scholarly journals The 2008 WHO classification of lymphomas: implications for clinical practice and translational research

Hematology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 (1) ◽  
pp. 523-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine S. Jaffe

Abstract The 4th edition of the WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues published in 2008 builds upon the success of the 2001 3rd edition; new entities are defined, and solutions for problematic categories are sought. Recent studies have drawn attention to the biological overlap between classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). Similarly, there is a greater appreciation of the borderlands between Burkitt lymphoma and DLBCL. Strategies for the management of these borderline lesions are proposed. Additionally, age-specific and site-specific factors play an important role in the definition of several new entities, which also have biological underpinnings. Among the peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), more precise definitions were introduced for several entities, including anaplastic large cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, and subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma. Several new variants of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are proposed. Finally, the subclassification and categorization of the most common lymphoma subtypes, follicular lymphoma (FL) and DLBCL, were altered to enhance diagnostic accuracy and aid in clinical management. The 2008 WHO classification also draws attention to early events in lymphomagenesis. These lesions help delineate the earliest steps in neoplastic transformation and generally mandate a conservative therapeutic approach. The 2001 classification was rapidly adopted for clinical trials and successfully served as a common language for scientists comparing genetic and functional data. The modifications made in the 2008 classification are the result of this successful partnership among pathologists, clinicians, and biologists, but are only a stepping stone to the future.

Hematology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 (1) ◽  
pp. 523-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine S. Jaffe

The 4th edition of the WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues published in 2008 builds upon the success of the 2001 3rd edition; new entities are defined, and solutions for problematic categories are sought. Recent studies have drawn attention to the biological overlap between classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). Similarly, there is a greater appreciation of the borderlands between Burkitt lymphoma and DLBCL. Strategies for the management of these borderline lesions are proposed. Additionally, age-specific and site-specific factors play an important role in the definition of several new entities, which also have biological underpinnings. Among the peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), more precise definitions were introduced for several entities, including anaplastic large cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, and subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma. Several new variants of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are proposed. Finally, the subclassification and categorization of the most common lymphoma subtypes, follicular lymphoma (FL) and DLBCL, were altered to enhance diagnostic accuracy and aid in clinical management. The 2008 WHO classification also draws attention to early events in lymphomagenesis. These lesions help delineate the earliest steps in neoplastic transformation and generally mandate a conservative therapeutic approach. The 2001 classification was rapidly adopted for clinical trials and successfully served as a common language for scientists comparing genetic and functional data. The modifications made in the 2008 classification are the result of this successful partnership among pathologists, clinicians, and biologists, but are only a stepping stone to the future.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1610-1610
Author(s):  
Alex F Herrera ◽  
Allison Crosby-Thompson ◽  
Jonathan W. Friedberg ◽  
Gregory A. Abel ◽  
Myron S. Czuczman ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1610 Background: T-cell lymphomas (TCL) are an uncommon group of diseases recently updated in the WHO classification. Accurate diagnosis requires immunophenotyping and molecular techniques. Diagnostic accuracy of TCLs utilizing the WHO classification has not previously been evaluated. Methods: The NCCN NHL database prospectively collects clinical, treatment, and outcome data for patients seen at 7 comprehensive cancer centers. Using this unique resource, we evaluated diagnostic concordance between referring and NCCN centers for TCLs, including peripheral T-cell lymphoma, NOS (PTCL NOS), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK+ ALCL), and ALK-negative ALCL utilizing pathology reports, immunohistochemical stains, flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization/cytogenetics, T-cell gene rearrangement, and progress notes. Results: Of 98 eligible patients enrolled from April 2007 to March 2011, 38 (39%) cases were concordant and 60 (61%) were non-concordant. Among non-concordant cases, 34 (57%) had a provisional diagnosis before referral, 6 (10%) were discordant with no additional studies performed, 17 (28%) were discordant with additional studies performed, and 3 (5%) required an additional biopsy. Concordance was highest for ALK+ ALCL at 73%, while the remaining subtypes had low concordance: PTCL NOS 28%, AITL 28%, ALK- ALCL 47%. In 13 (13%) discordant cases (referral diagnosis was benign, a B-cell NHL, or ALK status was undefined) patients may have experienced a significant change in treatment with pathologic reclassification. Conclusions: In patients with TCL, the likelihood of a concordant final diagnosis at a referring institution was low. Among non-concordant cases, the majority were referred with provisional diagnoses, and many referral diagnoses were discordant. Establishing a precise diagnosis is critical for prognosis and impacts both therapeutic decisions and clinical trial enrollment. As current and future therapies, such as brentuximab vedotin, target subsets of TCLs, our data suggest that all suspected TCLs may benefit from evaluation by an expert hematopathologist. Disclosures: Kaminski: Allos: Consultancy, Honoraria.


Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 2213-2219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel W. Bekkenk ◽  
Maarten H. Vermeer ◽  
Patty M. Jansen ◽  
Ariënne M. W. van Marion ◽  
Marijke R. Canninga-van Dijk ◽  
...  

Abstract In the present study the clinicopathologic and immunophenotypic features of 82 patients with a CD30– peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified, presenting in the skin were evaluated. The purpose of this study was to find out whether subdivision of these lymphomas on the basis of cell size, phenotype, or presentation with only skin lesions is clinically relevant. The study group included 46 primary cutaneous CD30– large cell lymphomas and 17 small/medium-sized T-cell lymphomas as well as 17 peripheral T-cell lymphomas with both skin and extracutaneous disease at the time of diagnosis. Patients with primary cutaneous small- or medium-sized T-cell lymphomas had a significantly better prognosis (5-year-overall survival, 45%) than patients with primary cutaneous CD30– large T-cell lymphomas (12%) and patients presenting with concurrent extracutaneous disease (12%). The favorable prognosis in this group with primary cutaneous small- or medium-sized T-cell lymphomas was particularly found in patients presenting with localized skin lesions expressing a CD3+CD4+CD8– phenotype. In the primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) group and in the concurrent group, neither extent of skin lesions nor phenotype had any effect on survival. Our results indicate that peripheral T-cell lymphomas, unspecified, presenting in the skin have an unfavorable prognosis, irrespective of the presence or absence of extracutaneous disease at the time of diagnosis, cell size, and expression of a CD4+ or CD8+ phenotype. The only exception was a group of primary cutaneous small- or medium-sized pleomorphic CTCLs with a CD3+CD4+CD8– phenotype and presenting with localized skin lesions.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
pp. 3487-3493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Jones ◽  
Christopher D.M. Fletcher ◽  
Karen Pulford ◽  
Aliakbar Shahsafaei ◽  
David M. Dorfman

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family includes several important markers of activation in T cells. We examined expression patterns of two T-cell-associated members of these receptors, namely CD30 and OX40/CD134, in 148 cases of T-cell lymphoma to identify possible objective immunohistochemical criteria for subclassification of these tumors. CD30 expression was characteristic of tumors with an anaplastic (46/47 cases [98%]) or large-cell (10/21 [48%]) morphology and was seen in only scattered cells in other tumor types. In contrast, large numbers of OX40/CD134+ tumors cells were typical of angioimmunoblastic lymphoma (15/16 [94%]), angiocentric lymphoma (4/4), a subset of large-cell lymphomas (10/21 [48%]), and lymphomas with a prominent histiocytic component (6/7 [86%]). Strong OX40/CD134 and CD30 coexpression was seen in only 4% of tumors, typically those with an anaplastic/Hodgkin’s-like appearance. OX40/CD134 expression was characteristic of tumors composed of activated CD4+ T cells and was not seen in small-cell T-cell lymphomas, lymphoblastic lymphomas, or other tumor types, including B-cell lymphomas or carcinomas. These results suggest that immunostaining for OX40/CD134 may be helpful in subclassification of peripheral T-cell lymphomas and that the patterns of TNF receptor family expression in these tumors may parallel those seen within nonneoplastic helper T-cell subsets.


2020 ◽  
pp. 107815522096861
Author(s):  
Lucie Oberic ◽  
Faustine Delzor ◽  
Caroline Protin ◽  
Sophie Perriat ◽  
Camille Laurent ◽  
...  

Introduction Brentuximab vedotin (Bv) has been approved for the treatment of Refractory/Relapsed (R/R) Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphomas (ALCL) and cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas, but is also effective in other CD30+ malignancies. We report here the outcomes of patients with various R/R Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) treated with Bv in real life practice. Method This was a retrospective, single-center study based on medical records of patients with R/R PTCL treated either with Bv alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Results Among 27 patients treated with Bv, neutropenia was the main serious adverse event observed in particular when Bv was used as combination treatment. The complete Response Rates (CRR) was 40.7%; it was significantly improved when Bv was used as combination treatment. The majority of eligible patients (7/10) underwent Stem Cell Transplantation. Median Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS) were 5.2 months and 12.5 months respectively. Conclusion Our current study shows that Bv used in combination with chemotherapy provides a high CRR and thereby allows SCT in R/R PTCL. The use of Bv treatments in this setting warrants further investigation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caiqin Xie ◽  
Xian Li ◽  
Hui Zeng ◽  
Wenbin Qian

AbstractPeripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are biologically and clinically heterogeneous diseases almost all of which are associated with poor outcomes. Recent advances in gene expression profiling that helps in diagnosis and prognostication of different subtypes and next-generation sequencing have given new insights into the pathogenesis and molecular pathway of PTCL. Here, we focus on a broader description of mutational insights into the common subtypes of PTCL including PTCL not other specified type, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and extra-nodal NK/T cell lymphoma, nasal type, and also present an overview of new targeted therapies currently in various stages of clinical trials.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 2399-2399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Horwitz ◽  
Francine Foss ◽  
Shari Goldfarb ◽  
Ana Molina ◽  
Paul A. Hamlin ◽  
...  

Abstract FDG-PET is emerging as a standard staging study for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease. There is little experience with PET in staging T-cell lymphomas (TCL). TCL often involve extranodal sites not well imaged by standard CT. We hypothesized that PET would add to staging by detecting additional sites of disease. To address this question we reviewed our TCL database to identify patients (pt) who had PET as part of complete staging at initial diagnosis or at relapse. Each pt was included once. Staging included physical exam, CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis alone or as part of a PET/CT combination, and bone marrow (BM) biopsy. Studies such as MRI of the sinus or ultrasound of the testes were done as clinically indicated. We reviewed 107 pt who met the above criteria. Histologies were as follows: peripheral T-cell lymphoma NOS (PTCL), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILT), anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-1-, (ALCL−), anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-1+, (ALCL+), mycosis fungoides (MF), subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL), adult T-cell lymphoma (ATL), NK lymphoma nasal type (NK-Nas), lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL), enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma (EATCL), blastic NK lymphoma (BLNK), primary cutaneous ALCL (ALCL-Cut), and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSPTCL). All pt with MF had suspicion of extracutaneous disease. Overall 95/107 (89%) had a PET interpreted as positive by visual review. Standard uptake values (SUV) varied from 1.1–20.5 g/ml. Of the 12 pt with negative PET scans, 7(58%) had no evidence of disease on CT including PTCL (n=3, stage I resected), HSPTCL (n=2, liver, spleen, BM disease only), ALCL-Cut (n=2, skin only). T-cell Lymphoma-PET Results Histology N PET + % positive SUV Range (g/ml) ALL PT 107 95 89% 1.1–20.5 PTCL 27 24 88% 2–20 AILT 19 16 84% 2–11.7 ALCL− 12 12 100% 3–19.6 ALCL+ 4 4 100% 4–12 MF 12 10 83% 1.8–17.6 SPTCL 8 8 100% 1.4–13.1 ATL 5 5 100% 2.9–19.7 NK-Nas 5 5 100% 3.4–13.1 LL 3 3 100% 5.5–20.5 EATCL 3 3 100% 3.5–9.9 ALCL-Cut 5 3 60% 1.1–1.4 BLNK 2 2 100% 1.929.5 HSPTCL 2 0 0 N/A PET detected additional sites of disease in 34/107 (32%). These sites detected by PET were skin/subcut (n=9), bone (n=7), lymph node (n=6), spleen (n=3), nasopharynx/sinus (n=2), liver (n=2), BM (n=1), bowel (n=1), muscle (n=1), kidney (n=1), tonsil (n=1), testes (n=1). Three new malignancies were incidentally detected by PET including lung cancer (n=1), metastatic renal cell to the parotid (n=1), and mantle cell lymphoma (n=1 in a pt with ALCL-cut). Despite these additional sites, stage was changed in only 10/107 (9%). We did not use negative PET to downstage. Sites resulting in higher stage included bone (n=3), lymph node (n=2), subcut/muscle (n=3), testes (n=1), liver (n=1). Skin lesions were noted on physical exam and therefore did not change stage. In conclusion, TCL are almost universally PET positive. PET often adds information by identifying extranodal disease. However, partly due to many pt being stage IV by other modalities, PET resulted in a change of stage in <10% of pt. PET may be particularly useful in assessing of skin sites. These data suggest that it may be beneficial to include PET in the response assessment of TCL, as has been proposed for DLBCL and HL in revised NHL response criteria.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 4392-4392
Author(s):  
Frederick Lansigan ◽  
Stuart Seropian ◽  
Dennis Cooper ◽  
Francine Foss

Abstract Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas (PTCL) are a heterogenous group of malignanices that represent 10–15% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This group has a worse prognosis with conventional chemotherapy compared to B-cell lymphomas. Both autologous (AutoSCT) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (AlloSCT) have been used as consolidation in first remission and at relapse, but the role of transplantation has not been clearly defined. We report a retrospective analysis of 42 patients with PTCL who underwent AutoSCT (24) or AlloSCT (18) between 8/1997 and 12/2007. The AlloSCT group consisted of 4 PTCL unspecified (PTCLu), 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas (AITL), 2 panniculitic T-cell lymphomas, 2 cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) with large cell transformation, 2 NK-cell lymphomas, 2 anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL, 1 Alk+, 1 Alk unknown), 1 hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, 1 enteropathic T-cell lymphoma, and 1 refractory CTCL. The AutoSCT group consisted of 6 PTCLu, 12 ALCL (5 Alk+, 5 Alk−, 2 Alk unknown), 4 AITL, 1 CTCL with transformation, and 1 T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. The median age of the AlloSCT and AutoSCT groups was 51 (range 29–72) and 52 years (range 19–67), respectively. The median number of prior treatments of the AlloSCT and AutoSCT groups were 3 (range 1 to 5) and 1 (range 1 to 5), respectively. Within the AlloSCT group there were 14 matched-related donor transplants, and 4 matched-unrelated donor transplants; 7 were ablative and 11 were reduced-intensity transplants; the AlloSCT conditioning regimens varied. The AutoSCT group predominantly received BEAM as their conditioning regimen. Median time from diagnosis to AlloSCT or AutoSCT was 18.4 (range 6.9 to 109) and 7.5 (range 3.9 to 25) months, respectively. Median follow-up times for the AlloSCT and AutoSCT groups were 28.6 and 23.5 months, respectively. The day 100 transplant-related mortality rates in the AlloSCT and AutoSCT groups were 11% and 0%, respectively. Within the AlloSCT group the relapse and non-relapse mortalities were 11% and 33%, respectively. In the AutoSCT group, the relapse mortality was 33%. The 1- and 2-year overall survival (OS) rates were similar within the AlloSCT and AutoSCT groups (78% vs 74%, and 67% vs 60%, respectively). The 1- and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates for the AlloSCT vs AutoSCT groups were 68% vs 52%, and 53% vs 45%, respectively (p = 0.28). Within the AutoSCT group, 14 patients (58%) were transplanted in first complete remission (CR1), and 10 (42%) in second complete remission (CR2), beyond CR2, or partial remission (PR). Patients in CR1 had significantly better PFS (57 vs 17 months, p=0.007) and OS (76 vs 29 months, p=0.004) than those in CR2, PR2, or beyond. Within the AlloSCT group, there was a trend toward poorer OS in 6 patients (33%) who had prior AutoSCT (32 vs 60 months, p=0.15). One patient (6%) was transplanted in CR1, and is still alive. We conclude that outcomes for AutoSCT are best in CR1. For patients with resistant or relapsed disease, AlloSCT should be strongly considered rather than AutoSCT. Prior AutoSCT may affect the outcome of AlloSCT. These results suggest that a prospective randomized trial comparing AutoSCT and AlloSCT for aggressive PTCL in first remission is warranted.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1608-1608
Author(s):  
Brady E Beltran ◽  
Erick Cotacallapa ◽  
Jorge J Castillo

Abstract Abstract 1608 Background: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a heterogeneous family of entities with a worse prognosis, stage by stage, than their B-cell counterparts. We have previously reported that an absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) <1000/uL is associated with a worse prognosis in Peruvian patients with PTCL (Castillo et al. 2010). The goal of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of absolute monocyte count (AMC) in the survival of patients with PTCL. Methods: A total of 251 cases of aggressive, non-primary cutaneous PTCL diagnosed at our institution between January 1997 and January 2012 were reviewed, reevaluated according to their morphological, immunological and clinical characteristics, and reclassified according to the 2008 WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms. Characteristics will be presented descriptively. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) curves, which were compared using the log-rank test. The multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional-hazard regression test. Results: According to the new WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms, 104 cases (41%) were classified as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), 103 cases (41%) as PTCL, unspecified (PTCLU), 27 cases (11%) as analplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), 11 cases (4%) as extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL), nasal type, 4 cases (2%) as angioimmunoblastic lymphoma (AIL), and 2 cases (1%) were diagnosed with ALK+ ALCL. The median age at diagnosis was 57 years (range 14–92 years); 47% of patients were >60 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1. ECOG performance status >1 was seen in 51%, LDH was elevated in 67%, advanced stage was seen in 73%, and >1 extranodal sites were seen in 22% of the patients. Bone marrow involvement was reported in 30% and B symptoms in 64% of patients. An International Prognostic Index (IPI) score 3–5 was seen in 55%, and a Prognostic Index for PTCLU (PIT) score of 2–4 in 63%. The median overall survival (OS) for the whole group was 10 months. The IPI score, the PIT score, ALC <1000/uL and AMC >800/uL (Figure) showed statistical significance in the univariate survival analysis (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, PIT score and AMC >800/uL showed statistical significance (p=0.006, p=0.046, respectively). Conclusions: Monocytosis, defined as AMC >800/uL, and the PIT score were independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with aggressive, non-primary cutaneous PTCL. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2017 ◽  
Vol 141 (11) ◽  
pp. 1469-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian M. Hathuc ◽  
Alexandra C. Hristov ◽  
Lauren B. Smith

Primary cutaneous acral CD8+ T-cell lymphoma is a new provisional entity in the 2016 revision of the World Health Organization classification of lymphoid neoplasms. This is a challenging diagnosis because of its rarity, as well as its morphologic and immunophenotypic overlap with other CD8+ cytotoxic lymphoid proliferations. Appropriate classification of this entity is crucial because of its indolent clinical behavior compared with other CD8+ T-cell lymphomas. Knowledge of the clinical setting, sites of involvement, and morphologic features can aid in correct diagnosis. Here, we review the clinical and pathologic features of primary cutaneous acral CD8+ T-cell lymphoma with an emphasis on the differential diagnosis among other C8+ T-cell lymphomas.


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