BACKGROUND: The clinical usefulness of flow cytometry (FCM) for the diagnosis of leptomeningeal diseases (LMD) in non-Hodgkin lymphomas has been suggested in previous studies but needs to be further validated. With this regards, we evaluated the use of FCM for LMD in a series of Korean patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. METHODS: FCM and cytomorphology were conducted using samples obtained from clinically suspected LMD patients, follow-up LMD patients, and those with high risk of developing tumorigenic diseases. We then compared results of FCM and cytomorphology. In total, 55 and 47 CSF samples were analyzed by FCM and cytomorphology, respectively. RESULTS: Of the samples analyzed, 25.5% (14/55) and 12.8% (6/47) were positive by FCM and cytomorphology, respectively. No samples were determined as negative by FCM but positive by cytomorphology. Seven patients were positive only by FCM and negative by cytomorphology, and six among them were clinically confirmed to have LMD either by follow-up cytomorphology or imaging study. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high detection rate of tumor cells by FCM compared with cytomorphology. FCM study can be useful in early sensitive detection of LMD.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Glucose/cerebrospinal fluid ; Humans ; Leukocytes/cytology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/diagnosis/mortality ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/*complications ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms/cerebrospinal fluid/complications/*diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To analyze the clinical and pathological features, molecular biological markers and prognosis of primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

<b>METHODSb>A retrospective study was conducted in 92 cases of primary gastrointestinal DLBCL. The data of clinical characteristics, pathological and immunohistochemical features were analyzed. The relationship between different factors at diagnosis and prognosis were studied.

<b>RESULTSb>Of the 92 patients, the male-female ratio was 1.56:1 with a median age of 59(7-89) years. The most frequently involved site was stomach (50.0%), followed by small intestine (15.2%), colon (12.0%), ileocecum (10.9%) and multiple gastrointestinal tract involvements (9.8%). The ratio of non-germinal center B cell (non-GCB) subtype to germinal center B cell (GCB) was 2:1. Among the cases, Ki-67 had a high level expression with a median positive rate >80%. Positive expression of Bcl-2 was detected in 52.1% cases (25/48). Evidence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infections was detected in 34.0% cases with stomach involvement. Of the patients, 75 were included in a follow-up study with a median time of 48 months (3-130 months). The complete remission(CR)rate was 66.7%(50/75),the partial remission (PR) rate was 22.7% (17/75) and the overall response rate was 89.4% (67/75). The 1-, 3- and 5- year survival rates of the patients were 85.3%, 66.2% and 60.5%, respectively. The incidence of secondary malignancy after chemotherapy was 2.7%. The multivariate analysis indicated that primary colic DLBCL or multiple involvements of gastrointestinal tract and low serum albumin level (<35 g/L) at diagnosis were independently associated with poor outcome. Patients who received chemotherapy combined with rituximab (43 cases) had a higher CR rate (79.1% vs 46.9%, P=0.008) and 5-year overall survival (77.5% vs 53.1%, P=0.0045) than those without rituximab (32 case).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>Primary gastrointestinal DLBCL was a highly invasive and heterogeneous malignancy. In our data, the proportion of non-GCB subtype was higher. Primary colic DLBCL and those with multiple involvements of gastrointestinal tract had poor survival. Low serum albumin at diagnosis indicated poor outcome. Rituximab treatment in addition to chemotherapy might help to improve the clinical outcome. Further prospective trails were needed to confirm our results.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Interim 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (I-PET/CT) is a powerful tool for monitoring the response to therapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This retrospective study aimed to determine when and how to use I-PET/CT in DLBCL. A total of 197 patients treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) were enrolled between October 2005 and July 2011; PET/CT was performed at the time of diagnosis (PET/CT0), after 2 and 4 cycles of chemotherapy (PET/CT2 and PET/CT4, respectively), and at the end of treatment (F-PET/CT). According to the International Harmonization Project for Response Criteria in Lymphoma, 110 patients had negative PET/CT2 scans, and 87 had positive PET/CT2 scans. The PET/CT2-negative patients had significantly higher 3-year progression-free survival rate (75.8% vs. 38.2%) and 3-year overall survival rate (93.5% vs. 55.6%) than PET/CT2-positive patients. All PET/CT2-negative patients remained negative at PET/CT4, but 3 were positive at F-PET/CT. Among the 87 PET/CT2-positive patients, 57 remained positive at F-PET/CT, and 32 progressed during chemotherapy (15 at PET/CT4 and 17 at F-PET/CT). Comparing PET/CT4 with PET/CT0, 7 patients exhibited progression, and 8 achieved partial remission. Comparing F-PET/CT with PET/CT0, 10 patients exhibited progression, and 7 achieved partial remission. In conclusion, our results indicate that I-PET/CT should be performed after 2 rather than 4 cycles of immunochemotherapy in DLBCL patients. There is a limited role for subsequent PET/CT in the detection of relapse in PET/CT2-negative patients, but repeat PET/CT is required if the PET/CT2 findings are positive.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

The international prognostic index (IPI) has been established as one of the best predictors of outcome, and several different immunologic subtypes have been established as independent predictors of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This study was aimed to reassess and re-evaluate the useful value of these prognostic predictors in patients treated with immunochemotherapy. A retrospective analysis of clinical records of immuno-chemotherapeutic (rituximab + CHOP, R-CHOP) and route chemotherapeutic (CHOP) groups was carried out. Standard two-step method of immunohistochemical staining was used to assess the expression of CD10, MUM-1, BCL-6 and BCL-2. The different classification models (Han's algorithm and Muris model) were performed for patients with DLBCL according to the immunohistochemical staining results in both R-CHOP and CHOP regimen groups. Then the data of remission and overall survival rate in different groups were analyzed to investigate the effect of these prognostic factors. Total 126 de novo DLBCL patients were collected in this study, including 51 patients with treatment of R-CHOP and the other 75 patients with treatment of CHOP. The results showed that the R-CHOP group had higher complete remission rate (68.8) than CHOP group (58.7). The patients with IPI score ≤ 2 had significantly higher overall response rate and overall survival rates than the patients with IPI scores > 2 in both groups. The survival rates of different subtypes in Han's and Muris models were not different from each other in R-CHOP group, but were obvious different from each other in CHOP group. It is concluded that IPI is still effective and predictive for identification of different risk groups. Immunochemotherapy can improve the remission and overall survival rate of DLBCL, but weaken the effect of outcome predictor.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To explore the influence of BCL6, MYC, P53 genes abnormalities can on the prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and to identify independent prognostic factors for DLBCL in order to facilitate clinical prognosis and selection of stratification treatment for the patients.

<b>METHODSb>Sixty five newly diagnosed DLBCL pathological specimens were collected from 2009 to 2012. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization technique (I-FISH) was used to detect the status of BCL6, MYC and P53 genes. Clinical factors were combined with immunohistochemical results for multiple-factor survival analysis.

<b>RESULTSb>The rates of BCL6 gene rearrangement, P53 gene deletion and MYC rearrangement were 21.5% (14/65), 35.4% (23/65) and 7.7% (5/65), respectively. BCL6 rearrangement group has obviously poorer overall survival (OS)(P< 0.05). COX proportional hazards model analysis showed that gender, BCL6 protein, BCL6 rearrangement, Ki67 index were prognosis factors independent of international prognostic index (IPI).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>BCL6 can influence the prognosis of patients with DLBCL at gene and protein levels and both are independent prognostic factors for DLBCL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; diagnosis ; genetics ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) consisting of serum C-reactive protein and albumin levels, shows significant prognostic value in several types of tumors. We evaluated the prognostic significance of mGPS in 285 patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), retrospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to mGPS classification, 204 patients (71.5%) had an mGPS of 0, 57 (20%) had an mGPS of 1, and 24 (8.5%) had an mGPS of 2. RESULTS: Our study found that high mGPS were associated with poor prognostic factors including older age, extranodal involvement, advanced disease stage, unfavorable International Prognostic Index scores, and the presence of B symptoms. The complete response (CR) rate after 3 cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy was higher in patients with mGPS of 0 (53.8%) compared to those with mGPS of 1 (33.3%) or 2 (25.0%) (p=0.001). Patients with mGPS of 0 had significantly better overall survival (OS) than those with mGPS=1 and those with mGPS=2 (p=0.036). Multivariate analyses revealed that the GPS score was a prognostic factor for the CR rate of 3 cycle R-CHOP therapy (p=0.044) as well as OS (p=0.037). CONCLUSION: mGPS can be considered a potential prognostic factor that may predict early responses to R-CHOP therapy in DLBCL patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; C-Reactive Protein/*metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin/therapeutic use ; Female ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/blood/*diagnosis/*drug therapy/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prednisone/therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin/*metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Vincristine/therapeutic use

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Among diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients, determining the appropriate dose and chemotherapy schedule to balance toxicity and efficacy is harder in elderly than in younger patients. Moreover, there are no currently available clinical factors that consistently identify patients who are unfit to receive chemotherapy. Therefore, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients with DLBCL and the causes of treatment-related death were investigated in this study. METHODS: The clinical characteristics and outcomes of 44 elderly (> or = 70 years of age) patients diagnosed with DLBCL between January 2005 and June 2013 were evaluated. Variable clinical data along with the response rate, overall survival (OS), and causes of treatment-related death or treatment interruption were investigated. RESULTS: The median OS was 18.6 months, and 19 patients completed curative treatment. The mean average relative dose intensity of adriamycin in patients who completed chemotherapy was 0.617, and of these patients, 16 achieved complete remission. Chemotherapy incompletion, infectious complications, ex tranoda l involvement, high lactate dehydrogenase, poor performance status, and low albumin level at diagnosis were related to a shorter OS. However, multivariate analysis revealed that only infections and chemotherapy incompletion were significantly related to poor prognosis. The most common cause of treatment-related death was infection, and patients who had experienced infectious complications tended to have lower albumin levels than those of patients without such complications. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of elderly lymphoma patients, the dose intensity of adriamycin is not as important as it is in young patients. However, in elderly patients, infections are particularly dangerous, especially in patients with low albumin levels.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Communicable Diseases/blood/diagnosis/mortality ; Disease Progression ; Doxorubicin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Female ; Geriatric Assessment ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/blood/diagnosis/*drug therapy/mortality ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Remission Induction ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin/analysis ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome