The Oncogenic Lipid Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Impedes the Phagocytosis of Tumor Cells by M1 Macrophages in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Background: A total of 30–40% of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients will either not respond to the standard therapy or their disease will recur. The first-line treatment for DLBCL is rituximab and combination chemotherapy. This treatment involves the chemotherapy-induced recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages that recognize and kill rituximab-opsonized DLBCL cells. However, we lack insights into the factors responsible for the recruitment and functionality of macrophages in DLBCL tumors. Methods: We have studied the effects of the immunomodulatory lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) on macrophage activity in DLBCL, both in vitro and in animal models. Results: We show that tumor-derived S1P mediates the chemoattraction of both monocytes and macrophages in vitro and in animal models, an effect that is dependent upon the S1P receptor S1PR1. However, S1P inhibited M1 macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of DLBCL tumor cells opsonized with the CD20 monoclonal antibodies rituximab and ofatumumab, an effect that could be reversed by an S1PR1 inhibitor. Conclusions: Our data show that S1P signaling can modulate macrophage recruitment and tumor cell killing by anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in DLBCL. The administration of S1PR1 inhibitors could enhance the phagocytosis of tumor cells and improve outcomes for patients

Impact of tumour Epstein–Barr virus status on clinical outcome in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL): a review of the literature and analysis of a clinical trial cohort of children with cHL

In this study, we have re-evaluated how EBV status influences clinical outcome. To accomplish this, we performed a literature review of all studies that have reported the effect of EBV status on patient outcome and also explored the effect of EBV positivity on outcome in a clinical trial of children with cHL from the UK. Our literature review revealed that almost all studies of older adults/elderly patients have reported an adverse effect of an EBV-positive status on outcome. In younger adults with cHL, EBV-positive status was either associated with a moderate beneficial effect or no effect, and the results in children and adolescents were conflicting. Our own analysis of a series of 166 children with cHL revealed no difference in overall survival between EBV-positive and EBV-negative groups (p = 0.942, log rank test). However, EBV-positive subjects had significantly longer event-free survival (p = 0.0026). Positive latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) status was associated with a significantly lower risk of treatment failure in a Cox regression model (HR = 0.21, p = 0.005). In models that controlled for age, gender, and stage, EBV status had a similar effect size and statistical significance. This study highlights the age-related impact of EBV status on outcome in cHL patients and suggests different pathogenic effects of EBV at different stages of life.</p