-tolerated and has been questionably linked to a potential leukemogenic effect. A valid alternative is interferon alfa (IFN-α), but it is reserved for selected patients owing to the more frequent side effects and the lack of final results from the studies directly comparing IFN-α with HU, which is why we provided the results of the so far largest real-life analysis.From 2000 to 2016, 63 patients with Philadelphia-negative MPN prospectively received either HU or IFN-α.During a median follow-up period of 121 months (range, 88-168 months), 97% of the patients treated with IFN-α achieved a hematologic response (60% complete, 37% partial) compared with 78% in the HU group (56% complete, 20% partial; P .01). Molecular responses were limited to patients treated with IFN-α. IFN-α was well-tolerated with no secondary malignancy, whereas HU was associated with more toxic events and cases of leukemic transformation. A significantly longer progression-free survival (5.0 vs. 3.1 years; P .001) and overall survival (7.8 vs. 5.8 years; P = .006) were observed in the IFN-α group compared with the HU cohort.Our data support IFN-α as a more valid therapeutic option owing to its more profound hematologic responses, durable molecular remissions, long-term disease control, and reduced risk of leukemic transformation with a favorable toxicity profile.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive form of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The frontline treatment with high-dose methotrexate based immunochemotherapy is not curative for the majority of patients. Gene expression profiling and next-generation sequencing have recently provided plethora of data shedding light on pathogenic mechanisms sustain PCNSL and identifying potential vulnerable mechanisms to be explored therapeutically. Here, we review established molecular drivers of PCNSL and targeted drugs that may change the current therapeutic paradigm.

Background Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive lymphoma with a dismal prognosis because of numerous relapses. Because the most promising results have been obtained with immunochemotherapy followed by autologous cell stem transplantation (ASCT), we evaluated the efficacy of yttrium-90 ibritumomab ( 90 Y-IT) consolidation after such an intensive treatment. Patients and Methods We retrospectively assessed 57 patients affected by intermediate or high-risk MCL in complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR) after 3 cycles of R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin [hydroxydaunorubicin], vincristine [Oncovin], prednisolone) plus 3 cycles of R-DHAP (dexamethasone, cytarabine [Ara-C], cisplatin [platinum]) followed by ASCT and additional consolidation treatment with 90 Y-IT in 28 cases. All patients underwent 2 years of rituximab maintenance. Results After ASCT, 94% achieved CR and 4% achieved PR. The median follow-up was 6.2 years (range, 1.8-9.7 years). Treatment intensification was well tolerated and led to a significantly longer response duration in comparison to standard treatment. In contrast to the historical cohort, the addition of 90 Y-IT seems to overcome important risk factors such as Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (MIPI) score and bone marrow infiltration. Conclusion In the present retrospective analysis, immunochemotherapy followed by ASCT resulted in a very high response rate, and subsequent 90 Y-IT consolidation significantly reduced the number of relapses and increased survival, suggesting that 90 Y-IT consolidation might be a valid option in first-line treatment. However, a prospective confirmatory trial is warranted.

Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan (90Y-IT) combines the benefits of a monoclonal antibody with the efficacy of radiation in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a remarkably radiosensitive hematologic malignancy. 90Y-IT activity has been well established in the indolent setting, being approved in front-line treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL) patients as well as salvage therapy. However, no advantage in OS was observed with respect to standard treatment. Promising data are available also for aggressive B-cell lymphoma. In particular, the addition of RIT to short-course first line chemotherapy enables reduction of chemotherapy while maintaining cure rates in elderly, untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Furthermore, 90Y-IT improves response rate and outcomes of relapsed/refractory DLBCL patients, eligible and ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Clinical results have shown a role of 90Y-IT even in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). RIT might improve responses and treat minimal residual disease when used as consolidation after first-line chemotherapy in MCL. Moreover, 90Y-IT has demonstrated its efficacy in combination with high-dose chemotherapies as conditioning regimen for ASCT, with evidence suggesting the ability to overcome chemotherapy resistance. Herein, we review the available evidence for this approved drug and examine the recently published and ongoing trials for potential novel indication in aggressive B-cell NHL.

Background Rituximab plus bendamustine (R-B) has been demonstrated to improve outcomes and reduce toxicity compared with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in follicular lymphoma (FL). Nevertheless, in clinical practice, many centers still prefer R-CHOP to R-B in patients with FL grade 3A (FL3A). Therefore, we retrospectively assessed patients with FL3A treated with either R-CHOP or R-B in five European cancer centers and compared their outcomes. Materials and Methods We retrospectively assessed 132 patients affected by FL grade 3A treated with either R-B or R-CHOP in the first line and evaluated outcome and toxicity according to the type of treatment. This study included 101 patients who were a subgroup of a previously published cohort. Results R-B was less toxic and achieved a similar percentage of complete remissions compared with R-CHOP (97% vs. 96%, p = .3). During follow-up, 10 (16%) patients relapsed after R-B and 29 (41%) after R-CHOP (p = .001), leading to a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 15 versus 11.7 years, respectively (p = .03). Furthermore, R-B overcame the negative prognostic impact of BCL2 expression (15 vs. 4.8 years; p = .001). However, median overall survival was similar between both groups (not reached for both; p = .8). Conclusion R-B as a first-line treatment of FL3A is better tolerated than R-CHOP and seems to induce more profound responses, leading to a significantly lower relapse rate and prolonged PFS. Therefore, R-B is a valid treatment option for FL grade 3A. Implications for Practice Rituximab plus bendamustine (R-B) has shown to be less toxic and more effective than rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in follicular lymphoma grade 3A. Although both regimens can induce a complete remission in >95% of patients, relapses occur more frequently after R-CHOP than R-B, leading to a significantly longer progression-free survival in the latter. R-B is also able to overcome the impact of negative prognosticators, such as BCL2 expression. However, because of the indolent course of this disease and efficient salvage treatments, overall survival was similar in both treatment groups. Therefore, R-B is a valid treatment option in this patient setting.

The knowledge about biological mechanisms contributing to lymphomagenesis represents the basis for targeted therapies in lymphoproliferative disorders. Herein, we provide a short overview about the novel drugs targeting B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with a focus on diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Due to the plethora of new drugs, we present some of the most important new drug developments in lymphoma treatment, namely humanized monoclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibody conjugates, immunomodulatory agents, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The use of these agents alone or in combination with chemotherapy showed promising results with a good safety profile in a setting of relapsed/refractory lymphomas. Since many of them demonstrated to be highly active, several clinical trials evaluating their efficacy in first-line treatment are ongoing.

Introduction Patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and cardiovascular (CV) disease often share a comparable demographic profile. The aim of this analysis was to assess the significance and prevalence of preexisting CV comorbidity and events in NSCLC. Patients and Methods A total of 715 consecutive NSCLC patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2009 at the Medical University of Innsbruck were retrospectively assessed regarding CV comorbidities, risk factors, cancer treatment, CV events occurring after the start of treatment, and outcome. Results At least one CV comorbidity was present in 462 (67.2%) of 687 evaluable patients. CV events were documented in 68 patients (9.5%), with conduction disorders being the most prevalent (n = 19), followed by cardiomyopathy (n = 13), myocardial infarction (n = 13), sudden CV death (n = 12), need of revascularization (n = 6), and pericardial effusion (n = 5). Median time between diagnosis of NSCLC and CV event was 13.9 months. CV comorbidities and events both showed a direct correlation with increasing age, affecting up to 87.3% and 35.2% of all octogenarians in the study, respectively. The following CV comorbidities were significantly associated with CV events: atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathy. Overall survival was not reduced in patients experiencing a CV event compared to patients without an event. Conclusion CV disease and events are frequently observed in NSCLC patients. To provide definitive recommendations on impact, prevention, and screening of CV disease in NSCLC, prospective trials are desirable.

Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) is the most frequent paraneoplastic syndrome occurring in half of all oncologic patients and is considered as a poor prognosticator. Patients usually present with weight loss, lipolysis, muscle wasting, anorexia, chronic nausea, inflammation, and asthenia. The etiopathogenesis of CACS is still poorly understood, although several factors and biological pathways are known to be involved. Because of the complexity of this multifactorial condition, a single agent therapy may not be sufficient. Indeed, there is a tendency toward an integrated multiple approach including nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatments. However, despite encouraging preliminary results, currently there is not enough evidence to support a change in clinical practice. This review provides a brief and practical summary of the diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of CACS. Future perspectives will also be discussed.

Primary lymphoma of the lung or pleural is a very rare condition. Due to the outdated literature data, the approximate occurrence of primary and secondary lung and/or pleural involvement according to the most common B cell lymphoma entities is unknown. To answer this open question in Austria, we screened the Tyrolean registry for B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas regarding primary and secondary lung involvement. Of 854 patients affected by B cell lymphoma, 7.5% had lung/pleural disease. This organ was the primary site in only 0.7%, while a secondary involvement was registered in 6.8%. Most of them were affected by diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL; 29/368, 8%) followed by follicular lymphoma (7/188, 4%), mantle cell lymphoma (7/57, 12%), mucosa-associated tissue lymphoma (10/37, 27%), posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (6/24, 25%), Burkitt lymphoma (3/19, 16%), other lymphomas (1/32, 3%) and Richter transformation (1/11, 9%). Moreover, primary lung/pleural lymphoma is one of the rarest neoplasias affecting the lung, accounting for only 0.4% of cases. Lung/pleural involvement is a very rare condition among B cell lymphomas since it mainly occurs in the setting of a generalized disease. A large majority of patients with secondary organ involvement are affected by DLBCL and have similar clinical features at diagnosis to others with advanced-stage disease. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Purpose: Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a highly curable disease even in advanced-stage, with >90% of long-term survivors. Currently, the standard of care is ABVD (doxorubicin, etoposide, vinblastine and dacarbazine), as it is less toxic and as effective as other more intensive chemotherapy regimens. Alternatively, BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine and prednisone) has been proposed as front-line intensified regimen with a better initial disease control and prolonged time to relapse when compared to ABVD. However, this advantage is associated with higher rates of severe hematologic toxicity, treatment-related deaths, secondary neoplasms and infertility. To date, the debate regarding which regimen should be preferred as first line for advanced-stage HL is still ongoing. To shed some light on this open question we compared efficacy and safety of both regimens in clinical practice. Patients and Methods: From October 2009 to October 2018, patients with HL stage III-IV treated with either ABVD or BEACOPP escalated (BEACOPPesc) were retrospectively assessed in 7 European cancer centers. Results: A total of 372 consecutive patients were included in the study. One-hundred and ten patients were treated with BEACOPPesc and 262 with ABVD. The baseline characteristics of the two groups did not differ significantly, except for a higher rate of high-risk patients in the BEACOPPesc group in contrast to the ABVD one (47% vs 18%; p= 0.003). Complete response rate (CR) assessed by PET imaging at the end of the second cycle was 67% and 78% for the ABVD and BEACOPPesc group (p= 0.003), respectively. Thirteen patients of the ABVD group achieved stable disease (SD) and 6 had a progression disease (PD). On the other hand, 4 of the patients in the BEACOPPesc group progressed, another 2 interrupted therapy because life-threatening toxicity. At the end of the therapy, CR was 76% in the ABVD group and 85% in the BEACOPPesc group (p= 0.01). A total of 20% patients in the ABVD group and 14% patients in the BEACOPPesc group received consolidation radiotherapy on the mediastinal mass at the dose of 30Gy. After radiotherapy, the number of patients with CR increased to 79% and 87% in the two groups (p= 0.041), respectively. Thirty-nine patients (35%) in the BEACOPPesc group required dose reduction of chemotherapy due to toxicity compared to 12 patients (5%; p= Conclusion: We confirm that the ABVD regimen is an effective and less toxic therapeutic option for advanced-stage HL. Although BEACOPP results in better initial tumor control especially in high-risk patients, the long-term outcome remains similar between the two regimens. Disclosures Ferrero: EUSA Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Speakers Bureau. Martinelli:BMS: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; ARIAD: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Willenbacher:European Commission: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Myelom- und Lymphomselbsthilfe Österreich: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead Science: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; IQVIA: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; oncotyrol: Employment, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Fujimoto: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Tirol Program: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sandoz: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Despite the advent of new treatment strategies, many patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) relapse or die of the disease. Prospective clinical trials have demonstrated that lenalidomide is an effective and safe treatment option, especially for non-germinal center B-cell (non-GCB) DLBCL. However, routine clinical data are lacking, which is why we provide the results of the so-far largest relapsed/refractory (R/R) DLBCL real-life analysis.We retrospectively assessed 123 R/R DLBCL patients who received either 15 or 25 mg/day of lenalidomide from January 2006 to January 2015.During a median follow-up period of 4.5 years, complete remission was achieved in 32% and a partial remission in 33% non-GCB patients compared with 0% and 3% in the GCB group (p.001 and .001, respectively), with median response durations of 15 and 5 months, respectively (p.001). Lenalidomide at 25 mg was superior to 15 mg in terms of response (complete remission 21% and partial remission 23% vs. 0% and 8%; p = .007 and .05) and median response duration (10 vs. 4 months; p = .03). Toxicity was limited and reversible. Median progression-free survival differed between non-GCB and GCB patients (37 vs. 30 months; p.001) and between the two dosages (24 vs. 34 months; p = .002). However, overall survival was similar between the subgroups (38-42 months).We provide evidence that lenalidomide is a valid treatment option for R/R DLBCL, with limited and reversible toxicity, and is more efficient in non-GCB DLBCL and at higher doses.Despite the advent of new treatment strategies, many patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) relapse or die of the disease; hence, novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. This study confirms that lenalidomide is a valid and well-tolerated treatment option for relapsed/refractory (R/R) DLBCL. Superior outcomes were observed in non-germinal center B-cell (GCB) DLBCL, probably because of inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB pathway. Similarly, high drug doses resulted in greater clinical benefits. Overall, lenalidomide is a suitable therapeutic option for R/R DLBCL, especially in non-GCB DLBCL, and 25 mg/day dosing should be preferred.

Unlike cytotoxic agents, novel antineoplastic drugs can variably affect thyroid function and so impair patient outcomes. However, the widely used standard thyroid tests have demonstrated low sensitivity for detecting early thyroid damage that leads to dysfunction of the gland. To find a more reliable thyroid marker, we assessed the presence of antibodies binding thyroid hormones (thAbs) in a cancer population undergoing potentially thyrotoxic treatment. From April 2010 to September 2013, 82 patients with hematologic malignancies treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immunoregulatory drugs were recruited. Healthy volunteers (n = 104) served as control subjects. Thyroid function, autoimmunity tests, thAbs, and thyroid sonography were assessed once during treatment. Overall, thAb positivity was recorded in 13% of the entire cohort. In most cases, the thAbs were of a single type, with a predominance of T3 immunoglobulin G. More specifically, thAbs were detected in 11 cancer patients, and abnormal levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroglobulin antibody, and thyroperoxidase antibody were detected in 6 (p = 0.05), 0 (p = 0.0006), and 2 cancer patients (p = 0.001) respectively. Ultrasonographic alterations of the thyroid were observed in 12 cancer patients. In contrast, of the 104 healthy control subjects, only 1 was positive for thAbs (1%). We have demonstrated for the first time that thAbs are a reliable marker of early thyroid dysfunction when compared with the widely used standard thyroid tests. A confirmatory prospective trial aiming at evaluating thAbs at various time points during treatment could clarify the incidence and timing of antibody appearance.

Reason for Withdrawal The completion of the last task is overdue for more than one year. New authors are being sought to take over this protocol. To view the published versions of this article, please click the 'Other versions' tab.

Background Although the clinical outcome of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been improved by the addition of rituximab to standard chemotherapy, almost one-third fails or relapses after first line treatment. The presence of monoclonal gammopathy (MG) is a known adverse prognostic factor for DLBCL. Because this subset of patients does not benefit from R-CHOP, new therapeutic options are required. Herein, we report the first case of extranodal DBCL of the lung with a concomitant MG who achieved a long lasting complete remission with lenalidomide. Case presentation The 73-year-old male patient presented with lateral cervical lymphadenopathy, B symptoms, lactate dehydrogenase and beta2-microglobulin elevation. Computed tomography (CT) showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy and bilateral lung involvement. Biopsy of both disease locations revealed the presence of DLBCL. Successive bone marrow trephine biopsy proved the presence of concordant DLBCL involvement. At the time of diagnosis, a MG was present as well. The patient did not respond to the standard treatments, and subsequently underwent lenalidomide 25 mg/m2 days 1–21 q28 plus dexamethasone 40 mg days 1–4, 9–12 e 17–20. This therapeutic regimen was efficacious and safe as salvage therapy in extranodal DBCL with a MG. Furthermore, we observed a close association between DLBCL response to therapy and MG levels, suggesting that the amount of M-protein might be a surrogate marker of disease response. Conclusion Although DLBCL associated with MG does not respond properly to the standard treatments, it is highly sensitive to lenalidomide, which is why we endorse its role as treatment of choice in this subset of patients. In addition, MG levels appear to correlate with tumor burden, suggesting that it might be a useful marker of disease response. Prospective trials to validate these observations are warranted.

Aim: To compare the outcomes of patients with abdominal testes undergoing single-stage Fowler-Stephens (FSI) vs. two-stage (FSII) procedures. Patients and Methods: Between 01/1993 and 06/2009, a total of 41 children (median age 24.5 months) with 50 abdominal testes were treated. Orchidopexy was performed according to the surgeon’s choice, resulting in 33 FSI and 17 FSII open procedures. In this retrospective study the charts of all children followed in our outpatient department at one, three and 12 months postoperatively and afterwards annually by the use of volumetry and color Doppler-sonography were reveiwed. Data regarding testicular position, size (consistency), and atrophy were recorded. Results: In FSI, the overall success rate was 79%: 64% (21/33) were of normal size with a normal scrotal position; 15% (5/33) were not at the deepest scrotal point, and 21% (7/33) developed testicular atrophy. In FSII, the overall success rate was 82%: 76% (13/17) were found to be of normal size and 6% (1/17) were not at the deepest point of the scrotum, and 18% (3/17) developed testicular atrophy. Conclusions: In this consecutive series there were no significant differences observed between the two procedures with regard to size, blood supply, position, or atrophy rate of the testes.

Despite recent therapeutic improvements, the clinical course of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) still differs considerably among patients. We conducted this retrospective multi-centre study to evaluate the impact of genomic aberrations detected using a high-density genome wide-single nucleotide polymorphism-based array on clinical outcome in a population of DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP-21 (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicine, vincristine and prednisone repeated every 21 d). 166 DNA samples were analysed using the GeneChip Human Mapping 250K NspI. Genomic anomalies were analysed regarding their impact on the clinical course of 124 patients treated with R-CHOP-21. Unsupervised clustering was performed to identify genetically related subgroups of patients with different clinical outcomes. Twenty recurrent genetic lesions showed an impact on the clinical course. Loss of genomic material at 8p23.1 showed the strongest statistical significance and was associated with additional aberrations, such as 17p- and 15q-. Unsupervised clustering identified five DLBCL clusters with distinct genetic profiles, clinical characteristics and outcomes. Genetic features and clusters, associated with a different outcome in patients treated with R-CHOP, have been identified by arrayCGH.

Richter's syndrome (RS) represents the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) to aggressive lymphoma and is mostly represented by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), with a post-germinal centre (GC) phenotype, clonally related to the pre-existing CLL. RS has a very poor prognosis and its pathogenetic mechanisms are poorly understood. In order to gain additional hints in RS pathogenesis, we performed a genome-wide DNA profiling study of 13 RS phases and eight matched CLL phases using the Affymetrix Human Mapping 250K NspI SNP arrays. Individual genomic profiles were heterogeneous, with no individual lesions occurring in more than half of the cases. However, several observations suggest that MYC pathway might be involved in RS. The 13q13.3-qter region containing MIRHG1 (MIR-17-92), a cluster of microRNA interacting with c-MYC, was acquired at the time of transformation. The 13q gain was coupled with the gain of c-MYC and loss of TP53. Translocation of c-MYC was acquired at transformation in a fraction of cases and this event appeared mutually exclusive with gain of MIRHG1. MYCN, a c-MYC homologue, was also recurrently gained. By comparing RS with 48 de nova DLBCL, RS presented a significantly lower prevalence of deletions affecting the PRDM1 and TNFAIP3, genes on 6q, known to be associated with a post-GC phenotype. In conclusion, the genomic profile of RS seems to differ from what observed in de novo DLBCL and in other transformed DLBCL. Genomic lesions occurring in RS are heterogeneous suggesting the existence of different RS subsets, possibly due to different transforming mechanisms. A deregulation of MYC pathway might represent one of the main transformation events in the pathogenesis of a subset of RS clonally related to the previous CLL. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

To the Editor, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common aggressive lymphoma subtype, accounting for approximately 30% of new cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) [1]. Despite its a...

Purpose Treatment of secondary CNS dissemination in patients with aggressive lymphomas remains an important, unmet clinical need. Herein, we report the final results of a multicenter phase II trial addressing a new treatment for secondary CNS lymphoma based on encouraging experiences with high doses of antimetabolites in primary CNS lymphoma and with rituximab plus high-dose sequential chemoimmunotherapy (R-HDS) in relapsed aggressive lymphoma. Patients and Methods HIV-negative patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma and secondary CNS involvement at diagnosis or relapse, age 18 to 70 years, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 3 were enrolled and treated with high-doses of methotrexate and cytarabine, followed by R-HDS (cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, and etoposide) supported by autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). Treatment included eight doses of rituximab and four doses of intrathecal liposomal cytarabine. The primary end point was 2-year event-free survival; the planned accrual was 38 patients. Results Thirty-eight patients were enrolled; CNS disease was detected at presentation in 16 patients. Toxicity was usually hematologic and manageable, with grade 4 febrile neutropenia in 3% of delivered courses and grade 4 nonhematologic toxicity in 2% of delivered courses. Four patients died because of toxicity. Autologous stem cells were successfully collected in 24 (89%) of 27 patients (median, 10 × 106/kg); 20 patients underwent ASCT. Complete response was achieved in 24 patients (complete response rate, 63%; 95% CI, 48% to 78%). At a median follow-up of 48 months, 17 patients remained relapse free, with a 2-year event-free survival rate of 50% ± 8%. At 5 years, 16 patients were alive, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 41% ± 8% for the whole series and 68% ± 11% for patients who received transplantation. Systemic (extra-CNS) and/or meningeal disease did not affect outcome. Conclusion The combination of high doses of antimetabolites, R-HDS, and ASCT is feasible and effective in patients age 18 to 70 years old with secondary CNS lymphoma, and we propose it as a new standard therapeutic option.

BACKGROUND On the basis of a multicolor-FISH test we aimed at verifying whether there is any molecular biological background for the different behavior of Gleason Score 7 prostate cancer (PCa). PATIENTS AND METHODS Biopsies of 44 patients with histological verified PCa, 20 with Gleason score 3 + 4 (group A) and 24 with 4 + 3 (group B), were analyzed using FISH. RESULTS In group A, FISH detected a unique gain of 8q24 in 2 patients (10.0%) and a unique loss of 8p22 in 9 patients (45.0%). No concurrent loss and gain of both sites were found in this group. Of group B (4 + 3) a unique loss of 8p22 was observed in 14 patients (58.3%) and a concurrent loss of 8p22 and gain of 8q24 in 6 patients (25.0%). CONCLUSION Different molecular genetic patterns could explain the different biological behavior of the 2 groups. The analysis of chromosomal aberrations could therefore influence the clinical decision process in the future. Prostate 66: 966–970, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A 60-year-old man diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) presented at the time of disease progression with osteolytic bone lesions and pathological fractures without evidence of Richter ...

The first-line standard treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the R-CHOP regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone). It is associated with cardiotoxicity, which is why new treatment strategies are needed. Liposomial doxorubicin has been proven to reduce these side-effects, but until now a direct comparison regarding efficacy has not yet been published. We retrospectively assessed 364 consecutive DLBCL patients who underwent either R-CHOP (218; 60%) or R-COMP (doxorubicin replaced by non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin; 146; 40%) in first line and compared outcome and survival. We provide evidence that both regimens induce a high and comparable number of complete remissions and that both are able to cure patients with DLBCL. Confirmatory data are needed.

Background: In the rituximab era, the conventional International Prognostic index (IPI) lost at least in part its predictive power, while the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-IPI (NCCN-IPI) seems to be a new and valid prognosticator. However, it has not yet been evaluated in patients with localized disease and it has not been compared with the modified IPI (mIPI) of the pre-rituximab era. In order to evaluate the different prognosticators and to assess the importance of rituximab and radiotherapy (RT), we carried out the so far largest retrospective analysis of patients with localized diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Patients and methods: We retrospectively assessed clinical and therapeutical data of 1405 patients treated in from 1987 to 2012 in 10 cancer centers in Italy and 1 in Austria. Results: All patients underwent an anthracycline containing polychemotherapy and 254 additional rituximab. The median follow-up was 5.7 years (range 0.1-23 years). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 75%, being significantly superior in those who underwent additional rituximab, while RT consolidation did not improve the outcome of those who received immunochemotherapy. Patients with extranodal disease benefited from the addition of rituximab, while RT did not improve OS of the immunochemotherapy subgroup. In the pre-rituximab era, the mIPI showed a better performance than the others. In rituximab-treated patients, the NCCN-IPI had the highest discriminant value and the 5-years OS varied significantly (P < 0.001) between the three risk groups and was 98% in low-risk patients, 82% in those with a low-intermediate risk and 57% among high-intermediate and high-risk cases. Conclusions: The NCCN-IPI is so far the best prognosticator for patients with localized DLBCL who underwent R-CHOP(-like). The addition of rituximab is indispensable regardless of the risk category and site of involvement, while the addition of RT should be reserved to those cases who are ineligible to rituximab.

The proviral insertion in murine (PIM) lymphoma proteins are a serine/threonine kinase family composed of three isoformes: Pim-1, Pim-2 and Pim-3. They play a critical role in the control of cell proliferation, survival, homing and migration. Recently, overexpression of Pim kinases has been reported in human tumors, mainly in hematologic malignancies. In vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed their oncogenic potential. Indeed, PIM kinases have shown to be involved in tumorgenesis, to enhance tumor growth and to induce chemo-resistance, which is why they have become an attractive therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Novel molecules inhibiting Pim kinases have been evaluated in preclinical studies, demonstrating to be effective and with a favorable toxicity profile. Given the promising results, some of these compounds are currently under investigation in clinical trials. Herein, we provide an overview of the biological activity of PIM-kinases, their role in hematologic malignancies and future therapeutic opportunities. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13045-014-0095-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background. Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL)represents an aggressive lymphoma for which an effective treatment has still to be determined. The FIL-MCL0208 phase III trial (EudraCTNumber: 2009-012807-25) is exploring R-CHOP followed byi) high-dose cytarabine, autologous stem cell transplantation, and ii) randomization between lenalidomide maintenance vs observation (Cortelazzo et al, EHA 2015). We performed genome-wide DNA profiling to identify unbalanced copy number variations (CNVs) with a clinical significance in patients enrolled in the FIL-MCL0208 phase III trial. Patients and Methods. The study included untreated, advanced stage MCL patients ( Results. 161 patients were currently evaluable for CNVs and clinical outcome. Patients had an intermediate/high-risk MIPI and a Ki67 ³ 30% in 43% and 42% of the cases, respectively. Twenty-five recurrent unbalanced CNVs were defined (Table 1). By multiple test corrected univariate analysis, seven CNVs had a negative impact on PFS: +3, 7p gain, 9p loss (CDKN2A), 17p loss (TP53), 8p loss, and 2 losses at 22q (Table 1). MIPI (intermediate/high vs low risk), Ki67+ and the TP53/KMT2D model (Rossi et al, ASH 2015) were also statistically significant. Combining CNVs and mutations, TP53 was inactivated in 27/147 cases (18%): mutated/deleted in 7/147 (5%), deleted but not mutated in 14/147 (10%), and mutated but not deleted in 6/147 (4%). The negative prognostic impact was equal for all the 3 inactivation modalities, which were then considered as a single group for further analyses. ATM was inactive in 69/147 (47%): mutated/deleted in 24/147 (16.3%), deleted in 12/147 (8%), and mutated in 33/147 (22.4%). KMT2D (MLL2) was inactive in 18/147 (12%): mutated/deleted in 1/147 ( The lesions with a significant impact at univariate were included in a multivariate analysis alongside MIPI, KMT2D inactivation and Ki67+ as continuous variable. Only TP53 inactivation by deletion and/or mutation, 7p22.2-p12.1 gain and KMT2D inactivation maintained their independent prognostic significance. Conclusions. Genome wide DNA profiling in the FIL-MCL0208 phase III trial identified lesions, namely TP53 and KMT2D inactivation and gains at 7p, which maintain a poor outcome significance in young MCL patients even following high-dose cytarabine and autologous stem cell transplantation. Disclosures Rossi: Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria; Janseen: Honoraria. Stelitano:Azienda Ospedaliera: Employment. Gaidano:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal IgG1 kappa antibody directed against CD20, is an effective treatment for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It has become very important in the treatment of CD20 positi...

Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the CD20 surface protein, has become one of the most important targeted therapies in the fight against hematologic and autoimmune diseases. The Foo...

Background: Genomic complexity can predict the clinical course of patients affected by chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with a normal FISH. However, large studies are still lacking. Here, we analyzed a large series of CLL patients and also carried out the so far largest comparison of FISH versus single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in this disease. Patients and methods: SNP-array data were derived from a previously reported dataset. Results: Seventy-seven of 329 CLL patients (23%) presented with a normal FISH. At least one large (>5 Mb) genomic aberration was detected by SNP array in 17 of 77 patients (22%); this finding significantly affected TTT. There was no correlation with the presence of TP53 mutations. In multivariate analysis, including age, Binet stage, IGHV genes mutational status and large genomic lesion, the latter three factors emerged as independent prognosticators. The concordance between FISH and SNP array varied between 84 and 97%, depending on the specific genomic locus investigated. Conclusions: SNP array detected additional large genomic aberrations not covered by the standard FISH panel predicting the outcome of CLL patients.

Consolidation radiotherapy (cRT) in patients with stage I/II diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the Waldeyer's ring (WR-DLBCL) in complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy (CHT) is often associated with relevant acute and chronic toxicity, and its impact on survival remains to be defined. A total of 184 patients in CR after anthracycline-based chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed: 62 underwent CHT alone (CHT group), while 122 (66%) patients were referred to cRT (CHT + RT group). After a median follow-up of 54 months, 36 patients (20%) experienced relapse: 19% in the CHT group and 20% in the CHT + RT group. At the time of analysis 47 (76%) CHT patients and 97 (80%) CHT + RT patients were alive. Five-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and lymphoma-specific survival (LSS) were 80%, 74% and 86%, respectively. Five-year OS was significantly prolonged in the CHT + RT group, while DFS and LSS were similar between groups. This discrepancy was attributed to a high percentage of deaths due to unrelated causes in CHT patients. cRT does not prolong LSS in patients with early-stage WR-DLBCL in CR after anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. An international confirmatory trial is warranted.

To analyze time in relation to biochemical recurrence (BCR) and antiandrogen therapy (ADT) in patients with node metastasis at retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) and to identify prognostic factors of BCR- and ADT-free survival. Positive node patients at RRP and extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) were recruited retrospectively. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy were exclusion criteria. BR was defined as PSA ≥ 0.3 ng/ml or the beginning of salvage radiotherapy or, ADT. Between 1995 and 2008, 70 node-positive patients after RRP were followed without ADT. Overall, BCR-free survival was 77.9% at 2 years and 29.7% at 8 years. The median time to BCR was 59.2 months for patients with only one node compared to 27.7 months for those with ≥2 nodes. The number of positive nodes was the only independent predictor of BCR in Cox regression multivariable analysis. ADT-free survival was 78% at 2 years and 39% at 8 years. The median time to ADT for patients with only one positive node was 115 months, and the 5 years ADT-free survival was 68.8%. Gleason score and the number of positive nodes were the only independent prognostic factors of time to ADT in the Cox regression multivariable analysis. The prognosis of patients with positive nodes after RRP and ePNLD is good in terms of BCR- and ADT-free survival. After 8 years, 29.7% were still free from BCR, and 39% did not receive ADT. The number of positive nodes was the most important predictor of BCR- and ADT-free survival.

The impact of different treatment modalities and prognostic factors on the clinical course of primary thyroid diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PTDLBCL) is still the subject of research. This study was conducted to clarify these clinical aspects of this disorder. The clinical parameters of 48 patients with PTDLBCL at time of diagnosis were comparable to those of previous studies. Patients underwent either radiotherapy (RT) ±° surgery (SX), chemotherapy (CHT) alone or in combination with local treatments (RT or SX), or SX followed by CHT and RT. A 90% complete remission (CR) rate was observed among patients who underwent combined treatment modalities (CTM), compared to 76% among the others. The 5-year progression-free survival differed significantly between both groups (p = 0.028). Poor performance status and advanced age correlated with decreased survival. PTDLBCL is a curable disease prevalent in elderly patients. Combined treatment modalities were able to induce an elevated rate of CR, improving long-term survival in younger patients. However, the outcome in elderly patients still remains unsatisfactory. © 2011 Informa UK, Ltd.

International audience; Indolent primary cutaneous B cell lymphomas (PCBCL) generally have a good prognosis, but they often relapse leading in some cases to extracutaneous disease and therefore, to poor survival. We developed a prognostic model to improve the therapeutic approach to these lymphomas. Two hundred and seventeen patients with diagnosis of indolent PCBCL stage IE or IIE were assessed retrospectively. The prognostic model was built to fit a Cox proportional hazard model using all the covariates affecting progression-free survival (PFS) at 2 lesions were independent predictors for PFS. To each prognostic factor was assigned a value of 1. Patients were then stratified to three risk groups: score 0 (28%), low risk; score 1 (55%), intermediate risk; score 2 and 3 (17%), high risk with a 5-year PFS of 91%, 64%, and 48%, respectively (

Bone marrow ( BM) involvement in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can be morphologically discordant from the primary tumor. Concordant BM infiltration has been shown associated with a poorer outcome in patients treated with CHOP. In order to evaluate tumor-related factors leading to BM involvement in DLBCL, we performed an integrated analysis of i) genomic profiles obtained with a high-density genome wide SNP-based arrays ii) immunomorphological and iii) clinical data from 133 patients uniformly treated with R-CHOP. BM infiltration was found in 27 of 133 ( 20%) cases; and it was concordant in 18/27 (67%) cases. Concordant infiltration, but not discordant, influenced negatively OS, PFS and DFS and was associated with higher serum LDH, lower CR and higher PD rates. No association with cell of origin was found between BM+ and BM-DLBCL. As compared with BM- cases, BM+ DLBCL showed absence of 7q gain. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is considered an indolent but incurable disease. It remains to be clarified whether the outcome has changed after the recent introduction of novel treatment modalities. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of 281 patients with FL treated at the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland from 1979 to 2007. Three diagnostic eras were considered, according to the major therapeutic changes: before 1989 ('alkylating agents era', n = 73), 1990 to 1999 ('aggressive regimens and G-CSF era', n = 119), and 2000 to 2007 ('rituximab era', n = 89). The distribution of prognostic factors was similar in the three eras. A significant improvement in cause-specific survival (CSS) was observed over time (p = 0.0088), but not in overall survival. Median CSS was 12.5 years for patients with FL diagnosed before 1989, but was not reached in the more recent groups. The estimated CSS rate at 5 years in the three eras was 80%, 86%, and 91%, respectively. The CSS of patients with FL treated at our institution has improved over the last 25 years. This improvement, already evident before the wide introduction of rituximab in clinical practice, may be a result of the sequential application of effective therapies and improved supportive care.

Abstract 3957 Poster Board III-893 BACKGROUND Despite recent therapeutic improvements, the clinical course of DLBCL still differs considerably among patients. Here, we present the final results of a study to identify distinct DLBCL subgroups in patients treated with R-CHOP. METHODS DNA from 166 frozen DLBCL samples (PMBL,HIV-related DLBCL, post-transplant DLBCL and Richter's Syndromes were excluded) was analyzed with Affymetrix Human Mapping 250K arrays. Affymetrix U133 PLUS 2.0 gene expression profiles (GEP) were available for 54 cases. An optimized non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) was used for unsupervised clustering. The impact of the recurrent lesions on OS, PFS and DFS was evaluated with the log-rank test followed by multiple test correction (MTC). RESULTS 20 lesions showed a statistical significant impact on OS. Only 8p23.1 loss maintained its significance after MTC and was associated with additional aberrations, such as 17p- and 15q-. Unsupervised clustering identified 5 clusters with distinct genetic profiles, clinical characteristics and outcome: 1 (61/166, 37%), 2 (22/166, 13%), 3 (5/166, 4%), 4 (29/166, 17%), 5 (7/166, 6%). Cluster 1 was characterized by a heterogeneous genomic profile, lacking the most recurrent lesions. When compared to cluster 2 and 4, there were more HCV infections (9/38, 24% vs 1/12, 8% and 0/20; p=0.014) and bone marrow involvement (16/57, 28% vs 1/19, 5% and 2/24, 8%; p=0.008). GEP and morphology data suggested that cluster 1 could represent DLBCL with a high content of infiltrating T-cells, partially explaining the low rate of aberrations. This cluster has characteristics similar to the “host response” cluster previously identified by Monti et al., 2005. The outcome was poor with a high relapse rate (13/49, 26%) and a 5-yr OS of 76%. Cluster 2 (1q+/3q+/6q-/17p-) had also a relatively poor OS 80%. Cluster 4 (7+/12+) had a good outcome with a 5-yr OS of 92%. Clusters 2 and 4 showed differences in the number of pts with a high IPI-score (9/16, 56% vs. 7/26, 27%; p=0.057) and in single IPI factors, CR-rate (17/22, 77% vs. 25/29, 86%) and relapse rate (5/17, 29% vs. 2/25, 8%; p= 0.068). Cluster 3 (6q-/9-/11q+) had a trend for a good outcome. Instead, cluster 5 (3q+/11q+/18q+/6q-/8p-/15q-/17p-) showed a poor outcome. Clusters 2 and 4 were similar to ABC and GCB, respectively. CONCLUSIONS ArrayCGH provides the capability to identify genetic features and clusters, associated with a different outcome in patients treated with R-CHOP. The 8p23.1 locus should be investigated further for a gene that may be important in the pathogenesis of DLBCL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

We compared clinical characteristics, prognostic factors and treatment outcome of primary thyroid DLBCL (PTL) with those of other locations of primary extranodal head and neck lymphomas (PEHNL) and we further analyzed somatic hypermutation in pts with PTL. From December 1990 to June 2004, 48 PTL out of 478 PEHNL patients (pts) (10%) were enrolled in this study, including 10 males and 38 females, with a median age of 73 years (range, 34–90 years). In comparison with other locations PTL cases had more frequently advanced age (>60 yrs), female sex, bulky disease, poor ECOG-PS, elevated LDH and >1 adverse factors according to stage-modified IPI (MIPI). The commonest treatment was a short course of anthracycline-based chemotherapy (CHT) ± involved field radiotherapy (IFRT). Forty-two percent of PTL pts also underwent surgery. Clonal IGHVDJ rearrangements were analyzed in 17/48 cases. The CR rate of PTL pts (85%) was comparable to those of other locations. After a median follow-up of 41 months (range 1–154.months), 5-yr OS, EFS and DFS were 51%, 46% and 86%, respectively. The OS compared unfavourably with other locations (75%), while the disease-specific survival rate was similar in both groups (80%). Moreover, MIPI was not predictive of survival, probably due to a high mortality unrelated to disease (19% Vs 7%). Regarding treatment PTL pts seem to benefit more from surgery in combination with chemotherapy and/or IFRT than from other treatments not including partial or complete thyroid resection (p=0.04). Somatic hypermutation of IGHV genes was observed in the majority of PTL cases, suggesting that they derive from germinal center experienced B-cell, while the unmutated status in a fraction of pts indicates a different histogenetic and pathogenetic pathway. The significant clustering of S and R mutations in CDRs and FRs in a fraction of cases with high homologous CDR3 suggests that antigen stimulation may have an important role in the pathogenesis of these lymphomas. In conclusion, in spite of more adverse features at presentation PTL pts showed a favorable disease-specific survival, comparable to that of other PEHN. Biological study in PTL pts suggests different histogenetic and pathogenetic pathway. The comparison of thyroid biological profile with that of other PEHNL could help to clarify the different clinical behaviour of this uncommon malignancy.