Severe Pancytopenia After COVID-19 Revealing a Case of Primary Bone Marrow Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). While bone marrow (BM) involvement is common in lymphoma, primary bone marrow (PBM) DLBCL is extremely rare. We present a case of PBM DLBCL discovered in a patient with COVID-19. CASE REPORT An 80-year-old man presented with generalized abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, fatigue, anorexia, and watery diarrhea over a 3-month period. Physical examination was unremarkable. Laboratory workup revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated inflammation markers. SARS-COV-2 PCR was positive, while blood cultures were negative. A rapid decline in the white blood cell count in the following days prompted a BM biopsy, confirming the diagnosis of PBM DLBCL. Computed tomography (CT) did not show thoracic or abdominal lymphadenopathy. The patient received packed red blood cell and platelet transfusions, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for pancytopenia, and empirical antibiotics for suspected infection. Due to active COVID-19 and advanced age, cytotoxic chemotherapy was delayed. Rituximab and prednisone were initiated on day 9, followed by an infusion reaction, which led to treatment discontinuation. He died 2 days later. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosing PBM malignancy is challenging, especially with coexisting infection. It is essential to suspect underlying BM malignancy in patients with clinical deterioration and worsening pancytopenia despite adequate treatment. The diagnosis of PBM DLBCL requires the absence of lymphadenopathy, and the presence of histologically confirmed DLBCL. Prompt management with combination chemotherapy with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) with/without hematopoietic stem cell transplant can improve the prognosis.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel as first-line therapy in high-risk large B-cell lymphoma: the phase 2 ZUMA-12 trial.

High-risk large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) has poor outcomes with standard first-line chemoimmunotherapy. In the phase 2, multicenter, single-arm ZUMA-12 study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03761056) we evaluated axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel), an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, as part of first-line treatment in 40 patients with high-risk LBCL. This trial has completed accrual. The primary outcome was complete response rate (CRR). Secondary outcomes were objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), event-free survival (EFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), assessment of safety, central nervous system (CNS) relapse and blood levels of CAR T cells and cytokines. The primary endpoint in efficacy-evaluable patients (n = 37) was met, with 78% CRR (95% confidence interval (CI), 62-90) and 89% ORR (95% CI, 75-97). As of 17 May 2021 (median follow-up, 15.9 months), 73% of patients remained in objective response; median DOR, EFS and PFS were not reached. Grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events occurred in three patients (8%) and nine patients (23%), respectively. There were no treatment-related grade 5 events. Robust CAR T-cell expansion occurred in all patients with a median time to peak of 8 days. We conclude that axi-cel is highly effective as part of first-line therapy for high-risk LBCL, with a manageable safety profile.

Economic burden in treated Japanese patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma.

Aim: To understand the economic burden of relapsed and refractory large B-cell lymphoma patients in Japan treated with salvage chemotherapy. Patients & methods: Patients who received systemic therapy after first-line treatment were analyzed to assess its associated cost and resource use using a retrospective claims database. The impact of COVID-19 was assessed separately. Results & conclusion: This study identified 2927 and 1085 patients in the second- (2L) and third-line (3L) cohorts. The median ages for the 2L and 3L cohorts were 71 and 70 years, respectively, with Charlson Comorbidity Score of 3. A majority of the patients had limited stem cell transplant due to advanced age. Median lengths of inpatient stay for the 2L and 3L cohorts were 118 and 116 days, respectively. The majority of costs were attributed to inpatient costs, and limited COVID-19 impact was observed in this study.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma as long-term therapy in immunodeficient patients?

OBJECTIVES: The patients with hematological malignancies are a vulnerable group to COVID-19, due to the immunodeficiency resulting from the underlying disease and oncological treatment that significantly impair cellular and humoral immunity. Here we report on a beneficial impact of a passive immunotherapy with convalescent plasma to treat a prolonged, active COVID-19 infection in a patient with a history of nasopharyngeal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with the therapy inducing substantial impairment of particularly humoral arm of immune system. The specific aim was to quantify SARS-CoV2 neutralizing antibodies in a patient plasma during the course of therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Besides the standard of care treatment and monitoring, neutralizing antibody titers in patient's serum samples, calibrated according to the First WHO International Standard for anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (human), were quantified in a time-dependent manner. During the immunotherapy period peripheral blood flow cytometry immunophenotyping was conducted to characterize lymphocyte subpopulations. RESULTS: The waves of clinical improvements and worsening coincided with transfused neutralizing antibodies rises and drops in the patient's systemic circulation, proving their contribution in controlling the disease progress. Besides the patient's lack of own humoral immune system, immunophenotyping analysis revealed also the reduced level of helper T-lymphocytes and immune exhaustion of monocytes. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic approach based on convalescent plasma transfusion transformed a prolonged, active COVID-19 infection into a manageable chronic disease.