sirolimus and Lymphoma--B-Cell--Marginal-Zone

The International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group coordinated a phase II trial to evaluate the activity and safety of everolimus in marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs). Thirty patients with relapsed/refractory MZLs received everolimus for six cycles or until dose-limiting toxicity or progression. Median age was 71 years (range, 51-88 years). Twenty patients had extranodal, six splenic, four nodal MZL. Twenty-four patients had stage III-IV. Median number of prior therapies was two (range 1-5). Seventeen patients had early treatment discontinuation, in most cases due to toxicity. Median number of cycles was 4.5 (range, 1-16). Among the 24 assessable patients, the overall response rate (ORR) was 25% (95% confidence interval: 10-47). Grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia (17% of patients, each), infections (17%), mucositis and odontogenic infections (13%) and lung toxicity (3%). The median response duration was 6.8 months (range, 1.4-11.1+). After a median follow-up of 14.5 months, five deaths were reported: four deaths were due to lymphoma, one was due to toxicity. In an intent-to-treat analysis, the projected median progression-free survival was 14 months. The moderate antitumour activity of everolimus in relapsed/refractory MZLs and the observed toxicity limit its therapeutical applicability in these indolent entities. Lower doses of the drug and, perhaps, different strategies including combination with additional agents need to be explored.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents; Drug Administration Schedule; Everolimus; Female; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Recurrence; Remission Induction; Sirolimus; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome

The treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the most common posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder, is not well defined. Herein we have reported a case of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma with rapid, persistent, and complete remission after conversion of the immunosuppression from cyclosporine (CsA) to sirolimus (SRL). A 42-year-old woman underwent renal transplantation in 1992 with no major abnormalities until 2006 when a gastroscopy performed to investigate dyspeptic symptoms showed a mixed MALT gastric lymphoma (with low- and high-grade components) associated with the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Two therapeutic interventions in a 1-week interval were performed: treatment of the H. pylori infection (omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 14 days) and modification of the immunosuppression by substitution of CsA and azathioprine (AZA) with SRL. Control endoscopy performed 1 month later showed persistence of H. pylori infection and absence of the gastric tumor. New endoscopies performed at 2 and 7 months after therapy confirmed the absence of neoplasia and H. pylori eradication. Currently, the patient has no complaints, displaying a creatinine value of 1.8 mg/dL and a hemoglobin of 9.4 mg/dL using SRL and ibersatan. SRL has been studied extensively as an anticancer drug, acting as a mammalian target for rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor. Accumulating data support the role of mTOR in lymphomagenesis. In conclusion, our case of gastric MALT lymphoma in a renal transplant patient displayed a complete remission after alteration of the immunosuppressive scheme with the introduction of SRL.

Topics: Adult; Azathioprine; Cyclosporine; Female; Gastric Mucosa; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Kidney Transplantation; Living Donors; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone; Sirolimus; Stomach Neoplasms