Central Nervous System Relapse in Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Treated with All-Trans Retinoic Acid and Reinforced Anthracycline Monochemotherapy.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 592-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pau Montesinos ◽  
Jose D. Gonzalez ◽  
Edo Vellenga ◽  
Chelo Rayon ◽  
Ricardo Parody ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Central nervous system (CNS) relapse can complicate the course of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy, especially of those with high WBC at diagnosis (≥10 × 109/L). While ATRA and anthracyclines do not crosses the cerebrospinal fluid barrier, some trials for APL includes the use of intratechal prophylaxis or high-dose cytarabine, at least in high-risk patients, to avoid the CNS relapses. However, the convenience of CNS prophylaxis in APL patients is a matter of controversy. Objectives: Analyze the incidence and characteristics of CNS involvement at first relapse, in patients with newly diagnosed APL treated with ATRA and reinforced anthracycline monochemotherapy, without CNS prophylaxis. Methods: From 1999 to 2005, 564 patients (median age 40 years, range 2-83) were included in the PETHEMA LPA99 trial. Induction therapy consisted of ATRA and idarubicin. Patients in CR received 3 monthly courses of risk-adapted consolidation therapy as follows: “low-risk” patients (WBC <10×109/l and platelets >40×109/l), idarubicin 5 mg/m2/d × 4 (course #1), mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2/d × 5 (course #2), and idarubicin 12 mg/m2/d × 1 (course #3); “intermediate-risk “ (WBC <10×109/l and platelet <40×109/l) and “high-risk” (WBC >10×109/l) patients received ATRA (45 mg/m2/d × 15) in combination with reinforced chemotherapy (Idarubicin 7 mg/m2/d in the course #1 and two days instead of one in the course #3). Maintenance therapy consisted of low-dose oral chemotherapy (mercaptopurine and methotrexate with ATRA). We measured the cumulative incidence (CI) of CNS involvement at first relapse during the course of APL patients who achieved the CR. Results: CR was achieved in 511 patients (91%). The median follow-up of the cohort was 57 months (range 20–94 months). Overall, 52 patients relapsed, of whom 5 presented a first relapse in CNS. In all cases, CNS relapses occurred without bone marrow or other extramedullary involvement. CNS relapses occurred after a median of 14 months (range 10–41 months) from the achievement of CR. At the initial diagnosis, APL were classified, according to the Sanz score, as low-, intermediate- and high-risk, in 0, 2, and 3 patients, respectively. The median WBC at diagnosis was 34.5 × 109/L (range 1.9–68.8 × 109/L), and 4 patients showed a Bcr3 PML-RARalpha isoform. Using a competitive-risk method, the overall 5 year CI of CNS relapse was 1.03%. The 5 year CI of CNS relapse in low-, intermediate- and high-risk patients was 0%, 0.77% and 2.71%, respectively (low- vs high-risk and intermediate vs high-risk; p=0.12 and p=0.11, respectively). The 5 year CI of CNS relapse in patients with Bcr3 and Bcr1 PML-RARalpha isoform was 0.45% and 2.44%, respectively (p=0.12). Conclusion: Despite the lack of intratechal prophylaxis or high-dose cytarabine in the therapeutic schedule of the LPA99 trial, the overall 5 year CI of CNS relapse was very low (1%). Our results does not hold up the systematic use of CNS prophylaxis in APL patients treated with ATRA and reinforced anthracycline monochemotherapy.

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Robert Puckrin ◽  
Haidar El Darsa ◽  
Sunita Ghosh ◽  
Anthea Peters ◽  
Douglas A. Stewart

Introduction: Central nervous system (CNS) relapse occurs in 2-10% of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and carries a poor prognosis. The CNS-IPI score identifies patients at high-risk (10-12%) of CNS relapse based on the presence of 4-6 risk factors: age &gt;60 years, ECOG performance status &gt;1, elevated LDH, stage III to IV, &gt;1 extranodal site, and renal or adrenal involvement. International guidelines recommend prophylactic intravenous high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) for patients at high-risk of CNS relapse. However, there is limited evidence supporting this practice, and prophylactic HD-MTX requires hospital admission and increases the risk of treatment-related toxicity. Therefore, we conducted a real-world study to determine the effectiveness of HD-MTX for prevention of CNS relapse in high-risk DLBCL. Methods: We performed retrospective chart reviews of patients aged 18-70 years with DLBCL treated with curative intent at two academic medical centers in Alberta, Canada between 2012-2019. Since 2015, the Alberta Provincial Lymphoma Clinical Practice Guideline (APLCPG) has recommended CNS prophylaxis with HD-MTX 3.5g/m2 IV after cycles 2, 4, and 6 of R-CHOP for patients with the following high-risk criteria: CNS-IPI 4-6, double hit lymphoma, or testicular involvement. Between 2012-2015, HD-MTX was recommended for patients with elevated LDH, ECOG &gt;1, and &gt;1 extranodal site. In addition, eligible patients at risk of poor outcomes (e.g. double hit lymphoma or IPI score 4-5) could be offered higher intensity chemoimmunotherapy (e.g. da-EPOCH-R or R-CODOXM/R-IVAC) or R-CHOP followed by consolidative autotransplant. The log-rank test was applied to determine risk of CNS relapse and the Cox proportional-hazards model was used to determine factors associated with CNS relapse, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Analyses were performed using SPSS version 25 and GraphPad Prism 8 statistical software. Results: We included 906 patients with a median follow-up time of 35.3 months (range 0.29-105.7). Risk of CNS relapse was 1.9% (95% C.I. 0.0-30.7%) for patients with CNS-IPI 0-1, 4.9% (95% C.I. 0.5-18.0%) for CNS-IPI 2-3, and 12.2% (95% C.I. 4.0-25.2%) for CNS-IPI 4-6 (p&lt;0.0001). Risk factors for CNS relapse included APLCPG high-risk criteria (HR 4.69, 95% C.I. 2.51-8.76), CNS-IPI score 4-6 (HR 4.26, 95% C.I. 2.22-8.16), and testicular involvement (HR 3.45, 95% C.I. 0.43-27.34). Among the 326 patients meeting APLCPG high-risk criteria, median CNS-IPI was 4 (range 0-6), 67 (20.6%) had double hit lymphoma, and 17 (5.2%) had testicular involvement. Risk of CNS relapse was significantly increased for patients meeting APLCPG high-risk criteria (11.8% vs 3.0%, p&lt;0.0001). Prophylactic HD-MTX was administered to 115 (35.3%) high-risk patients; median number of doses given was 2 (range 1-3). The risk of CNS relapse was 11.2% (95% C.I. 2.1-28.9%) for patients who received HD-MTX versus 12.2% (95% C.I. 2.8-28.8%) for those who did not (p=0.82). Patients who underwent higher intensity chemoimmunotherapy (n=35) or consolidative autotransplant (n=68) tended to have a lower risk of CNS relapse than patients treated with conventional R-CHOP (6.0% vs. 14.6%, p=0.09). In multivariate analyses, HD-MTX and higher intensity chemoimmunotherapy demonstrated no significant association with CNS relapse, PFS, or OS; however, consolidative autotransplant was associated with a tendency toward lower risk of CNS relapse (HR 0.30, 95% C.I. 0.09-1.01) and a significantly improved PFS (HR 0.41, 95% C.I. 0.24-0.71) and OS (HR 0.56, 95% C.I. 0.32-0.98). Conclusion: The APLCPG high-risk criteria of CNS-IPI 4-6, double hit lymphoma, or testicular involvement identify patients with DLBCL at significantly increased risk of CNS relapse. The risk of CNS relapse was similar for all high-risk patients (11.8%) and those who received prophylactic HD-MTX (11.2%) in our study relative to previously published data for patients who did not receive CNS prophylaxis (10-12%). Based on this analysis, we could not demonstrate a benefit to the current practice of prophylactic HD-MTX. However, the lower rate of CNS relapse and improved PFS and OS in patients who received consolidative autotransplant in our study suggests that optimizing frontline therapy to achieve better systemic disease control may be a more effective strategy to reduce the risk of CNS relapse than prophylactic HD-MTX alone. Disclosures Stewart: Teva: Honoraria; Sandoz: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 1841-1841
Author(s):  
Juan-Manuel Sancho ◽  
Josep-Maria Ribera ◽  
Albert Oriol ◽  
Jesus-Maria Hernandez-Rivas ◽  
Concepcion Rivas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background. Recurrence of ALL in CNS in adults is considered a poor prognostic feature but few studies have analyzed this issue. The objective of this study was to analyze the frequency, prognosis and predictive factors of CNS involvement and recurrence in adult patients with ALL treated with 4 PETHEMA protocols not including cranial irradiation for CNS prophylaxis. Methods. From June 1989 to December 2003, 467 adult patients (≥ 15-years-old) diagnosed with ALL were treated with one of the four consecutive protocols of PETHEMA group: ALL-89 (standard and high risk, n=108), ALL-93 (high risk, n=222), ALL-96 (standard risk, n=84), and ALL-97 (Burkitt’s leukemia, n=53). CNS prophylaxis consisted of intrathecal (IT) injection of methotrexate (12 mg), cytarabine (30 mg) and hydrocortisone (20 mg), for 12–14 courses, together with high-dose systemic methotrexate and cytarabine during the early intensification phase. Cranial or craniospinal irradiation was not used in any case. Results. The median (SD) age was 33 (16) years and 272 (58%) were males. ALL type according to the FAB classification was: L1 28%, L2 61%, L3 11%. Immunological subtypes were: early-pre-B 15%, common 45%, pre-B 5%, mature B 11% and T 24%. CNS involvement at diagnosis was observed in 18 (3.9%) patients. Predictive factors for CNS involvement at diagnosis were: L3/mature B ALL (p<0.0001) and testicular involvement (p=0.006). Overall, complete remission (CR) was achieved in 381 (81%) of the patients, of whom 159 (42%) relapsed: 137 (36%) in bone marrow (BM) and 22 (5.8%) in CNS (14 isolated and 8 combined CNS and BM). The median (range) CR duration prior to CNS recurrence was 1.06 yr (95%CI0.11–2.01) for isolated CNS relapse, 0.6 yr (95%CI o.30–0.89) for combined relapse and 0.93 (95%CI 0.78–1.07) for BM relapse (p=0.76). No correlation was found between initial CNS involvement and CNS relapse. An initial LDH value > 1,000 U/L was the only factor associated with higher risk of CNS relapse (p<0.001). Treatment of CNS relapse consisted of systemic and IT therapy in the 22 cases (cranial irradiation was added to one) and CR was attained in 7 (32%) out of 22 of these patients. Stem cell transplantation was performed in 4 patients and 3 patients developed a second CNS recurrence. The median overall survival (OS) after recurrence was 0.7 yr for isolated CNS relapse, 0.13 yr for combined relapse and 0.41 yr for BM relapse (p=0.11). Conclusions. The frequency of CNS relapse in adult ALL patients receiving IT and systemic therapy for CNS prophylaxis is similar to that observed in protocols including cranial irradiation. An initial LDH value > 1,000 U/L was the only factor associated with higher risk of CNS relapse. Adult patients with CNS recurrence have a poor prognosis, although it is not different from that observed in BM relapses.


Blood ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Wilson ◽  
Toby Andrew Eyre ◽  
Amy A Kirkwood ◽  
Nicole Wong Doo ◽  
Carole Soussain ◽  
...  

Prophylactic high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is often used for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients at high risk of central nervous system (CNS) relapse, despite limited evidence demonstrating efficacy or the optimal delivery method. We conducted a retrospective, international analysis of 1,384 patients receiving HD-MTX CNS prophylaxis either intercalated (i-HD-MTX) (n=749) or at the end (n=635) of R-CHOP/R-CHOP-like therapy (EOT). There were 78 CNS relapses (3-year rate 5.7%), with no difference between i-HD-MTX and EOT; 5.7% vs 5.8%, p=0.98, 3-year difference: 0.04% (-2.0% to 3.1%). Conclusions were unchanged on adjusting for baseline prognostic factors or on 6-month landmark analysis (n=1,253). In patients with high CNS international prognostic index (n=600), 3-year CNS relapse rate was 9.1% with no difference between i-HD-MTX and EOT. On multivariable analysis, increasing age and renal/adrenal involvement were the only independent risk factors for CNS relapse. Concurrent intrathecal prophylaxis was not associated with reduction in CNS relapse. R-CHOP delays of ≥7 days were significantly increased with i-HD-MTX versus EOT, with 308/1573 (19.6%) i-HD-MTX treatments resulting in delay to subsequent R-CHOP (median 8 days). Increased risk of delay occurred in older patients when delivery was later than day 10 in the R-CHOP cycle. In summary, we found no evidence that EOT delivery increases CNS relapse risk versus i-HD-MTX. Findings in high-risk subgroups were unchanged. Rates of CNS relapse in this HD-MTX-treated cohort were similar to comparable cohorts receiving infrequent CNS prophylaxis. If HD-MTX is still considered for certain high-risk patients, delivery could be deferred until R-CHOP completion.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 1837-1837
Author(s):  
Richard F. Schlenk ◽  
Konstanze Döhner ◽  
Jürgen Krauter ◽  
Daniela Späth ◽  
Francesco de Valle ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Patients with primary refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a dismal outcome. Only allogeneic stem cell transplantion (SCT) currently offers the chance of cure to these patients. In order to improve outcome after allogeneic SCT, one important prerequisite is to increase response rates prior to SCT. Aims: To evaluate the impact of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) given as adjunct to high-dose cytarabine-based salvage therapy in younger adult patients with primary refractory AML on achievement of response. Consecutive allogeneic SCT was intended in all patients. Methods: Main inclusion criteria of the AMLSG 05-04 trial (NCT00143975) were refractory AML following one cycle of ICE (idarubicin, cytarabine, etoposide); and age 18 to 60 years. Dose and schedule of the GO-A-HAM regimen were as follows: GO 3mg/m2, day 1; cytarabine 3g/m2 bid., days 1–3; mitoxantrone 12mg/m2, days 2,3; ATRA 45mg/m2, days 3–5, 15mg/m2 days 6–28. Primary endpoint of the study was CR rate. Safety endpoints comprised early / hypoplastic (ED/HD) death rate, liver toxicity CTC grade 3–5, and rate of veno occlusive disease (VOD) after allogeneic SCT. Results: Between September 2004 and June 2007, 94 patients (median age, 48 yrs; range, 22 to 62) were enrolled. Distribution of cytogenetics was as follows: adverse, n=29 [abn(3q), −5/5q-, −7/7q-, abn(12p), abn(17p), complex]; other n=57 [core binding factor (n=3), cytogenetically normal AML (n=37), various aberrations (n=18)]. FLT3-ITD was present in 18 (22%) of 82 analyzed patients. Response to GO-A-HAM was as follows: CR, n=28 (30%); CRi, n=19 (20%); PR, n=11 (12%); refractory disease (RD), n= 34 (36%); and ED/HD, n=2 (2%). In a logistic regression analysis for achievement of CR, the only significant variable was adverse cytogenetics (OR 0.34, p=0.02). The rate of severe liver toxicity was 0%, the incidence of neutropenic fever was 52%, platelet and neutrophil recovery times from start of treatment were 21 and 22 days, respectively. Following GO-A-HAM, allogeneic SCT was actually performed in 60 patients (64%): matched related (n=14) or unrelated donor (n=42); haploidentical related donor, n=4. All SCT were performed within 3 months after GO-A-HAM, intermediate/severe VOD developed in 5 patients after SCT (9%, 95%-confidence interval (CI) 4–19%), mild VOD in 3 patients. Survival analyses revealed that patients with adverse cytogenetics and/or FLT3-ITD (n=45) had a significantly (p=0.001) inferior overall survival after one year of 38% compared to all other patients (n=39) of 81%. The proportions of patients receiving an allogeneic SCT were similar in both groups (68% and 66%, respectively). Conclusions: The GO-A-HAM regimen is feasible and effective as salvage therapy. However, cytogenetics still remains the most significant variable for achievement of response. Allogeneic SCT after GO-A-HAM was not associated with an increased VOD-rate.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 4385-4385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Cavattoni ◽  
Enrico Morello ◽  
Elena Oldani ◽  
Tamara Intermesoli ◽  
Ernesta Audisio ◽  
...  

Abstract INTRODUCTION The impact on post-relapse survival of selected prognostic factors and salvage therapy (finalized to perform an allo-SCT) was retrospectively analyzed in 172 patients (patients) with relapsed non-APL AML, who had been initially treated with standard induction and risk-adapatiented consolidation. The aim was to identify factors associated with a better outcome at first relapse. METHODS All 172 patients were at first recurrence following consolidation of CR1 with high-dose Ara-C (HiDAC) multicycle therapy supported by blood stem cells (standard risk, as defined by mixed clinical-cytogenetic criteria) or allo-SCT in case of high-risk prognostic profile. Median age at relapse was 55 y (range 21–70). CR1 duration was &lt;6 months in 50 patients (29%), ranging from 0.6 to 52,7 mo (median 9,1). High risk patients were 128/172 (74%) and 43/172 patients (25%) had an unfavourable cytogenetics (CG). One hundred-eleven patients (64%) received HiDAC and 24 (14%) an allo-SCT according to study design. RESULTS 140 patients (81%) received salvage treatment. The remaining 32 patients (19%) received palliation and all of them died. The median OS was 17.1 mo, with a 2yOS of 34%. Favorable prognostic factors identified by univariate analisys were: favourable or intermediate CG (p=0,007), standard risk category according to first line protocol (p=0.004), availibility of a HLA matched donor (p= 0.048), achievement of an early CR1(p=0,000), HiDAC as first line therapy(p=0,000), alloHSCT perfomed at relapse (p=0,000) and a DFS from CR1&gt;12 mo (p=0,000). In multivariate analysis favourable or intermediate CG and DFS &gt;12 mo were confirmed as independent prognostic factors (p=0,036 and p=0,001 respectively). Among the 140 patients, 50 received an allo-SCT following relapse (36%, group 1), and the remaining 90 (64%, group 2) received high dose chemotherapy alone (85), autologous SCT (2), or DLI (3, in case of previous alloSCT). Both groups were comparable regarding age &gt;55 y, prior allo-SCT and risk class at diagnosis. After salvage therapy, 44 patients(88%) in the group 1 achieved CR2, compared to 26 patients (29%) in the group 2. The median duration of CR2 was 9 mo (range 2–64) and 3 mo (range 1–34) in group 1 and 2 respectively. NRM was 17/140: 12 patients (24%) in the allo-SCT group and 5 (6%) in group 2. The 2yOS was 57% and 23% respectively (p=0,000). Moreover, among 50 alloSCT patients, survival was affected by risk category at diagnosis: 2yOS of 19 (38%) standard risk patients was 83% compared to 42% in 31 high risk patients (62%) (p=0.01). This risk stratification has no impact on OS in the group 2. CONCLUSIONS DFS &gt; 12 mo and standard risk category at diagnosis, according to NILG protocol, are the most important independent positive prognostic factors impacting OS of AML relapsed patients. The availibility of a HLA matched donor and a subsequent intensification with alloSCT may offer substantial salvage rates and its outcome is affected by the risk stratification at diagnosis. Nevertheless, high risk patients could benefit from alloSCT, reaching an 2yOS of 42%.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 2992-2992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pau Montesinos ◽  
Edo Vellenga ◽  
Aleksandra Holowiecka ◽  
Chelo Rayon ◽  
Gustavo Milone ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Pseudotumor cerebri associated with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) treatment in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have been frequently described in pediatric patients. However, the incidence, outcome and risk factors of pseudotumor cerebri in APL are not well-known. We analyze the incidence and risk factors of this complication in a large series of patients with newly diagnosed APL enrolled in three consecutive trials of the PETHEMA Group (LPA96, LPA99 and LPA2005). Mehods: AIDA regimen (ATRA 45 mg/m2/d [25mg/m2/d in patients younger than 20] until CR and idarubicin 12 mg/m2/d on days 2, 4, 6 and 8) was given as induction therapy. Patients in CR received 3 monthly courses of risk-adapted consolidation therapy: idarubicin 5 mg/m2/d × 4 (course #1), mitoxantrone 10 mg/m2/d × 5 (course #2), and idarubicin 12 mg/m2/d × 1 (course #3). Since November 1999 (LPA99 trial), for patients with intermediate or high risk of relapse (Sanz et al, Blood 2000), consolidation was slightly intensified by increasing idarubicin doses in courses #1 and #3, and by simultaneously administering 25 mg/m2 ATRA together with chemotherapy in all three courses. Since July 2005, consolidation therapy in the ongoing LPA 2005 trial included the following modifications: the administration of ATRA for all patients; for low- and intermediate-risk patients, mitoxantrone has been reduced from five to three days in the second course; and for high-risk patients, cytarabine has been added to idarubicin in the first and third course. Maintenance therapy consisted of 50 mg/m2/d mercaptopurine orally, 15 mg/m2/week methotrexate intramuscularly, and 25 mg/m2/d ATRA for 15 days every three months. Diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri was made in the presence of signs and symptoms of intracranial hypertension without clinical or radiological evidence of infective or space occupying lesions. Results: Of 1034 patients enrolled between November 1996 and July 2008, 32 (3%) experienced pseudotumor cerebri. Headaches without pseudotumor were present in 252 patients (25%). Thirty cases of pseudotumor occurred during induction therapy and 2 cases manifested only during consolidation. In all, 9 of 32 patients (28%) had recurrent pseudotumor cerebri after reinitiating ATRA. All these side effects were transient, reversible, and never a cause of death. CR rates were 96% and 90% in patients with and without pseudotumor cerebri, respectively (p=0.32). The incidence of pseudotumor cerebri among patients younger than 18 years, 18–25 years, 25–50 years and older than 50 years was 13%, 7%, 2% and 0.3%, respectively (p&lt;0.0001). There was a trend toward a correlation between fibrinogen &lt;170 mg/dL and worse general state (ECOG&gt;1) at presentation and development of pseudotumor cerebri (p=0.08 and p=0.06, respectively). We did not found any significant association between pseudotumor cerebri and WBC, platelets, relapse risk-score, hemoglobin, creatinine, PETHEMA trial, gender, morphological subtype, PML/RARA isoform, FLT3 mutations, and surface antigens (CD2, CD11b, CD13, CD15, CD34, CD56, and CD117). Conclusion: This study shows an overall incidence of pseudotumor cerebri of 3% among APL patients treated with ATRA and anthracycline-based regimens, with higher incidences in children and young adults (13% and 7%, respectively). No other prognostic factors could be demonstrated. The development of pseudotumor cerebri was not associated with a worse induction outcome. Side effects were reversible and transient, but roughly a third of patients had recurrent pseudotumor cerebri after reinitiating ATRA


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 5420-5420
Author(s):  
Dario Marino ◽  
Silvia Finotto ◽  
Caterina Boso ◽  
Federica Vianello ◽  
Benedetta Chiusole ◽  
...  

Abstract Central nervous system involvement (CNS) is a serious and mostly fatal complication of aggressive lymphoma. The incidence of CNS disease in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is low (about 5%) and there are not randomised prospective trial which specifically address a decision-making process for CNS prophylaxis. Potentially two methods exist for identifying patients requiring CNS directed treatment. Surveillance lumbar puncture and brain magnetic resonance (MRI) at the time of diagnosis could identify the presence of lymphoma; another method is the identification of patients whose characteristics are indicative of a high risk of CNS disease. Several site-specific risks are described in literature such as testicular, breast, paranasal sinuses, epidural spaces, and intravascular involvement with an incidence of CNS relapse ranging from 15% to 50%. Recently a modified IPI score (CNS IPI) was described to predict risk of CNS relapse. The efficacy of different forms of CNS prophylaxis has never formally been demonstrated. In the RICOVER 60 trial, patients treated with R-CHOP-14 instead of CHOP-14 presented a lower incidence of CNS relapse while intrathecal methotrexate (MTX) has not showed a role in preventing CNS disease for patients treated with combined immunochemotherapy. Recently, combination of intrathecal MTX and high dose MTX infusion after R-CHOP treatment was considered an effective strategy of prevention of CNS relapse. In order to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of intrathecal MTX administration and high dose MTX after first line chemotherapy, we retrospectively reviewed 27 patients (11 males and 16 females, mean age 61 yrs, range 27-79) with newly diagnosed DLBCL at high risk for CNS relapse, treated from January 2009 to April 2018 at Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS. In our cohort 21 (78%) patients were at advanced stage (III-IV Ann Arbor stage) and 15 (56%) belonged to intermediate-high or high risk IPI categories, two patients presented with orbital localization. Almost all patients received R-CHOP as first line treatments, two patients with paravertebral localization received HyperCVAD as front line approach. For 20 patients CNS-IPI was intermediate or high. In the other cases with low CNS-IPI, disease localization was considered at high risk of CNS relapse (breast, paravertebral, orbit, paranasal sinus). In all patients we performed brain MRI and diagnostic lumbar puncture at diagnosis (all negative at flow cytometry analysis). All 14 patients >65 yrs were evaluated with comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and 8 (57%) were considered fit. Nineteen (19) patients (70%) received at least 3 lumbar punctures with MTX and 24 (89%) two courses of high dose intravenous MTX during first line therapy. At the end of planned first line treatment, 24 (89%) patients obtained a complete remission at PET scan evaluation and 3 patients (11%) presented progressive disease, 2 with CNS involvement and another with peritoneal disease; this last patient had a Double Hit lymphoma with BCL6 and c-MYC rearrangements. Another patient in complete remission after R-CHOP chemotherapy, experienced CNS relapse three year after obtaining complete remission. Among the two patients treated with Hyper CVAD regimen, one is still in complete remission 5 years after the end of treatment; another developed early CNS relapse. All the 3 patient who experienced CNS involvement after R-CHOP, didn't receive prophylaxis because were evaluated frail at CGA. So, at a median follow up of 26.2 months (3.5-100 months) all patients who received the planned treatment at full dose including CNS prophylaxis did not experience central nervous system relapse. In conclusion, CNS prophylaxis including intrathecal MTX administration and high dose MTX infusion after first line chemotherapy is feasible and effective. Larger prospective trials are needed to evaluate the most effective prophylactic therapy and the correct timing of intravenous MTX infusion. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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