Anemia in Hodgkin's lymphoma: the role of interleukin-6 and hepcidin.

Contains fulltext : 88183.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)PURPOSE: Cytokines play a pivotal role in Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). Because interleukin-6 (IL-6) induces expression of hepcidin, one of the principal regulators of iron metabolism, we studied the contribution of hepcidin in anemia in HL at diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma samples from 65 patients with HL were analyzed for hepcidin levels using a combination of weak cation exchange chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry; cytokine levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and parameters of iron metabolism and acute-phase reaction. RESULTS: Hepcidin plasma levels were significantly higher in HL patients when compared with controls, independent of the presence of anemia (P = .001). In the subset of patients with anemia, hepcidin levels inversely correlated with hemoglobin levels (P = .01). Analyzing parameters of iron metabolism, hepcidin levels showed a positive correlation with ferritin (P 2 (P = .005). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that in HL, hepcidin is upregulated by IL-6. Elevated hepcidin levels result in iron restriction and signs of anemia of chronic inflammation, although hepcidin-independent mechanisms contribute to development of anemia in HL

Systemic granulomatous reaction secondary to treatment of bladder cancer with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin

<p>Intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin is the elective treatment for transitional cell and in situ bladder carcinoma. Severe complications occur very seldom, but must be known and promptly recognized. We describe the case of a 48-year-old man, treated with chemo-immunotherapy ten years before for a follicular lymphoma, who developed a systemic granulomatous reaction after his twelfth intravescical BCG instillation for bladder cancer.</p&gt

Primary plasma cell leukemia followed by testicular plasmacytoma

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Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma presenting as slowly progressive paraparesis with normal MRI features

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare, high grade extranodal B-cell lymphoma, characterized by the proliferation of tumoral cells in the lumen of small vessels of several organs without the tendency for tumor formation in other areas usually affected by lymphomas, such as lymph nodes, bone marrow, or peripheral blood. Diagnosis is generally delayed by variable presentation with non-specific constitutional and neurological symptoms, lack of reliable ancillary tests and it is often obtained only at autopsy. We report a case of IVLBCL presenting with a slowly progressing isolated paraparesis without any evidence of spinal damage at MRI though neurophysiological examinations showed signs of spinal cord injury. Laboratory findings showed markedly elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase, low albumin values, raised ESR, mild thrombocytopenia and progressive impairment of hepatic function. Bone marrow examinations and total body CT scans were negative. Although clinical history appeared too long, we considered the hypothesis of IVLBCL on the basis of the laboratory constellation and proposed a liver biopsy, but the patient refused the procedure. The diagnosis was confirmed only at autopsy. Our case should make us aware that the disease has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained paraparesis associated with elevated level of lactate dehydrogenase and only relatively non-specific laboratory findings even without any spinal cord abnormalities at MRI

Mantle cell lymphoma relapsing at the lymphedematous arm

Lymphedema (LE) is a chronic medical condition characterized by lymphatic fluid retention, resulting in tissue swelling. Cancer treatments involving lymph nodes can damage lymph drainage routes, causing accumulation of lymph fluid in the interstitial tissue of related limbs and body areas and secondary LE. Basically, the LE has a negative impact on physical and mental quality of life. Moreover, 0.07-0.04% of long term survivors (most patients undergoing mastectomy) can develop the Stewart-Treves syndrome, a rare and aggressive multifocal lymphangiosarcoma arising within the LE region. Here we describe the case of a 45-year-old woman with a massive LE of the left arm, as a consequence of previous breast cancer, who was diagnosed after 4 years of stage IV mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The patient, after obtaining complete remission with chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant, had a relapse of MCL in the lymphedema site

Interleukin-6 plasma levels are modulated by a polymorphism in the NF-\u3baB1 gene and are associated with outcome following rituximab-combined chemotherapy in diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Peripheral blood cytokines are known prognostic parameters in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with chemotherapy, but their role after the introduction of rituximab is unknown. Seven polymorphisms in the promoter regions of IL-6, IL-10 and NF-\u3baB1 genes were assessed in 167 patients with DLBCL and 99 controls and correlated with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 plasma levels. Outcome was analyzed in 137 patients treated with rituximab-based chemotherapy. The NF-\u3baB1 - 94ATTG deletion was associated with increased IL-6 and IL-10 in DLBCL. High IL-6 concentration correlated with unfavorable prognostic factors included in the international prognostic index (IPI) and predicted for inferior progression-free (p = 0.007) and overall survival (p = 0.02). IL-6 levels remained a significant outcome predictor also including IPI as a covariate (p = 0.006 for progression-free survival). Our data suggest that the NF-\u3baB1 genetic background influences IL-6 production in DLBCL, and that high IL-6 concentration is an independent prognostic factor also in the "rituximab era.

Clinical and prognostic features of lymphomas arising in the head and neck region: Our experience of preferential association of different histotypes with various sites of origin in ninety patients

Keypoints \u2022 Among malignant lesions of the head and neck region excluding thyroid malignancies, lymphoma ranks second only to squamous cell carcinoma in frequency of occurrence. In the diagnostic work-up of every mass in the head and neck region, the Otolaryngologist should always consider lymphomas. \u2022 Most cases referred to the otolaryngologist are primarily extranodal, and the most frequent histology is diffuse large B cell lymphoma. \u2022 In extranodal cases, typical symptoms of otolaryngological diseases, such as dysphagia, nasal obstruction and fullness, are much more frequent than systemic manifestations. \u2022 Our results show a preferential localisation of the different lymphoma types within the head and neck, which may help in the diagnostic work-up (i.e. MALTomas are very frequent in the parotid, the aggressive mantle cellphenotype in the base of tongue)

The use of anthracycline at first-line compared to alkylating agents or nucleoside analogs improves the outcome of salvage treatments after relapse in follicular lymphoma The REFOLL study by the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi

Follicular lymphoma (FL) patients experience multiple remissions and relapses and commonly receive multiple treatment lines. A crucial question is whether anthracyclines should be used at first-line or whether they would be better "reserved" for relapse and whether FL outcome can be optimized by definite sequences of treatments. Randomized trials can be hardly designed to address this question. In this retrospective multi-institutional study, time-to-next-treatment after first relapse was analyzed in 510 patients who had received either alkylating agents- or anthracycline- or nucleoside analogs-based chemotherapy with/without rituximab at first-line and different second-line therapies. After a median of 42 months, median time-to-next-treatment after relapse was 41 months (CI95%:34-47 months). After adjustment for covariates, first-line anthracycline-based chemotherapy with/without rituximab was associated with better time-to-next-treatment after any salvage than alkylating agents-based chemotherapy with/without rituximab or nucleoside analogs-based chemotherapy with/without rituximab (HR:0.74, P = 0.027). The addition of rituximab to first-line chemotherapy had no significant impact (HR:1.22, P = 0.140). Autologs stem cell transplantation performed better than any other salvage treatment (HR:0.53, P < 0.001). First-line anthracycline-based chemotherapy significantly improved time-to-next-treatment even in patients receiving salvage autologs stem cell transplantation (P = 0.041). This study supports the concept that in FL previous treatments significantly impact on the outcome of subsequent therapies. The outcome of second-line treatments, either with salvage chemoimmunotherapy or with autologs stem cell transplantation, was better when an anthracycline-containing regimen was used at first-line. Am. J. Hematol. 90:56-61, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Cell-free circulating DNA in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Levels of cell-free circulating DNA have been correlated to clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with cancers of epithelial origin, while there are no data on patients with B-lymphoproliferative diseases