ALBERT

Description: INTRODUCTION Follicular lymphoma (FL) may, over time, transform into an aggressive lymphoma, usually diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Transformed follicular lymphomas (tFL) have a worse prognosis due to poorer response to treatment than primary DLBCL. The incidence of transformation is estimated in ~3% per year, although it varies largely between different studies (24%-70% overall). These differences are mainly due to different criteria to define tFL, to lack of evidence of tFL by biopsy, absence of clonality studies discarding secondary de novo NHL, studies performed in the pre-Rituximab era, or different follow-up times among studies. With all this pitfalls, the actual incidence of transformation remains an open question. The aim of the present study is to analyse the incidence and prognostic impact of transformation in patients with FL in a large retrospective series of the Spanish group of Lymphomas (GELTAMO). PATIENTS&METHODS A total of 1763 patients from 19 Spanish centres diagnosed of FL between 2000 and 2011 were recruited in the study. Data were obtained from the database of centres willing to participate in this study. True tFL (FL to DLBCL) were recorded. From the original cohort, FL IIIb, composite FL+DLBCL, discordant FL (FL in bone marrow and DLBCL in adenopathy or viceversa), and downgrading tFL (DLBCL at diagnosis and relapse of FL) were excluded. Patients with inadequate follow-up were not considered. Therefore, 1611 patients (grade I, II, and IIIa) were finally included. This study was approved by the Salamanca University Hospital Ethic Committee. RESULTS One hundred and ten patients (median follow up of 6 years) were transformed to DLBCL. Cumulative incidence of transformation at 5, 10, and 15 years was of 5%, 9%, and 14%, respectively. With a median follow up of 75.9 months (2 to 179), median time to transformation was 66 months, ranged 1-179. Considering survival from diagnosis of FL, tFL patients had a shorter OS than non-transformed (19% vs. 69%, p

Description: Introduction: 30% of Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) patients are refractory or relapse (RR) after first line therapy. Salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and with Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (APBSCT) can cure many patients, but those who are transplanted with active disease detectable by PET-CT have a very poor prognosis. Therefore, the current challenge in HL is to improve the results of the pre-transplant chemotherapy. We and others have demonstrated that the addition of Brentuximab Vedotin (BV) to chemotherapy can produce very good results. Objectives: We conducted a phase II trial to assess response rate with combined Brentuximab vedotin and ESHAP chemotherapy [BRESHAP] as 2nd line therapy for RRHL prior to APBSCT (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02243436). Methods: Primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of complete responses (CR) pre-APBSCT. A prior phase I step was carried out to establish the appropriate dosis. Final treatment consisted of Brentuximab Vedotin (1.8 mg/m2/day IV, D1), Etoposide (40 mg/m2/day IV, D1-4), Solumedrol (250 mg/day IV, D1-4), High dose AraC (2 g/m2 IV, D5) and cisPlatin (25 mg/m2/day IV, D1-4). Results: Patients with relapsed or refractory classical HL (cHL) after one prior line of therapy were eligible. 66 patients were included in the trial. There were 35 females and 31 males, with a median age of 36 years (18-66). At inclusion, 40 patients were considered primary refractory, 16 as early relapses (complete remission -CR- shorter than 1 year) and 10 as late relapses. Currently, all patients have completed the pre-transplant therapy. During that period, there were 22 Severe Adverse Events (SAEs) reported in 15 patients: Fever in 13 occasions (neutropenic in seven, and non-neutropenic in six), hypomagnesemia and gastrointestinal alterations (n=2) and pneumothorax, skin lesions, left ventricular function reduction and pulmonary embolism [PE](n=1). There were 2 deaths: non-neutropenic abdominal sepsis and PE. Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity presented in 22 cases: neutropenia (n=18), thrombocytopenia (n=12), and anemia (n=5). Grade 3-4 extrahematologic adverse events present in ≥5% of cases were non-neutropenic fever (n=8) and hypomagnesemia (n=3). All patients except three underwent stem cell mobilization after the 1st (n=15), 2nd (n=36) or 3rd (n=12) cycle using subcutaneous G-CSF 5 mcg/Kg/12 h. for 5 days. All patients collected 〉2·10e6/Kg peripheral blood CD34+ cells in all cases (median 5.75, range 2.12-33.4). The number of harvesting procedures was one in 47 patients, two in 13, three in 2 and four in 1. The transplant has been done in 61 patients, with data are available from 47: all engrafted with a median of 9&10 days for neutrophil and platelet recovery, respectively. No major events were registered during transplant period, except for one patient who died at day +110 due to pneumonia. Overall pre-transplant response was 96%, including a 70% and 26% complete and partial remission rates, respectively. Of these forty-seven patients, 37 (80%) were in metabolic CR after transplant and 3 (7%) in PR; six patients were considered as non-responders (13%) and went out of the trial. At a mean follow-up of 11 months, 7 patients have progressed, rendering a projected progression free survival of 87% at one year. Six patients have already died: three due to progression, and the three already mentioned above (PE, abdominal sepsis and pneumonia). With a mean follow-up of 11 months, the projected overall survival was 90% at one year (cause specific, 96%). Conclusions: BRESHAP is a highly effective regimen for remission induction prior to transplant in patients with refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma. The addition of BV to the conventional chemotherapy did not resulted in a higher toxicity for the pre- and post-transplant periods and it did not hamper the collection of PBSC. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in elderly patients, potentially curable when optimum treatment is administered. The combination of rituximab with CHOP chemotherapy (R-CHOP) is considered standard for these patients, but randomized studies published to date are limited to the range of age from 60 to 80 years, so that in patients over this age treatment election is not so clear, usually opting for palliative treatment or a "full" treatment at a reduced dose. This retrospective study is primarily aimed to analyze the influence of the type of treatment and comorbidity scales in overall survival (OS) of a large series of patients 〉80 years with aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Methods: Eligible patients were aged ≥ 80 years, diagnosed of DLBCL, follicular lymphoma grade 3B or transformed lymphoma. The main patient characteristics were obtained retrospectively from the medical records, including a complete geriatric assessment (CGA, "comprehensive geriatric assessment") and the Charlson comorbidity index. The Ethics Committee of the University Hospital of Salamanca approved the study. Results: 288 patients from 19 GELTAMO hospitals were registered in the study, of which 234 (60% women) were evaluable and have been included in this preliminary analysis. The median age was 84 years (80-94) and the vast majority (94%) were DLBCL. According to the Charlson index, 65% of patients were low-intermediate risk, and according to CGA, 63% of patients were considered "fit". A higher proportion (60% v 44%, p = 0.03) of patients with low or intermediate comorbidity index were treated with a curative intent (CHOP +/- rituximab), as compared with patients with high or very high index. With a median follow up of 41 (range 9-142) months, the median OS was 11.5 months (33% estimated at 3 years). The median OS for patients treated with R-CHOP-like (N=96) was 35.3 months, significantly better (p

Description: CONTEXT: Microenvironment of Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg(H-RS) cells is a current focus of interest to define risk and predict evolution of Hodgkin′s Lymphoma. OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of infiltrating CD8+ cells, using flow cytometry (FCM), in the evolution of patients with HL. DESIGN: Cell suspensions obtained after mechanical disintegration of ganglion biopsies of patients with newly diagnosed HL were analyzed using FCM. Definitive diagnosis was made by conventional histology and immunohistochemistry. Clinical data were collected from medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 software. SETTING: In the University Hospital of Salamanca, we consecutively analyzed by FCM all lymph nodes with suspected lymphoma at diagnosis. There was no selection bias when collecting patients, except for some cases with inadequate quality(insufficient cells). PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: From 1996(earliest available FCM data) to 2014, 104 of that samples had a definitive diagnosis of HL. Treatment depended on stage: a)early diagnosis received ABVD(x3) & local radiotherapy(RT) (20-30 Gy), b)advanced: ABVD(x6 to 8), plus RT in selected cases. Median follow-up was 10 years. INTERVENTIONS :This was a retrospective observational study. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Primary end points were overall survival(OS) and freedom from treatment failure(FFTF), considered from diagnosis to progression or relapse. RESULTS: Most cells obtained were lymphocytes (Median17.1±86.9%) with a T/B/NK distribution of 72%/27%/1.6%(median) and predominance of CD4+ (median CD4:51%-CD8:12%). Median CD8+ cells(12%) was used to divide patients into 2 groups.FFTF was longer in patients with more than 12% of CD8+cells(93% vs. 71%, p=0.01). When analyzed separately patients with early/advanced disease, the clinical benefit remained in the group with advanced disease (p=0.006), whereas the statistical significance was lost in the group with early disease, possibly due to the excellent prognosis for those patients(FFTF 10 years 〉 95%). No differences were observed in the OS, because second line therapy was highly effective. In the multivariate analysis using Cox regression, advanced stage (HR=9.6 with 95% CI 1.2 to 73.9) and〉12% CD8+ tumor infiltrating T-cells were independent variables(HR=0.26, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Increased number of CD8+ in the H-RSC microenvironment of HL is associated with better FFTF, particularly in the advanced-disease group. This should be considered as a new biomarker to identify high-risk patients. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Introduction: Around 30% of Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) patients are refractory or relapse (RR) after first line therapy. Salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and with Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation (APBSCT) can cure many patients, but those who are transplanted with active disease detectable by PET-CT have a very poor prognosis. Therefore, the current challenge in HL is to improve the results of the pre-transplant chemotherapy. Phase 2 single agent trials with Brentuximab Vedotin (BV) in highly RRHL patients have demonstrated overall and complete response rates of 75% and 34%, respectively (Younes, JCO 2012; 30:2183); as 2nd line, BV has provided very promising results in combination with chemotherapy (LaCasce, Blood 2014; 124(21):3099) Objectives: We conducted a phase I/II trial to determine the dose limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and response rate with combined Brentuximab vedotin with ESHAP chemotherapy [BRESHAP] as 2nd line therapy for RRHL prior to APBSCT (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02243436). Methods: The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of complete responses (CR) pre-APBSCT. It is a phase I-II trial with dose escalation followed by expansion. Treatment consisted of Etoposide (40 mg/m2/day IV, D1-4), Solumedrol (250 mg/day IV, D1-4), High dose AraC (2 g/m2 IV, D5) and cisPlatin (25 mg/m2/day IV, D1-4). BV was administered at three dose levels: 0.9, 1.2 or 1.8 mg/kg IV on day 1 to each cohort of patients, following the scheme of cohorts of 3 patients each, to assess the maximum tolerable dose (MTD). The dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as Grade 4 hematologic toxicity extended over 3 weeks or non-hematologic toxicity grade ≥3 during the first treatment cycle. Patients were evaluated weekly. Results: Patients with relapsed or refractory classical HL (cHL) after one prior line of therapy were eligible. To date, 27 patients have been included in the trial. The first 9 have completed the three courses as scheduled, without TLD doses. Fifteen patients have received the first full cycle, presenting 4 episodes of severe adverse reactions: non-neutropenic fever due to IV AraC and to complicated catheter insertion; one pneumothorax after catheter insertion; and one febrile neutropenia recovered with antibiotic treatment. Grade 4 hematologic toxicity presented in three of these nine patients: 2 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia 1. All nine patients underwent stem cell mobilization after the 1st or the 2nd treatment cycle with subcutaneous G-CSF 5 mcg/Kg days +7 to +14, collecting 〉2·10e6/Kg peripheral blood CD34+ cells in all cases, with no grade 3-4 toxicity. The number of harvesting procedures was one & two in seven & two patients, respectively. The transplant has been done in 6 patients, with a median of 9 days and 10 days for neutrophil and platelet recovery, respectively. All nine patients had no evidence of disease before the transplant by PET-CT, although one patient had residual FGD uptaking areas without underlying anatomical lesions on CT (metabolic complete response: 89%). Six patients have been evaluated after the APBSCT and they are all in metabolic CR. The phase II of the trial was open on April the 12th 2015, with BV at the recommended dose of 1.8 mg/kg per course. At the submission of this report, there were 28 patients recruited, and 17 evaluated pre-transplant, achieving 16 CR. The complete results will be presented during the meeting; the projected recruitment by the meeting is 45 (65% of the total planned recruitment). Conclusions: BRESHAP is a tolerable treatment scheme as remission induction prior to transplant in patients with refractory or relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma, and it offers very promising results. Disclosures Off Label Use: Brentuximab Vedotin in Resistant or Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma patients who are candidates to Autologous Stem Cell Transplant. Sureda:Seattle Genetics Inc.: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Caballero:Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: INTRODUCTION: In the rituximab era, the prognostic influence of bone marrow (BM) infiltration in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been hardly studied. In this retrospective observational study, we aim to investigate the prognostic influence of concordant and discordant BM infiltration in patients with histological diagnosis of DLBCL. In addition, we analyzed the possible clonal relationship between BM and lymph node tumor cells in the cases with discordant histology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed of DLBCL in our center from January 1, 1999 were included in the study. Histological BM infiltration pattern was classified as concordant (DLBCL infiltration) or discordant (small or low-grade B-cell lymphoma) based on the diagnostic reports from the Pathology department. All cases were reviewed for this purpose by an expert pathologist. To further characterize the discordant cases, flow cytometry (FCM) reports of BM infiltration were reviewed. In the discordant cases, the clonal IGH rearrangement was studied in both BM and lymphadenopathy, by amplification of the VDJ genes as recommended in the BIOMED-2 protocol. For survival analysis, only patients treated with R-CHOP or similar were included. RESULTS: 236 patients diagnosed of DLBCL were included in the study; of them, 31 (13%) had concordant histological BM infiltration and 18 (7.6%) discordant. Phenotypic characterization by FCM of the discordant cases was heterogeneous: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (N = 2), follicular lymphoma (N = 5), marginal zone lymphoma (N = 2), non-specific phenotype (N = 5) or non-infiltration (N = 2). Clonality studies were performed in the discordant cases. Good quality DNA was obtained in 17 out of 18 patients. We confirmed the same clone in both BM and lymphadenopathy in 12 patients (70%); different clones were observed in two, and a polyclonal pattern was obtained in the remaining three patients. Survival analyzes were conducted only in the 186 patients treated with R-CHOP or similar. With a median follow up of 58 (1-135) months, PFS was significantly worse in patients with concordant (35% at 5 years, p = 0.001) or discordant (35% at 5 years, p = 0.04) histology, compared to patients without infiltration (64% at 5 years) (Figure 1). OS was significantly lower in patients with concordant histology (53% at 5 years, p = 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between patients with discordant infiltration (62% at 5 years, p = 0.8) and non-affected BM (75% at 5 years). In the multivariate analysis, concordant BM infiltration (HR = 2.25, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.3, p = 0.01) had a negative influence on PFS (but not on OS), independently of the age, ECOG and LDH, while discordant histology was close to statistical significance (RR = 2; 95% CI 0.95 to 3, p = 0.1) CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that BM infiltration, both concordant and discordant, is associated with a lower PFS in DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP or similar. Cases with discordant BM infiltration have a very heterogeneous phenotype, but we found a clonal relationship between the two different histologies in a high proportion of cases, indicating a probable histologic transformation from a low-grade lymphoma. Further studies are needed to determine the sequence of biological events that might be involved in this transformation. Figure 1. Progression free survival (PFS) according to the concordant or discordant histology of the BM Figure 1. Progression free survival (PFS) according to the concordant or discordant histology of the BM Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Mineral aerosol inputs to the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) are among the highest in the world, due to its proximity to the Sahara and Sahel deserts in Africa. North Africa accounts for approximately 55% of global dust emissions. An annual average deposition resulting from different models for the Northeast Atlantic ranges between 140 Tg yr-1 and 276 Tg yr-1. Aerosol deposition is an important source of essential and limiting nutrients and trace metals (Fe, Co, Mn, Cu and Al) to the ocean, which may stimulate the autotrophic components (nitrogen fixation and diatoms). The impact of dust inputs on oceanic carbon uptake and climate is dependent on total dust deposition fluxes as well as the bioavailability of nutrients and metals in the dust. However, dust deposition measurements are very scarce in the CCLME region and there are very few sets of long-term measurements of aerosol concentrations, although such data is invaluable in quantifying atmospheric inputs to this important region. Moreover, these measurements are critical for constraining climate and biogeochemical models in the CCLME region, especially because the land use and the climate change could be increasing dust emissions from the African sources.

Description: Published