mercaptopurine and Lymphoma--T-Cell--Peripheral

Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) is a rare form of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. It is associated with an aggressive clinical course, a poor response to conventional treatment, and an exceedingly high mortality rate. Recent reports suggest an excessive number of cases of HSTCL in young patients with Crohn's disease who are treated with thiopurines (azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine [6-MP]) either in conjunction with or without agents that inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Herein, we describe the case of an 18-year-old man with Crohn's disease who developed HSTCL after 5 years of 6-MP treatment. He died 7 months after diagnosis from chemotherapy-refractory lymphoma. Through a literature review, we identified 28 cases of HSTCL in Crohn's patients. All patients were treated with azathioprine or 6-MP; 22 of 28 (79%) received concomitant treatment with infliximab, and 3 of these 22 patients later received treatment with adalimumab. The median age at diagnosis of HSTCL was 22 years (range, 12-40 years). The median survival for all patients was 8 months (range, 5 days-31+ months), with only 1 patient achieving remission. Additional research is needed to better understand the role of thiopurines and TNF-alpha inhibitors in promoting HSTCL and what can be done to prevent and treat this devastating malignancy in young patients with Crohn's disease.

Topics: Adalimumab; Adolescent; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents; Azathioprine; Crohn Disease; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Infliximab; Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell; Liver Neoplasms; Lymphoma, T-Cell; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral; Male; Mercaptopurine; Splenic Neoplasms; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

This article reviews the current literature and knowledge about hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL), providing an overview of the clinical features, a description of its pathology and immunophenotypic traits in relation to other lymphomas. In addition, we explore the history of reported cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma in relation to the possible existence of a causal relationship between infliximab use and HSTCL. The treatments for HSTCL will be briefly addressed.. A comprehensive literature search using multiple databases was performed. Keyword search phrases including "lymphoma," "hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma," "Inflammatory bowel disease," "6-mercaptopurine," and "infliximab" were used in various combinations. In addition references from published papers were reviewed as well.. There are over 200 reported cases of HSTCL. Only 22 cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma are associated with IBD treatment. Clinicians usually reserve immunomodulators and biologics for moderate to severe IBD cases. The ultimate goal of therapy is to control inflammation and therefore allow mucosal healing. IBD patients demonstrating mucosal healing are less likely to undergo surgery and experience complications related to their disease. We manipulate the immune system with corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologics, therefore causing bone marrow suppression. With bone marrow suppression, malignant degeneration may begin through selective uncontrolled cell proliferation, initiating HSTCL development in the genetically susceptible.. Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma is a rare disease, often with a poor outcome. With the increasing number of reported cases of HSTCL linked to the use of infliximab, adalimumab, and AZA/6-MP, there appears to be an undeniable association of HSTCL development with the use of these agents. This risk is unquantifiable. When considering the rarity of cases and the multiple complications with uncontrolled disease, however, the benefit of treatment far outweighs the risk.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Azathioprine; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Immunosuppression Therapy; Immunosuppressive Agents; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Infliximab; Liver Neoplasms; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral; Mercaptopurine; Splenic Neoplasms; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

We present a case of a 30-month-old child who presented with anemia and acute renal failure, and was found to have bilateral renal involvement by primary cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma. This was characterized by a monotonous interstitial lymphoid infiltrate with extensive necrosis. The tumor cells showed a CD8, granzyme, and TIA1-positive phenotype with no evidence of Epstein-Barr virus by in situ hybridization. The differential diagnosis based on the biopsy findings included a reactive interstitial nephritis; however, molecular studies confirmed T-cell clonality. She was started on induction chemotherapy and subsequently received maintenance therapy with methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine. The patient had a complete response after chemotherapy and at 21 months of follow-up, she has no evidence of residual lymphoma; however, she has developed a dilated cardiomyopathy and she remains in renal failure. We discuss the morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular features of our case and describe the clinical course of our patient. We review the literature on primary renal lymphoma with an emphasis on T-lineage lymphomas and those that occur in children.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Child, Preschool; Clone Cells; Female; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Remission Induction; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

A 30-year-old man complained of high fever, resistant to antibiotics, and progressive loss of strength for five weeks. The peripheral blood showed pancytopenia (leucocytes 2200/microliters, platelets 45,000/microliters, haemoglobin 10.7 g/dl). There was also hepatosplenomegaly, abdominal lymph node enlargement, pleural and pericardial effusions and slight excess of lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid. Histological examination of the bone marrow suggested a small-cell pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma, but Hodgkin's disease was also considered. Splenectomy was performed to confirm the diagnosis and treat the pancytopenia. The blood count rapidly returned to normal and the suggestion of Hodgkin's disease was excluded. Intensive chemotherapy (BMFT-ALL protocol) was followed by regression of nearly all the abnormalities, but marrow infiltration persisted. This treatment was discontinued after phase II of induction. After an intercurrent cytomegalovirus infection maintenance treatment with alpha-interferon (up to 5 million units daily) was started. The partial remission remained stable for 22 months. The lymphoma then relapsed but was held in check by further chemotherapy (Dexa-PAMB protocol). For the past 11 months the patient has remained in stable partial remission on treatment with alpha-interferon (3 million units every other day). Frequent infections (sinusitis, diarrhoea, abscess) require close supervision.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asparaginase; Bleomycin; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Dexamethasone; Humans; Interferon-alpha; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral; Male; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Mitoxantrone; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Prednisone; Procarbazine; Remission Induction; Time Factors; Vincristine