Primary central nervous system lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), also termed primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system (DLBCL-CNS),[2] is a primary intracranial tumor appearing mostly in patients with severe immunodeficiency (typically patients with AIDS). It is a subtype and one of the most aggressive of the diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.[3] PCNSLs represent around 20% of all cases of lymphomas in HIV infections. (Other types are Burkitt's lymphomas and immunoblastic lymphomas). Primary CNS lymphoma is highly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (> 90%) in immunodeficient patients (such as those with AIDS and those immunosuppressed),[4] and does not have a predilection for any particular age group. Mean CD4+ count at time of diagnosis is ~50/uL. In immunocompromised patients, prognosis is usually poor. In immunocompetent patients (that is, patients who do not have AIDS or some other immunodeficiency), there is rarely an association with EBV infection or other DNA viruses. In the immunocompetent population, PCNSLs typically appear in older patients in their 50s and 60s. Importantly, the incidence of PCNSL in the immunocompetent population has been reported to have increased more than 10-fold from 2.5 cases to 30 cases per 10 million population.[5][6] The cause for the increase in incidence of this disease in the immunocompetent population is unknown.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma
Other namesMicroglioma and Primary brain lymphoma[1]
Brain magnetic resonance imaging showing primary central nervous system B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the sella turcica and hypothalamus, continuing to the tectum (intensely white areas in the middle).
SpecialtyHematology and Neuro-oncology

Signs and symptoms

A primary CNS lymphoma usually presents with seizure, headache, cranial nerve findings, altered mental status, or other focal neurological deficits typical of a mass effect.[7][8] Systemic symptoms may include fever, night sweats, or weight loss. Other symptoms include

Diagnosis
Micrograph showing a primary CNS lymphoma with the characteristic perivascular distribution composed of large cells with prominent nucleoli. Brain biopsy. HPS stain.

The current standard for diagnosis typically includes positive CSF cytology, vitreous biopsy, or brain/leptomeningeal biopsy.[10] Histopathological confirmation is essential for definitive diagnosis.[11]

MRI or contrast enhanced CT classically shows multiple ring-enhancing lesions in the deep white matter. The major differential diagnosis (based on imaging) is cerebral toxoplasmosis, which is also prevalent in AIDS patients and also presents with a ring-enhanced lesion, although toxoplasmosis generally presents with more lesions and the contrast enhancement is typically more pronounced. Imaging techniques cannot distinguish the two conditions with certainty, and cannot exclude other diagnoses. Thus, patients undergo a brain biopsy or vitreous biopsy, if there is intraocular involvement.[10]

Classification

Most PCNSLs are diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.[12][13]

Treatment

Surgical resection is usually ineffective because of the depth of the tumour. Treatment with irradiation and corticosteroids often only produces a partial response and tumour recurs in more than 90% of patients. Median survival is 10 to 18 months in immunocompetent patients, and less in those with AIDS. The addition of IV methotrexate and folinic acid (leucovorin) may extend survival to a median of 3.5 years. If radiation is added to methotrexate, median survival time may increase beyond 4 years. However, radiation is not recommended in conjunction with methotrexate because of an increased risk of leukoencephalopathy and dementia in patients older than 60.[14] In AIDS patients, perhaps the most important factor with respect to treatment is the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), which affects the CD4+ lymphocyte population and the level of immunosuppression.[15] The optimal treatment plan for patients with PCNSL has not been determined. Combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy at least doubles survival time, but causes dementia and leukoencephalopathy in at least 50% of patients who undergo it. The most studied chemotherapeutic agent in PCNSL is methotrexate (a folate analogue that interferes with DNA repair). Methotrexate therapy in patients with PCNSL typically requires hospitalization for close monitoring and intravenous fluids. Leucovorin is often given for the duration of the therapy. Standard chemotherapeutic regimens for lymphoma such as CHOP are ineffective in PCNSL, probably due to poor penetration of the agents through the blood brain barrier.[15]

Newer treatments, such as high dose chemotherapy combined with autologous stem cell transplant are proving to increase survival by years.[16] New research to increase permeability of the blood brain barrier with NGR-hTNF followed by CHOP, produced responses in 75% cases. [17]

A phase 1 clinical trial of ibrutinib – an inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase – in 13 patients reported responses in 10 (77%).[18] Five of the responses were complete.

Prognosis

In immunocompetent patients

The initial response to radiotherapy is often excellent, and may result in a complete remission. However, the duration of response with radiotherapy alone remains short, with median survival after treatment with radiotherapy just 18 months. Methotrexate based chemotherapy markedly improves survival, with some studies showing median survival after methotrexate chemotherapy reaching 48 months.[15]

In AIDS patients

Patients with AIDS and PCNSL have a median survival of only 4 months with radiotherapy alone. Untreated, median survival is only 2.5 months, sometimes due to concurrent opportunistic infections rather than the lymphoma itself. Extended survival has been seen, however, in a subgroup of AIDS patients with CD4 counts of more than 200 and no concurrent opportunistic infections, who can tolerate aggressive therapy consisting of either methotrexate monotherapy or vincristine, procarbazine, or whole brain radiotherapy. These patients have a median survival of 10–18 months. Of course, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is critical for prolonged survival in any AIDS patient, so compliance with HAART may play a role in survival in patients with concurrent AIDS and PCNSL.[15]

References
  1. "CNS lymphoma, primary information". Diseases Database. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  2. Grimm KE, O'Malley DP (February 2019). "Aggressive B cell lymphomas in the 2017 revised WHO classification of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues". Annals of Diagnostic Pathology. 38: 6–10. doi:10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2018.09.014. PMID 30380402. S2CID 53196244.
  3. Sukswai N, Lyapichev K, Khoury JD, Medeiros LJ (January 2020). "Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma variants: an update". Pathology. 52 (1): 53–67. doi:10.1016/j.pathol.2019.08.013. PMID 31735345.
  4. Fine HA, Mayer RJ (December 1993). "Primary central nervous system lymphoma". Annals of Internal Medicine. 119 (11): 1093–1104. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-119-11-199312010-00007. PMID 8239229. S2CID 27535985.
  5. Eby NL, Grufferman S, Flannelly CM, Schold SC, Vogel FS, Burger PC (December 1988). "Increasing incidence of primary brain lymphoma in the US". Cancer. 62 (11): 2461–2465. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(19881201)62:11<2461::aid-cncr2820621135>3.0.co;2-m. PMID 3179963.
  6. Corn BW, Marcus SM, Topham A, Hauck W, Curran WJ (June 1997). "Will primary central nervous system lymphoma be the most frequent brain tumor diagnosed in the year 2000?". Cancer. 79 (12): 2409–2413. doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19970615)79:12<2409::aid-cncr17>3.3.co;2-2. PMID 9191531.
  7. Bataille B, Delwail V, Menet E, Vandermarcq P, Ingrand P, Wager M, et al. (February 2000). "Primary intracerebral malignant lymphoma: report of 248 cases". Journal of Neurosurgery. 92 (2): 261–266. doi:10.3171/jns.2000.92.2.0261. PMID 10659013.
  8. Herrlinger U, Schabet M, Bitzer M, Petersen D, Krauseneck P (July 1999). "Primary central nervous system lymphoma: from clinical presentation to diagnosis". Journal of Neuro-Oncology. 43 (3): 219–226. doi:10.1023/A:1006298201101. PMID 10563426. S2CID 5990227.
  9. Primary CNS Lymphoma at eMedicine
  10. Scott BJ, Douglas VC, Tihan T, Rubenstein JL, Josephson SA (March 2013). "A systematic approach to the diagnosis of suspected central nervous system lymphoma". JAMA Neurology. 70 (3): 311–319. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.606. PMC 4135394. PMID 23319132.
  11. von Baumgarten L, Illerhaus G, Korfel A, Schlegel U, Deckert M, Dreyling M (June 2018). "The Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary CNS Lymphoma". Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. 115 (25): 419–426. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0419. PMC 6056710. PMID 29999484.
  12. Lukes RJ, Collins RD (October 1974). "Immunologic characterization of human malignant lymphomas". Cancer. 34 (4 Suppl): suppl:1488–suppl:1503. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(197410)34:8+<1488::aid-cncr2820340822>3.0.co;2-c. PMID 4608683. S2CID 9652828.
  13. Jellinger K, Radaskiewicz TH, Slowik F (1975). "Primary malignant lymphomas of the central nervous system in man". Acta Neuropathologica. Supplementum. 6 (Suppl 6): 95–102. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-08456-4_16. ISBN 978-3-540-07208-9. PMID 1098380.
  14. Deangelis LM, Hormigo A (October 2004). "Treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma". Seminars in Oncology. 31 (5): 684–692. doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2004.07.011. PMID 15497122.
  15. Primary CNS Lymphoma~treatment at eMedicine
  16. Omuro A, Correa DD, DeAngelis LM, Moskowitz CH, Matasar MJ, Kaley TJ, et al. (February 2015). "R-MPV followed by high-dose chemotherapy with TBC and autologous stem-cell transplant for newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma". Blood. 125 (9): 1403–1410. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-10-604561. PMC 4342354. PMID 25568347.
  17. Ferreri, Andrés J. M.; Calimeri, Teresa; Conte, Gian Marco; Cattaneo, Dario; Fallanca, Federico; Ponzoni, Maurilio; Scarano, Eloise; Curnis, Flavio; Nonis, Alessandro; Lopedote, Paolo; Citterio, Giovanni (2019-07-18). "R-CHOP preceded by blood-brain barrier permeabilization with engineered tumor necrosis factor-α in primary CNS lymphoma". Blood. 134 (3): 252–262. doi:10.1182/blood.2019000633. ISSN 0006-4971. PMID 31118164. S2CID 162182856.
  18. Grommes C, Pastore A, Palaskas N, Tang SS, Campos C, Schartz D, et al. (September 2017). "Ibrutinib Unmasks Critical Role of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase in Primary CNS Lymphoma". Cancer Discovery. 7 (9): 1018–1029. doi:10.1158/2159-8290.CD-17-0613. PMC 5581705. PMID 28619981.
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