[Diagnosis and treatment of skin T-cell lymphoma undergoing transformation in lymphosarcoma].

AIM: To define complex of parameters characterizing transformation of skin T-cell tumors in lymphosarcoma; to show specific treatment of patients with this transformation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 57 patients with primary T-cell lymphomas of the skin (mycosis fungoides, Sezary's disease), we studied 12 patients with transformation of the process into lymphosarcoma by clinical, histological, moleculobiological and immunophenotypical parameters. RESULTS: We found that transformation of T-cell lymphoma into lymphosarcoma occurred in different time from the disease onset (2-12 years). In patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) the transformation was local while in those with Sezary's disease (SD) transformation of the tumor clone was determined by appearance of peripheral blood tumor cells rejuvenation. Morphological alterations were accompanied with immunomorphological parameters of progression. Most significant of them were high expression of the proliferative activity marker Ki-67 (10-70%), enhancement of activation (CD30, CD25), loss of some linear T-cell markers. Treatment of lymphosarcoma arising on the background of lingering MF or SD may combine two types of antitumor treatment--intensive and supporting because of coexistence of different clones of one tumor. CONCLUSION: Verification of skin T-cell lymphoma diagnosis and its transformation into lymphosarcoma must be based on the evidence from a number of examinations: histological, immunophenotyping, moleculobiological and clinical. Among criteria of the transformation, markers of lymphoproliferative activation are of great importance.

[First experience of using modified program NHL-BFM-90 for the treatment of primary diffuse large-B-cell lymphosarcoma of the bones and soft tissues with poor-prognosis].

AIM: To evaluate efficacy of intensive modified program NHL-BFM-90 (mNHL-BFM-90) in adult poor-prognosis patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphosarcoma (DLBCL) of the bones and soft tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The mNHL-BFM-90 program was used in the treatment of 3 male and 2 female patients aged 17-69 years (median 42 years). Four patients had DLBCL of the bones and one patient--DLBCL of the soft tissues. All the patients had tumors more than 10 cm in size. B-symptoms, a high concentration of lactate dehydrogenase (LDG) were registered in 3 patients. One patient had stage IE by Ann-Arbor, two--stage IIE (involvement of regional lymph nodes), two--stage ME (multiple bone lesions). A total of 4-6 blocks of polychemotherapy according to mNHL-BFM-90 program were performed. RESULTS: Complete remissions were achieved in all the patients. They had no recurrences after 6 to 20 month (median 13 months) follow-up. CONCLUSION: Positive results of the program mNHL-BFM-90 in poor-prognosis patients with DLBCL of the bones and tissues necessitate further studies of this therapy.

[First experience of using modified high-dose therapy NHL-BFM-90 in diffuse large B-cell lymphosarcoma with primary skin involvement. A case report].

Primary skin large B-cell lymphosarcomas (PLBCL) present with skin lesions, other organs and systems are not involved. As CHOP courses are not high effective in PLBCL, we were the first to treat a patient with modified block therapy NHL BFM-90. A complete remission was achieved after the first course of polychemotherapy and was consolidated by two courses of treatment. Further follow-up is needed.

[High-dose therapy of Burkitt's lymphoma in patients over 40 years of age].

AIM: To analyse efficacy and tolerance of high-dose polychemotherapy (PCT) of Berkitt's lymphoma (BL) in patients aged over 40 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: High-dose PCT was given to 6 BL patients aged 41-56 years (median 48.1 years). RESULTS: Complete clinicohematological remissions were achieved in 4 patients. In two of them the treatment was discontinued after three blocks of PCT because of severe infectious complications. According to 4-12 month follow-up, remission continues. Remission was not achieved in two patients: one patient had primary resistance, the other died of sepsis after the second PCT course before remission. The time to remission did not correlate with age. Duration of myelotoxic agranulocytosis varied from 2 to 24 days. Duration of agranulocytosis did not correlate with age. Infections complicated 19 of 20 PCT blocks. Severity of complications caused withdrawal of three patients. CONCLUSION: BL is biologically heterogenous as it demonstrates different responses to BL-M-04 program. Causes of slow regression of tumor mass in some patients need further investigations. In spite of a great number of infectious complications high-dose therapy has no alternative.

[Efficacy of conservative treatment of gastric lymphosarcoma].

AIM: To compare efficacy and toxicity of conservative therapy (different programs of polychemotherapy) of gastric lymphosarcoma conducted for the last 10 years in Hematological Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 63 patients (40 females and 23 males aged 14 to 78 years, mean age 49 years) with primary diagnosis of gastric lymphosarcoma (GL). Of them, 56 (89%) patients had diffuse large B-cell lymphosarcoma (DLBCL) and 7 (11%) had gastric Berkitt's lymphoma (BL). Only detection of t(8;14) with rearrangement of c-myc gene provided accurate diagnosis of gastric BL. By the treatment DLBCL patients were divided into two groups: 44 patients of group 1 received polychemotherapy (PCT) according to CHOP scheme or in combination with radiotherapy and surgical treatment; 12 patients of group 2 were treated according to modified program mNHL-BFM-90, without surgical or radiation treatment. Of 7 patients with gastric BL 5 patients received treatment according to a modified program mNHL-BFM-90 and 2 patients were given CHOP because of DLBCL misdiagnosis without cytogenetic detection of t(8;14). RESULTS: Overall survival in group 1 was 73% in mean follow-up 61 months. The survival depended only on initial factors of poor prognosis (PPF): tumor size over 10 cm, Ann-Arbor stage higher than IE, B-symptoms, elevated level of LDH. Overall survival of 18 gastric DLBCL patients without PPF reached 94%, of 26 patients with PPF - 60%. Lethality due to side effects was 4% (2 patients), primary resistance was 14% (6 patients), recurrence arose in 9% (4 patients). Overall survival in group 2 was 100% in mean remission duration 18 months, was unrelated to PPF (10 of 12 patients) but correlated with high toxicity. 5 BL patients treated with a modified mNHL-BFM-90 program achieved remission (a mean follow-up at present is 1 to 50 months, mean 24 months). 2 BL patients treated with CHOP died for a year. CONCLUSION: Gastric lymphosarcomas are sensitive to chemotherapy, thereby PCT only is effective in most patients. PPF in gastric DLBCL were responsible for poor outcome in 40% patients in CHOP treatment. The modified program mNHL-BFM-90 can produce up to 100% complete long-term remissions in therapy of gastric lymphosarcoma in adults both in BL and DLBCL patients. A cytogenetic examination of c-myc gene rearrangement is obligatory before initiation of PCT of gastric lymphosarcoma.