A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / As research into the treatment of cancers improves patient’s chances for survival, the number of cancer survivors continues to increase. These patients are often treated with chemotherapy and radiation regimens that can increase their risk for cancers and other complications such as heart disease later on. Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma tend to be younger than patients with other cancers. Current treatment regimens lead to cures in many Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients with many long term survivors. However, these treatments place survivors at risk for numerous complications, most importantly other cancers and heart disease. Organizations such as the American Cancer Society recommend regular screening and surveillance by a patient’s doctor to detect these potential complications. To assess the factors that affect a patient’s follow‐up care we sent a survey to 365 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivors in Arizona and asked them about their specific follow‐up care. The survivors were identified using the Arizona Cancer registry, and 49 (13.4%) responded to our survey. However, of the 365 letter invitations that were sent out, 118 were returned undeliverable leading to a corrected response rate of 19.8%. Of the respondents 93% reported they were getting follow up care. We also looked at patient satisfaction with their care as a second outcome, 34 (72.3%) of the patients stated that they were strongly satisfied with their follow‐ up care. In order to assess physician‐patient communication, we asked patients if they had received a written follow‐up care plan. Of the respondents to this question, 14 (29.7%) noted that they had received a written follow up care plan. These two outcomes were stratified to various demographic factors (age, gender, education status, etc.) to determine if any of these caused a statistically significant difference in a patient’s satisfaction or whether or not they had received a written follow‐up plan. Due to the low number of responders, no statistically significant difference was found. Future studies are needed to further determine whether or not these sorts of demographic factors play a significant role but we believe studies like this are important as cancer survivorship continues to increase.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-08-21Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:56:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gaiolla_rd_me_botfm.pdf: 867698 bytes, checksum: ec290cbafd254a98351e5ef8cea0e6de (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O Linfoma de Hodgkin (LH) é uma neoplasia linfóide histologicamente caracterizada pela presença de escassas células neoplásicas peculiares, denominadas células de Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (H-RS), em meio a infiltrado inflamatório não-neoplásico. Seu curso clínico está diretamente relacionado ao estadiamento, subtipo histológico e presença de alguns fatores prognósticos adversos já estabelecidos. Sintomas constitucionais como febre, perda de peso e sudoreses noturna, associados a um aparente desbalanço da resposta imune celular, são características comuns ao diagnóstico e denotam anormalidade da resposta imunológica desses pacientes, provavelmente causada pela produção de diferentes citocinas, tanto pelas células H-RS como pelo infiltrado inflamatório de permeio. Na maior parte dos casos de LH, há produção aumentada de citocinas de padrão Th2. No presente estudo, foram determinadas, por ELISA, as concentrações séricas de IL-6, IL-10 e IL-13 de 28 pacientes com LH clássico, antes e depois do tratamento anti-neoplásico, e de 26 voluntários saudáveis que compuseram grupo-controle. Dosagens de IL-6 e IL-10 pré-tratamento foram significativamente maiores nos pacientes em relação ao grupo-controle. Todos os pacientes apresentaram redução do nível sérico de IL-6 e IL-10 após o tratamento antineoplásico. Ao diagnóstico, níveis elevados de IL-6 foram associados à presença de linfonodomegalia abdominal, hepatomegalia, sintomas B e anemia. O estudo da regressão linear múltipla mostrou que sintomas B e linfocitopenia são bons preditores de níveis séricos pré-tratamento de IL-6. Níveis elevados de IL-10 foram relacionados à hipoalbuminemia e hepatomegalia. Nenhum paciente apresentou dosagem Resumo 52 sérica detectável de IL-13. Os resultados demonstram que níveis séricos elevados de IL-6 e IL-10 ao diagnóstico estão... / Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is a malignant lymphoid neoplasia characterized by abnormal immune response. Part of this disturbance is attributable to the activity of cytokines produced by the malignant Hodgkin/Reed-Sternbergh cells and reactive inflammatory cells. IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HL. Although some features of the disease have been associated with the production of these interleukins, there is insufficient data about changes in its serum levels at diagnosis and after the treatment, as well as its potencial use as biomarkers of HL course. Design and Methods. Serum levels pre and post treatment of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 in 28 patients with HL were determined by ELISA. Results were evaluated against clinical and laboratory parameters, as well as response to treatment and presence of infection by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), assessed by in situ hybridization with biotinylated probe directed to the viral transcript EBER-1. Serum samples from 26 healthy blood-donors volunteers were evaluated as a control group. Results. IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels before treatment of HL were significantly higher in patients compared to healthy individuals (p<0,001), and a significant reduction after treatment of the disease was observed (p<0,001). Serum levels of IL-13 were indetectable both in patients (before and after treatment) and controls. Serum levels of IL-6 before treatment were higher in patients with abdominal involvement by HL (p=0,03), hepatomegaly (p=0,04), B-symptoms (p=0,01), and anemia (p=0,02). On the other hand, IL-10 pre-treatment levels were higher in patients with hypoalbuminemia (p=0,04) and hepatomegaly (p=0,01). Multivariate analysis Abstract 54 revealed that lymphocytopenia and B-symptoms were good predictors of IL-6 levels in serum before treatment of patients... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare and unique subtype of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), accounting for approximately 5% of HL. On histology, NLPHL presents with “popcorn cells” composed of lymphocytic and histiocytic cells that express CD20 and CD45, unlike the pathognomonic Reed-Sternberg cells in classic HL (cHL) that express CD15 and CD30. Such differences in histopathology may require alternative treatment approaches. We present a rare case of NLPHL with atypical features at presentation with excellent response to treatment regimen used in Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL). A 36-year-old male presented with acute onset back pain. He also noted multiple gradually enlarging lumps in his neck, axilla, and anterior chest wall for a few months. He mentioned significant constitutional symptoms including fatigue, weight loss, and drenching night sweats. No evidence of end-organ damage was present, except significant hypercalcemia suggestive of hypercalcemia of malignancy. An excisional biopsy of his axillary lymph node confirmed the diagnosis of NLPHL with immuno-stains that were positive for CD20, CD45 and negative for CD15 and CD30. PET scan demonstrated extensive tumor burden in the skeletal system, including the sternum, and multi-stationary lymphadenopathy. Splenomegaly with lymphomatous infiltration was also present. He was assigned stage IV based on the Ann Arbor staging system. R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) was initiated with a goal of 6 cycles, differing from ABVD (adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) regimen that is used for cHL. Interval PET scan post 4 cycles of R-CHOP showed no evidence of residual disease. PET scan after 6 cycles demonstrated a complete response (CR), including resolution of hypermetabolic uptake in the spleen, lymph nodes and bones. NLPHL is often considered indolent in clinical courses but with a tendency for multiple late relapses compared to cHL. It still maintains a favorable prognosis. In contrast to cHL, NLPHL less frequently presents with constitutional symptoms, increased tumor burden, or at an advanced stage, which is associated with a worse prognosis. Our patient had multiple features that are unusual in NLPHL such as hypercalcemia, extensive bony involvement with hypermetabolic lytic lesions and significant constitutional symptoms. The clinical conundrum with this rare subtype is whether to treat with HL vs NHL regimens. Literature and the guidelines recommend a conservative approach for low stage NLPHL with observation vs radiation vs single agent rituximab (used in NHL!). Advanced stages require multi-agent regimens ranging from one end of the spectrum with ABVD (used in cHL) to the other end with R-CHOP and its variants (used in NHL). Our patient with a rare subtype of HL had a very unusual and aggressive presentation with CR to R-CHOP demonstrating that rituximab based regimens should be the mainstay of treatment.

<p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1980 härtill 4 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

Le risque de LH est augmenté en cas de déficit immunitaire acquis ou inné. Les déficits immunitaires innés associés à un risque accru de LH, sont les DICV (Déficit Immunitaire Commun Variable), XLP (Syndrome lymphoprolifératif lié au chromosome X) et ALPS (Syndrome lymphoprolifératif Autoimmun). L’objectif de notre travail était d’évaluer la prévalence de ces déficits immunitaires chez des enfants atteints de LH. Nous avons reçu, 395 prélèvements de patients atteints de LH au diagnostic. L’âge médian de la population étudiée est de 13 ans, allant de 3 à 18 ans. Le sex-ratio M/F est de 1.1. Il augmente à 3 au dessous de l’âge de 10 ans. Parmi les biopsies (n=84) qui ont été relues, 87% sont de type scléro-nodulaires (SN), 7% à cellularité mixte (CM) et 6% non spécifié. L’EBV est détecté in situ dans 23% des cas de LH. Les patients atteints de LH-EBV+ sont significativement plus jeunes que ceux atteints de LH-EBV- (p=3.10-4). Ce sont plus fréquemment des garçons que des filles (63% ; M/F : 1,7) et fréquemment de sous-type CM (40%). Enfin, ils ont une charge virale EBV significativement plus élevée (p=3.10-3) que les enfants qui ont un LH-EBV-.Parmi les 83 premiers enfants analysés, un immunophénotypage approfondi a montré une diminution de la population lymphocytaire par rapport aux témoins et une lymphopénie B fréquente (31 patients sur 83 soit 37% des patients). La lymphopénie B était corrélée aux facteurs pronostiques connus du LH. Dans un cas parmi les 31, une baisse des immunoglobulines a été mise en évidence ce qui est évocateur de DICV. Nous avons montré que dans les autres cas, les lymphopénies se corrigeaient à distance de la maladie. La recherche de profil cytokinique associé à ces lymphopénies (TGF, BAFF, IL-7) n’a pas permis de mettre en évidence de mécanisme physiopathologique simple pour expliquer ces lymphopénies. Nous émettons l’hypothèse qu’elles sont liées à l’exposition au contact des cellules tumorales à des signaux favorisant l’apopotose.En ce qui concerne la recherche d’autres déficits immunitaires innés, aucun cas évocateur de XLP n’a été mis en évidence sur la base de la quantification des lymphocytes NKT. Cinq cas parmi les 83 (6%) avaient une expansion de lymphocytes T DN (Lymphocytes TCRαβ CD4-CD8-) dans le sang périphérique. Des dosages de Fas ligand et d’IL-10 plasmatiques ont permis d’exclure un ALPS. Au total, nous n’avons pas pu affirmer de défaut qualitatif des sous-populations lymphocytaires évoquant les déficits immunitaires de type XLP et ALPS. Seule une lymphopénie B avec baisse des IgG est évocatrice de DICV. Nous avons étendu l’analyse à l’ensemble des patients (395patients) avec un contrôle à distance du diagnostic pour ceux qui étaient anormaux. Nous avons identifié 4 patients potentiellement atteints de DICV, 1,5%. Parallèlement, nous avons recherché un déficit de la réponse T anti-EBV par cytomètrie de flux et l’Elispot. L’étude de la réponse T anti-EBV par la cytométrie de flux, a montré une tendance vers une baisse de la production d’IL-2 par les CD4 et les CD8 de patients avec une charge virale EBV élevée en réponse à une stimulation par des peptides EBV en présence de lignées autologues. L’étude de la réponse T anti EBV par la technique d’ELISPOT sur 9 patients n’a pas montré globalement de déficit du contrôle de l’EBV sauf pour une jeune patiente de 10 ans ayant une charge virale EBV très élevée sans réponse T anti-EBV efficace. Les résultats que nous avons obtenus restent à approfondir, ce qui permettra d’enrichir les connaissances actuelles sur cette pathologie. / Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) is one of the most frequent lymphomas occurring in childhood. In young children, there is a high predominance in boys and frequent association with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Cohort studies have shown that patients affected by several immune deficiency syndromes - e.g. X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP), functional deficit of Fas/FasL pathway and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) - are risk factors of HL. We intend to search for qualitative and quantitative immune deficiencies as susceptibility factors to child's HL in a prospective study related to Euronet –PHL C1 protocol. Eighty-three patients at diagnosis of HL have been analysed. Median age of the study population is 13 years, (5-18 years). Gender-ratio M/F is 1.1 with a larger male predominance before the age of 10 (gender-ratio of 3). The search for a defect of NKT population that would be suggesting of XLP was negative in all patients. A moderate expansion of circulating TCRαβ+ double negative cells (DNT) has been detected in 5 patients. This expansion has been further explored in the hypothesis of a defect of Fas/FasL pathway by plasmatic quantification of Fas ligand and Il-10. This led to the exclusionof the diagnosis of ALPS. An unexpected high frequency of B-cell lymphopenia has been detected in 31 out of 83 patients (37%). Peripheral B cell lymphopenia was associated with the following poor prognostic factors: advanced stages (p<0.04), low hemoglobin (p<0.06) and B symptoms (p<0.01). B-cell lymphopenia was not statistically correlated with morphology (subtype, amount of tumor cells and necrosis). Remarkably, B-lymphocytic counts were significantly higher in patients with in situ EBV (<0.05).Only a B lymphopenia with low IgG level suggesting DICV was detected. We extended the analysis to all the 395 patients included in the protocol EURONET, so we identified 4 patients with CVID. These cases will be further explored by molecular analyses. In parallel, the specific T-cells response against EBV was studied by flow cytometry in 15 patients and ELISPOT assay in 9 patients with HL. Flow cytometry , suggested a decrease in production of IL-2 by CD4 T cells in patients with high EBV viral load in response to EBV latent and lytic-cycle peptides and autologous lymphoblatoid cells lines compared to controls or patients with LH-EBV-. The ELISPOT-IFNγ assay was used to determine the frequency of T cells that produced IFNγ in response to peptides. One patient demonstrated inappropriate EBV-specific T-cell IFNγ production (<10 IFNγ secreted T cells and >1,000 EBV copies per 250000 PBMCs). These cases will be further explored by molecular analyses.Our findings confirm the known epidemiological data of HL now mainly associated to NS subtype in children and adolescents and EBV status in HL at this age. We show that peripheral B cell lymphopenia in paediatric and adolescent HL patients is frequent and associated with poor prognosis factors. We confirm the association between CVID and HL.

High grade aggressive lymphomas have high mortality. By their nature, more than 40% of patients die from these diseases even with the improved treatment strategies currently available for oncology patients. The characteristic feature is that they are functionally heterogeneous and therefore have different biological and molecular signatures which make it difficult for all groups to respond to same line of treatment. Based on the above, I set out to look at the impact of viral and cellular gene products on these groups of diseases: In chapter 3 I developed monoclonal antibodies against HERV‐K10. I subsequently investigated their expressions in aggressive lymphomas including Diffuse Large B‐cell lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Primary CNS lymphomas. I showed HERV‐K10 is expressed in cell lines of aggressive lymphomas, but not in paraffin‐embedded tissues. In chapter 4 I showed that the expression of ATM using immune‐histochemistry techniques in aggressive lymphomas does offer a guide to prognosis and treatment. Nearly 30% of Diffuse Large B‐cell lymphomas express ATM, 55% of Hodgkin’s lymphomas and more than 80% of Primary CNS lymphomas. I also showed there is a correlation of ATM expression and EBV‐driven aggressive lymphomas and that this has a poor prognostic significance. Chapter 5 analysed the results obtained by generating, validating and evaluating data base of DLBCL and PCNSL from a retrospective cohort over a 17‐year period. The results confirmed that prognostic indicators including ATM, S1PR2, Autotaxin and EBV using immuno‐histochemistry techniques help with categorising aggressive lymphomas into different prognostic groups and does influence future management. In summary, my results showed there is a critical place for immuno‐histochemistry techniques in convincingly helping understand the expressions of viral and cellular gene products in aggressive lymphomas and in contributing positively to their management.

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