Abstract: Background: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is characterized by a non-specific morphology and immunophenotype, a high proliferation rate, MYC rearrangements (MYC +), and by a simple karyotype. However, 5% of BL cases have no MYC rearrangements (MYC -) detectable by FISH. It is a matter of debate whether a true MYC (-) BL does exist.The WHO 2008 classification does not clearly define MYC (-) BL cases, and such cases are often misdiagnosed and treated as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We have previously described a provisional category of aggressive B-cell lymphoma unclassifiable (BCLU) with recurrent chromosome 11q aberrations, referred to as B-NHL(11q), with clinical, pathomorphological, and gene expression profile features typicalof BL,but MYC (-). B-NHLs(11q) carry proximal gains and telomeric losses of 11q. Karyotyping (CC) and FISH defined the gain region as dup(11)(q23q13) involving CCND1, ATM and KMT2A. As we have recently shown, BL and B-NHL(11q) express different levels of CD38 and CD16 & CD56, and both have lower levels of miRNA-155, -21 and -26a than DLBCL. Here we describe a series of BL patients with a set of critical 11q aberrations and propose a diagnostic algorithm for a rapid work-up. Methods: Within a group of 82 BL cases diagnosed and treated with the BL protocol at our institution, we identified 15 cases of B-NHL(11q) with BL features and 11q aberrations: MYC (-) in 11(male/female 10/1, median age [range] 24 [18-62] ) and MYC (+) in 4 cases (male/female 3/1, median age [range] 36.5 [20-82] ). In MYC (-) pts, the disease was confined to a single site in 82%, was bulky ( 〉 7 cm) in 64% with diameter 〉 20 cm in 45% of cases. BL, BCLU and DLBCL diagnosis according to WHO 2008 classification was based on histopathological/immunohistochemical examination (HP/IHC), CC, FISH, and clinical characteristics in all pts. For the final evaluation, the flow cytometry (FCM) immunophenotype, array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) data, and miRNA expression was assessed on samples obtained by the fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). In the B-NHL(11q) cases we identified 11q duplication, dup(11q), with an inversion (inv) of the duplicated region and a deletion of its telomeric region, referred to as critical set of 11q aberrations, as opposed to non-critical aberration set that did not involve all three changes. B-NHL(11q) cells were evaluated with the panel of antibodies by IHC (CD20/CD10/BCL6/ BCL2/MUM1/MYC/Ki-67/CD43/CD44), and by FCM with CD (19, 20, 22, 23, 52, 79β, 81, 5, 25, 38, 43, 44, 45, 16 & 56, 56, 52, 62L, 71, 200), FMC7, HLADR, and BCL2. All B-NHL(11q) cases were evaluated by CC, FISH (MYC, BCL2, BCL6, CCND1, ATM, KMT2A and telomeric 11q) and aCGH. The relative positions of CCND1, ATM, and KMT2A within a duplicated region on the aberrant chromosome 11 were used to identify inversions. Results: A median follow-up of MYC (-) B-NHL(11q) pts treated with the BL regimen was 30 months, and 2-yr OS was 72% (95% CI: 45%, 99%). In 53% of B-NHL(11q) pts tingible body macrophages were less pronounced than in classic BL. All MYC (-) and MYC (+) B-NHLs(11q) cases presented the same phenotype and Ki-67 index of 100% and met the IHC criteria for BL. In MYC (-) and MYC (+) B-NHLs(11q) pts, all with a simple or less simple karyotype, we confirmed a critical or non-critical 11q aberrations in 10 and 5 pts, respectively. In 87% of pts we identified dup(11q), of two types: the larger part between 11q12.1 and 11q24.3 bands, and the smaller part between 11q22.3 and 11q24.1, with an additional multiplication of KMT2A inside the duplication region. In 13% of cases an inv without dup(11q) was detected. We found an inv of dup(11q) region in 73% of all cases, and no inv in dup(11q) in 2 MYC (+) cases only. Bulky tumors of 〉 20 cm correlated with increased KMT2A copy number in B-NHLs(11q)cases. Conclusions: B-NHL(11q) cases are clinically homogenous while 11q aberrations are heterogeneous. We believe that BLs MYC (-) do exist. Combination of HP/IHC with FNAB/FCM/CC/FISH is a reliable method for credible diagnosis of BLMYC (-). BLMYC (-) should only be diagnosed in cases where critical 11q aberrations and a simple karyotype are identified. BCLU(11q) or DLBCL(11q) cases should be diagnosed if there are more complex karyotypes accompanied by 11q aberrations of any type. We hypothesize that in BLMYC (-) and other aggressive B-NHL(11q), 11q aberrations may determine clinical and pathomorphological features equivalent to those resulting from MYC rearrangements. Disclosures Walewski: Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodation; Seattle: Other: travel, accommodation; GSK/Novartis: Research Funding; Genetics: Other: travel, accommodation; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodation, Research Funding; Teva: Consultancy, Honoraria; Servier: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy; Ariad: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodation, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodation; Mundipharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy.

Abstract: [§ share last authorship] Background: In 2000-2010, the first large prospective trials in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) showed outcomes burdened by high failure rates during induction. Concurrently, trials with the anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab (ALZ) yielded promising responses in PTCL while demonstrating the feasibility of combining ALZ with CHOP. Hence, the Nordic Lymphoma Group initiated the randomized ACT-1 trial to test, in younger patients (pts) (18-65yrs), the addition of ALZ to CHOP + autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Primary endpoint was the 3 years event-free survival (EFS). Here, we present the final analysis of the ACT-1 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00646854). Patients and Methods: Overall, 136 pts were randomized (43% of planned sample size due to slow accrual), five did not receive study treatment, and 131 were analyzed (ALZ-CHOP: 65; CHOP: 66). Due to lack of tumoral CD52 expression, anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCL) were not included in the ACT-1 trial. An amendment tapering ALZ dose from 360 mg (30 mg on days 1+2 of each CHOP course) to 120 mg (30 mg on day 1 of CHOP courses 1-4) was introduced early on due to systemic fungal infections in 2 pts. Of the 65 pts treated with ALZ-CHOP, 4 received the pre- and 61 (94%) the post-amendment dose. Monitoring for CMV- and EBV-DNA and antimicrobial prophylaxis were mandatory. Results: The median observation time for the Full Analysis Set was 66 months and the median age 51 yrs. The ALZ-CHOP and CHOP cohorts were well balanced with regard to classical prognostic factors and histological subtypes (PTCL-NOS 58% vs 54%, AILT 21% vs 25%, other 21% vs 21%). Feasibility: Neither CHOP nor ALZ-CHOP pts experienced substantial treatment delay. ALZ exposure did not affect stem cell harvest nor hematopoietic recovery. Grade 4 leucopenia was more frequent in ALZ-CHOP pts (73% vs 35%; p=0.001), whereas the occurrence of grade 3-4 anemia and thrombocytopenia did not differ significantly. After ALZ dose amendment, the frequency of bacterial and fungal infections of grade ≥3 was similar in both treatment arms. ALZ treated pts had more viral events (22/57=42% vs 4/23=17%), mainly due to asymptomatic CMV reactivations. The ratio of serious adverse events per ALZ-CHOP treated patient dropped markedly (from 3.25 to 0.86, comparable with 0.46 for CHOP) after dose amendment. Additional toxicity was mild and similar in both arms. Treatment related mortality was 4% (5% vs 3%). Efficacy: Complete remission (CR) was 52% in ALZ-CHOP vs 42% in CHOP. Primary refractory disease occurred for ALZ-CHOP and CHOP in 23% and 38% of pts, respectively. Overall, females had a significantly better outcome than males (p=0.004), also after adjustment for classical prognostic factors. Analyzing time-related endpoints without knowledge of CD52 expression, 3-years EFS, progression-free, and overall survival (PFS, OS) did not differ significantly between ALZ-CHOP and CHOP (EFS 35% vs 26%, PFS 37% vs 26%, OS 52% vs 50%). Fig.1A shows EFS by treatment arm, by gender, and by gender and treatment arm. Although not significantly different, EFS, PFS and OS values of ALZ-CHOP treated females in the ACT-1 trial were consistently higher than those of non-ALZ treated females or of males regardless of treatment group. RNA sequencing from evaluable pre-therapeutic tumor biopsies defined a signature of differentially expressed genes to be predictive of clinical outcome in ALZ-CHOP but not CHOP treated pts (n=33). Tumor microenvironment genes were prominent in determining response to ALZ. Tumors rich in B-cell milieu showed good responses, while the opposite was observed in tumors with signatures enriched with high endothelial cell genes (p 〈 0.001) (Fig.1B). The good risk signature was associated with a higher frequency of X-linked and the bad risk with a higher frequency of Y-linked transcripts (Fig.1B). Conclusion: In previously untreated younger non-anaplastic PTCL pts, the addition of ALZ to CHOP + ASCT was feasible. Overall, we did not find a significant outcome benefit. However, a gene expression signature predictive of ALZ response was identified and found predominantly in female patients. Carriers of this signature had an outcome benefit only if exposed to ALZ. A validation of this predictor of ALZ response is ongoing. Due to the limited sample size of the ACT-1 study cohort, both the negative and the positive findings of the trial should be interpreted with caution. Disclosures Leppä: Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy. Silva:Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; Abbvie, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche, Janssen, Celgene: Other: Travel Support; Roche, Janssen: Other: Institution's payment for consultancy. Hagberg:Roche: Honoraria. Lugtenburg:takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; servier: Consultancy, Research Funding; roche: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Sandoz: Consultancy; GenMab: Research Funding. Walewski:Roche, GSK/Novartis, Takeda, and Janssen-Cilag: Research Funding; Roche, Celgene, Takeda, Janssen-Cilag, and Servier: Honoraria; Roche, Celegene, Takeda, Janssen-Cilag, and Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Hopfinger:Janssen: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria. Jantunen:Amgen: Honoraria; Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria. Steidl:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy; Tioma: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Nanostring: Patents & Royalties: patent holding; Roche: Consultancy. Gascoyne:NanoString: Patents & Royalties: Named Inventor on a patent licensed to NanoString Technologies. Scott:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; NanoString: Patents & Royalties: Named Inventor on a patent licensed to NanoString Technologies, Research Funding.

Abstract: Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a crucial role of CD10 expression remain a standard diagnostic tool in follicular lymphoma (FL). The results of IHC CD10 detection with different primary antibodies are not fully reproducible, but some reports show that flow cytometry (FCM) can be a reliable method of CD10 identification. Methods The aim of the study was to compare results of CD10 expression in FL by IHC and FCM including immunophenotypic features in the context of the BCL2 and BCL6 alterations. Results Out of 76 histopathologically diagnosed FL, a group of 25 cases had simultaneously FCM. Immunohistochemically 77.6% of cases were CD10‐positive with comparable and reproducible results to FCM. Differences between the FCM expression of CD5/CD10/CD11c/CD25/CD43 and BCL2 overexpression (BCL2(+) higher ) correlated with the BCL2 and BCL6 rearrangements (R) status. Lack of CD10 expression corresponded with the absence of BCL2 R and higher MUM1 expression by IHC results but had no clinical impact on the long‐time outcomes. Conclusions Immunohistochemistry staining is a comparable method to FCM assessment in the evaluation of CD10 expression and diagnosis of FL. Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy/FCM (FNAB/FCM) could be a useful tool for verifying FL diagnosis and CD10 detection. Despite its heterogeneity, FL has a characteristic immunophenotype. BCL2 R and BCL6 R FL cases differ mainly in levels of BCL2 and CD10 with CD43 co‐expression; BCL2(+) higher by FCM correlates with BCL2 R. Moreover, FNAB plays an important role in material provision for supportive karyotyping and BCL2 R, BCL6 R assessed by FISH.

Abstract: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare, highly aggressive, extranodal form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, predominantly diagnosed as primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system (CNS DLBCL). Fast and precise diagnosis of PCNSL is critical yet challenging. microRNAs, important regulators in physiology and pathology are potential biomarkers. In 131 patients with CNS DLBCL and with non-malignant brain lesions (n-ML), miR-21, miR-19b and miR-92a, miR-155, miR-196b, miR-let-7b, miR-125b, and miR-9 were examined by RT-qPCR in brain biopsy samples (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, FFPET; CNS DLBCL, n = 52; n-ML, n = 42) and cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF; CNS DLBCL, n = 30; n-ML, n = 23) taken for routine diagnosis. FFPET samples were split into study and validation sets. Significantly higher CSF levels of miR-21, miR-19b, and miR-92a were identified in PCNSL but not in n-ML, and differentiated PCNSL from n-ML with 63.33% sensitivity and 80.77% specificity. In FFPETs, miR-155 and miR-196b were significantly overexpressed and miR-let-7b, miR-125b, and miR-9 were downregulated in PCNSL as compared to n-ML. Combined miR-155 and miR-let-7b expression levels in FFPETs discriminated PCNSL and n-ML with a 97% accuracy. In conclusion, tissue miR-155, miR-196b, miR-9, miR-125b, and miR-let-7b expression profiles differentiate PCNSL from n-ML. PCNSL CSFs and the relevant biopsy samples are characterized by specific, different microRNA profiles. A logistic regression model is proposed to discriminate between PCNSL and non-malignant brain lesions. None of the examined microRNAs influenced overall survival of PCNSL patients. Further ongoing developments involve next generation sequencing-based profiling of biopsy and CSF samples.

Abstract: The efficacy of salvage treatment of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients who relapse or progress (rrDLBCL) after initial therapy is limited. Efficacy and safety of ofatumumab with iphosphamide, etoposide and cytarabine (O‐IVAC) was evaluated in a single‐arm study. Dosing was modified for elderly patients. Patients received up to six cycles of treatment. The primary end‐point was the overall response rate (ORR). Patients were evaluated every two cycles and then six and 12 months after treatment. Other end‐points included progression‐free survival (PFS), event‐free survival (EFS), overall survival (OS) and safety. Seventy‐seven patients received salvage treatment with O‐IVAC. The average age was 56.8 years; 39% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of at least 3; 78% had disease of Ann Arbor stage 3 or 4; 58% received one or more prior salvage therapies. The ORR for O‐IVAC was 54.5%. The median duration of study follow‐up was 70 months. The median PFS and EFS were 16.3 months each. The median OS was 22.7 months. Age, ECOG performance status and the number of prior therapy lines were independent predictors of survival. Treatment‐related mortality was 15.5%. O‐IVAC showed a high response rate in a difficult‐to‐treat population and is an attractive treatment to bridge to potentially curative therapies.

Abstract: Available epidemiological reports on follicular lymphoma (FL) often highlight a significant discrepancy between its high and low incidence rates in Western and Eastern Europe, respectively. The reasons behind that difference are not fully understood, but underreporting is typically presumed as one of the main factors. This study aimed to assess FL epidemiology in Poland based on 2000–2014 data from the Polish National Cancer Registry, which has 100% population coverage and over 90% completeness of the registration. All cases were coded according to ICD-10 and ICD-O-3 recommendations. The total number of registered FL cases was 3,928 with crude (CR) and standardized (SR) incidence rates of 0.72/10 5 and 0.87/10 5 , respectively. The median age of FL diagnosis was 61 years, with the male to female incidence ratio of 1.06. The distribution of morphological types of FL: not otherwise specified (NOS), grades 1, 2, or 3 were 72.58, 4.81, 12.88, and 9.73%, respectively. Among all reported mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, FL was ranked the fourth in incidence, just after chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CR 3.62/10 5 , SR 4.99/10 5 ), plasma cell neoplasms (CR 3.78/10 5 , SR 4.97/10 5 ) and diffuse B-cell lymphoma, NOS (CR 2.13/10 5 , SR 2.65/10 5 ). The systematic increase in FL incidence among females was observed. Our study confirms a lower FL incidence rate in Poland as compared to other European countries. Moreover, as our analysis was based on a registry with high data completeness, it provides evidence that reasons other than underreporting are responsible for FL incidence discrepancies between Eastern and Western Europe.

Abstract: R‐CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone) and R‐CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone + rituximab) are immunochemotherapy regimens frequently used for remission induction of indolent non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (iNHLs). Rituximab maintenance (RM) significantly improves progression‐free survival (PFS) in patients with complete/partial remission (CR/PR). Here we report the final results of a randomized study comparing R‐CVP to R‐CHOP both followed by RM. Untreated patients in need of systemic therapy with symptomatic and progressive iNHLs including follicular (FL) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), small lymphocytic (SLL), and lymphoplasmacytic (LPL) lymphoma were eligible. Patients were randomized to receive R‐CVP or R‐CHOP for eight cycles or until complete response (CR). All patients with CR/PR (partial response) received RM 375 mg/m 2 q 2 months for 12 cycles. Primary endpoint was event‐free survival (EFS). Two‐hundred and fifty patients [FL 42%, MZL/MALT 38%, LPL/ Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia (WM) 11%, SLL 9%] were enrolled and randomized (R‐CHOP: 127, R‐CVP: 123). Median age was 56 years (21–85), 44% were male, 90% were in stage III–IV, 43% of FL patients had a Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) score ≥3, and 33·4% of all patients had an IPI score ≥3. At the end of induction treatment, the CR/PR rate was 43·6/50·9% and 36·3/60·8% in the R‐CHOP and R‐CVP groups ( P  = 0·218) respectively. After a median follow‐up of 67, 66, and 70 months, five‐year EFS was 61% vs. 56% (not significant), progression‐free survival (PFS) was 71% vs. 69% (not significant) and overall survival (OS) was 84% vs. 89% in the R‐CHOP vs. the R‐CVP arm respectively. Grade III/IV adverse events (65 vs. 22) occurred in 40 (33·1%) and 18 (15·3%) patients, P  = 0·001; neutropenia in 16 (11·6%) and 4 (3·4%) patients, P  = 0·017; infection in 14 (10·7%) and 3 (2·5%) patients,; P  = 0·011; and a second neoplasm in three versus seven patients., in the R‐CHOP and the R‐CVP groups respectively. This multicentre randomized study with 〉 five‐year follow‐up shows similar outcome in patients with indolent lymphoma in need of systemic therapy treated with R‐CVP or R‐CHOP immunochemotherapy and rituximab maintenance in both arms. The minor toxicity of the R‐CVP regimen makes it a reasonable choice for induction treatment, leaving other active agents like doxorubicin or bendamustin for second‐line therapy.