Summary De novo diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) presenting with synchronous central nervous system (CNS) and systemic disease (synDLBCL) is not well described and is excluded from clinical trials. We performed a retrospective analysis of 80 synDLBCL patients treated across 10 Australian and UK centres. Of these patients, 96% had extranodal systemic disease. CNS‐directed treatment with combination intravenous cytarabine and high‐dose methotrexate (“CNS‐intensive”) ( n = 38) was associated with favourable survival outcomes compared with “CNS‐conservative” strategies such as intravenous high‐dose methotrexate monotherapy, intrathecal therapy and/or radiotherapy (2‐year progression‐free survival [PFS] 50% vs. 31%, P = 0·006; 2‐year overall survival [OS] 54% vs. 44%, P = 0·037). Outcomes were primarily dictated by the ability to control the CNS disease, with 2‐year cumulative CNS relapse incidence of 42% and non‐CNS relapse 21%. Two‐year OS for CNS‐relapse patients was 13% vs. 36% for non‐CNS relapses ( P = 0·02). Autologous stem cell transplantation as consolidation ( n = 14) was not observed to improve survival in those patients who received CNS‐intensive induction when matched for induction outcomes (2‐year PFS 69% vs. 56%, P = 0·99; 2‐year OS 66% vs. 56%, P = 0·98). Hyperfractionated or infusional systemic treatment did not improve survival compared to R‐CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone) (2‐year OS 49% for both groups). Our study suggests that adequate control of the CNS disease is paramount and is best achieved by intensive CNS‐directed induction.
Mutations of the IGH variable region in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are associated with a favorable prognosis. Cytogenetic complexity (>3 unrelated aberrations) and translocations have been associated with an unfavorable prognosis. While mutational status of IGHV is stable, cytogenetic aberrations frequently evolve. However, the relationships of these features as prognosticators at diagnosis are unknown. We examined the CpG-stimulated metaphase cytogenetic features detected within one year of diagnosis of CLL and correlated these features with outcome and other clinical features including IGHV. Of 329 untreated patients, 53 (16.1%) had a complex karyotype (16.1%), and 85 (25.8%) had a translocation. Median time to first treatment (TFT) was 47 months. In univariable analyses, significant risk factors for shorter TFT (p3.5, log-transformed WBC, unmutated IGHV, complex karyotype, translocation, and FISH for trisomy 8, del(11q) and del(17p). In multivariable analysis, there was significant effect modification of IGHV status on the relationship between translocation and TFT (p=0.002). In IGHV mutated patients, those with a translocation had over 3.5 times higher risk of starting treatment than those without a translocation (p
To examine the potential utility of five multifocal pupillographic objective perimetry (mfPOP) protocols, in the assessment of early diabetic retinopathy (DR) and generalised diabetes-related tissue injury in subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1D).Twenty-five T1D subjects (age 41.8 ± 12.1 (SD) years, 13 male) with either no DR (n = 13) or non-proliferative DR (n = 12), and 23 age and gender-matched control subjects (age 39.7 ± 12.9 years, 9 male) were examined by mfPOP using five different stimulus methods differing in visual field eccentricity (central 30° and 60°), and colour (blue, yellow or green test-stimuli presented on, respectively, a blue, yellow or red background), each assessing 44 test-locations per eye. In the T1D subjects, we assessed 16 metabolic status and diabetes complications variables. These were summarised as three principal component analysis (PCA) factors. DR severity was assessed using Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) scores. Area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operator characteristic analyses quantified the diagnostic power of mfPOP response sensitivity and delay deviations for differentiating: (i) T1D subjects from control subjects, (ii) T1D subjects according to three levels of the identified PCA-factors from control subjects, and (iii) TID subjects with from those without non-proliferative DR.The two largest PCA-factors describing the T1D subjects were associated with metabolic variables (e.g. body mass index, HbA1c), and tissue-injury variables (e.g. serum creatinine, vibration perception). Linear models showed that mfPOP per-region response delays were more strongly associated than sensitivities with the metabolic PCA-factor and ETDRS scores. Combined mfPOP amplitude and delay measures produced AUCs of 90.4 ± 8.9% (mean ± SE) for discriminating T1D subjects with DR from control subjects, and T1D subjects with DR from those without of 85.9 ± 8.8%. The yellow and green stimuli performed better than blue on most measures.In T1D subjects, mfPOP testing was able to identify localised visual field functional abnormalities (retinal/neural reflex) in the absence or presence of mild DR. mfPOP responses were also associated with T1D metabolic status, but less so with early stages of non-ophthalmic diabetes complications.
Abstract Background Despite recent advances, optimal therapeutic approaches applicable to subpopulations with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma outside of clinical trials remain to be determined. Methods We performed a retrospective study of immunocompetent, adult patients with histologically confirmed diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma of the CNS (PCNSL). 190/204 (93%) patients (median age: 65) received one of five high‐dose methotrexate (HD‐MTX) containing chemotherapy regimens: MPV/Ara‐C (HD‐MTX, procarbazine, and vincristine, followed by cytarabine [Ara‐C]) ( n = 94, 50%), MATRix (HD‐MTX, Ara‐C, thiotepa, and rituximab) ( n = 19, 10%), HD‐MTX/Ara‐C ( n = 31, 16%), HD‐MTX monotherapy ( n = 35, 18%) and MBVP (HD‐MTX, carmustine, teniposide, prednisolone) ( n = 11, 6%). Results Cumulative median HD‐MTX and Ara‐C doses were 17 g/m 2 (range: 1–64 g/m 2 ) and 12 g/m 2 (0–32 g/m 2 ) respectively. Using 14 g/m 2 as the reference dose, the median HD‐MTX relative dose intensity (HD‐MTX‐RDI) was 1.25 (0.27‐4.57) with 84% receiving > 0.75. The overall response rate (ORR) was 72% (complete response: 50%) after completing HD‐MTX. At a median follow‐up of 3.41 years (0.06–9.42), progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were different between chemotherapy cohorts, with the best outcomes achieved in the MPV/Ara‐C cohort (2‐year PFS 74%, 2‐year OS 82%; p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0024 respectively). On multivariate analysis, MPV/Ara‐C administration and HD‐MTX‐RDI > 0.75 were associated with longer PFS and OS. Conclusion Sequential, response‐adapted approaches can improve outcomes, even in older patients who are ineligible for a high‐intensity concurrent chemotherapy approach and do not undergo traditional consolidative strategies.