Biomedical subjects

Andreas Chott

Publications and source records attributed to Andreas Chott.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Activity of rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin/mitoxantrone, vincristine and prednisone in patients with relapsed MALT lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Various chemotherapeutic agents as well as the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (R) have been tested in patients with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, but no standard chemotherapeutic regimen has emerged so far. Judging from the data obtained in various types of lymphoma, the activity of R appears to be enhanced by combination with chemotherapy. As no data on this topic exist for MALT lymphoma, we have retrospectively analysed our experience with R plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin/mitoxantrone, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP/R-CNOP) in patients with relapsed MALT lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 26 patients were identified, 15 were administered R-CHOP while 11 patients were given R-CNOP due to age >65 years or pre-existing cardiac conditions. Cycles were repeated every 21 days, and restaging was performed after 4 cycles of therapy. In case of complete remission, 2 further cycles were administered for consolidation while patients achieving partial remission or stable disease after restaging were given 4 further courses. RESULTS: A total of 170 cycles were administered to our patients (median 6, range 2-8). Twenty of the 26 patients (77%) achieved a complete remission and 6 (23%) a partial remission. Toxicities were mainly haematological, with WHO grade III/IV leukocytopenia occurring in 5 patients. After a median follow-up of 19 months (range 10-45), all patients are alive: 22 are in ongoing remission, while 4 have relapsed between 12 and 19 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate a high activity of R-CHOP/R-CNOP in relapsing MALT lymphoma irrespective of prior therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2007

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the adenoids.

Extramedullary plasmacytomas are extremely rarely diagnosed in children. We report two cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma detected coincidentally in the adenoidectomy specimens of children younger than 4 years. We show that these children are disease-free after local excision as the only treatment. Surgical treatment without anti-neoplastic therapy in pediatric plasma cell dyscrasias of the pharyngeal lymphoid tissue may be a sufficient curative therapy.

Adenoidectomy↗

PubMed2006

Reverse transcription-PCR for t(11;18)(q21;q21) staging and monitoring in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Subclinical dissemination as well as persistence after therapy may be difficult to assess on clinical and histologic examinations in patients with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. We have analyzed the use of reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for the detection of t(11;18)(q21;q21) in histologically infiltrated and normal biopsies at diagnosis and during follow-up to determine its clinical and prognostic effect. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Twenty-one patients with t(11;18)(q21;q21)+ MALT lymphoma were included in this retrospective study. Presence of t(11;18)(q21;q21) was determined by RT-PCR done on 316 biopsies of various tissues obtained during staging and follow-up. RESULTS: Infiltration with lymphoma was histologically detected in 67 of 316 biopsies, whereas molecular infiltration was established in 104 of 316 biopsies. All histologically positive specimens were also positive in RT-PCR. There was a good concordance (P = 0.0001) between histology and RT-PCR at the time of disease presentation with only one further infiltration site identified by RT-PCR. In 8 of 12 patients with persistent lymphoma, RT-PCR revealed tumor infiltration in histologically unsuspected sites. Eight of nine treated patients with histologic and clinical complete remission (CR) remained RT-PCR positive. CR on RT-PCR was achieved later than histologic CR (between 13-59 months) without any further therapy in five of these eight patients; only one patient with persistent t(11;18)(q21;q21) relapsed histologically. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the potential of RT-PCR for t(11;18)(q21;q21) done on routine paraffin-embedded specimens to identify disseminated disease in tissues otherwise not diagnostic of MALT lymphoma involvement. T(11;18)(q21;q21) persistence in patients with clinical and histologic CR does not necessarily require therapeutic intervention.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

CD56-positive haematological neoplasms of the skin: a multicentre study of the Cutaneous Lymphoma Project Group of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous lymphomas expressing CD56, a neural cell adhesion molecule, are characterised in most cases by a highly aggressive clinical course and a poor prognosis. However, prognostic subsets within the CD56+ group have been difficult to identify due to the lack of uniform clinicopathological and immunophenotypical criteria. METHODS: A multicentre study was conducted by the Cutaneous Lymphoma Task Force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer to define prognostic parameters and establish diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for CD56+ haematological neoplasms presenting primarily in the skin. RESULTS: Four different subtypes of lymphoproliferations with CD56 expression were identified: (1) haematodermic neoplasm; (2) skin infiltration as the first manifestation of CD56+ acute myeloid leukaemia; (3) nasal-type extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma; and (4) "classical" cases of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with co-expression of the CD56 molecule. Patients in the first three groups had a poor outcome (93% died) with a median survival rate of 11 months (95% CI 2-72 months), whereas all patients with CD56+ CTCL were alive at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Results show that CD56+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders, with the exception of CD56+ CTCL have a very poor prognosis. It is therefore clinically important to separate CD56+ CTCL from the remaining CD56+ haematological disorders.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Assessment of disease dissemination in gastric compared with extragastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma using extensive staging: a single-center experience.

PURPOSE: Molecular data and preliminary clinical findings have suggested mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma as a multifocal disease in a high percentage of patients. We report our findings with an extensive staging routine applied in patients diagnosed with MALT lymphoma at our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 140 consecutive patients (61 with gastric and 79 with extragastric MALT lymphoma) underwent staging according to a standardized protocol. Staging included gastroscopy with multiple biopsies, endosonography of the upper GI tract, computed tomography of thorax and abdomen, lymph node sonography, colonoscopy with multiple biopsies, otorhinolaryngologic assessment, magnetic resonance imaging of salivary and lacrimal glands, and bone marrow biopsy. All lesions suggestive of lymphoma involvement were subjected to biopsy, if accessible, and biopsies were evaluated for MALT lymphoma-specific genetic aberrations by means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and/or fluorescent in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Fifteen (25%) of 61 patients with gastric MALT lymphoma had multiorgan involvement, with dissemination beyond the GI tract in six patients. By contrast, significantly more patients with extragastric MALT lymphoma had dissemination to another MALT organ (37 of 79 patients, 46%; P = .045). Nine of these 37 patients had dissemination to the stomach. Only three (2%) of 140 patients had bone marrow involvement. Multifocality was significantly associated with t(11;18)(q21;q21) in gastric lymphomas (P = .045) and with trisomy 18 in extragastric lymphomas (P = .011). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that MALT lymphoma frequently presents as a multifocal disease. Extragastric MALT lymphomas are significantly more prone to dissemination than gastric MALT lymphomas.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Antibiotic treatment is not effective in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori suffering from extragastric MALT lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Apart from anecdotal reports implicating Helicobacter pylori (HP) in the development of extragastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, no large scale prospective studies have been performed on this topic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 77 patients with extragastric MALT lymphoma were prospectively studied. The presence or absence of HP was tested by histology, urease breath test, and serology. Patients were also tested for hepatitis A, B, and C and autoimmune conditions along with assessment of MALT lymphoma-specific genetic changes. RESULTS: Evidence for infection with HP was present in 35 of 77 patients (45%), and three of 75 patients tested (4%) were positive for hepatitis C and one for hepatitis B. All patients with HP-infection underwent eradication, 16 before initiation of further therapy. Apart from one patient with lymphoma involving parotid and colon, who achieved regression of the colonic lesions, none of these 16 patients showed regression of the lymphoma after a median follow-up of 14 months (range, 8 to 48+ months) before initiation of definitive treatment. No correlation between HP-status, localization, stage, autoimmune diseases, and genetic findings was seen. CONCLUSION: In our series, HP-eradication was ineffective for treatment of extragastric MALT lymphomas. This finding, along with an infection rate of 45%-as could also be expected in the general Austrian population-suggests that HP does not play a role in the development of these lymphomas. Antibiotic treatment targeting HP should, therefore, be discouraged in patients with extragastric MALT lymphomas.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Molecular cytogenetic evidence of t(14;18)(IGH;BCL2) in a substantial proportion of primary cutaneous follicle center lymphomas.

In contrast to nodal follicular lymphoma, limited data exist on genetic changes in primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma (primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma according to WHO-EORTC). The detection rate of the BCL2 rearrangement, representing the characteristic t(14;18)(q32;q21) underlying follicular lymphoma, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been reported to vary over a wide range (0%-41%), and only a few cases have been studied by molecular cytogenetic techniques such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In this study, 27 primary cutaneous follicle center lymphomas were analyzed by FISH and the results compared with those obtained by PCR. FISH demonstrated translocations affecting the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IGH) in 14 of 27 cases (52%): a t(14;18)(q32;q21) involving BCL2 was found in 11 cases (41%), a t(3;14)(q27;q32) affecting BCL6 in 2 cases (7%), and in 1 case the partner gene of IGH could not be identified. Interestingly, PCR did not detect BCL2 rearrangement in any case. These data suggest that the t(14;18)(q32;q21) frequently occurs in primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma. The reason(s) why BCL2 rearrangements escape the detection by PCR is (are) not clear but could be due to BCL2 mutations, breakpoints outside the amplified DNA, or a high load of somatic mutations.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Marginal zone lymphoma of the lacrimal gland spreading to the lung and the bone marrow 11 years after first symptoms.

We report on the case of a 52-year-old male presenting with an extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa-associated tissue (MALT lymphoma) in the lung 11 years after radiotherapy for a MALT lymphoma of the lacrimal gland, which was primarily diagnosed as dacryoadenitis. Both tumors were investigated by immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques demonstrating their clonal genetic relationship. Both harbored the t(14;18)(q32;q21) and a trisomy 3 and showed identical immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangements. At the time of pulmonary relapse, clonal CD20- and CD43-positive bone marrow B lymphocytes were detected as well. The elaboration of this case emphasizes the importance of the combined use of modern diagnostic methods for establishment of correct diagnosis of MALT lymphomas at late relapses, which is essential for proper patient management.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Interaction between synovial inflammatory tissue and bone marrow in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) leads to destruction of cartilage and bone. Whether rheumatoid arthritis also affects the adjacent bone marrow is less clear. In this study, we investigated subcortical bone marrow changes in joints from patients with RA. We describe penetration of the cortical barrier by synovial inflammatory tissue, invasion into the bone marrow cavity and formation of mononuclear cell aggregates with B cells as the predominant cell phenotype. B cells expressed common B cell markers, such as CD20, CD45RA, and CD79a, and were mature B cells, as indicated by CD27 expression. Plasma cells were also present and were enriched in the regions between aggregates and inflammatory tissue. Moreover, molecules for B cell chemoattraction, such as BCA-1 and CCL-21, homing, mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 and survival, BAFF, were expressed. Endosteal bone next to subcortical bone marrow aggregates showed an accumulation of osteoblasts and osteoid deposition. In summary, we show that synovial inflammatory tissue can reach the adjacent bone marrow by fully breaking the cortical barrier, which results in formation of B cell-rich aggregates as well as increased formation of new bone. This suggests that bone marrow is an additional compartment in the disease process of RA.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphomas: clinicopathologic features, classification, and prognostic factors in a large series of patients.

In the new World Health Organization/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (WHO/EORTC) classification of cutaneous lymphomas, large B-cell lymphomas (LBCLs) are divided into 3 groups: LBCL, leg-type (LBCLLT); follicle center lymphoma, diffuse type (FCLDT); and LBCL, others (LBCLO). We studied a large number of primary cutaneous LBCLs to test the validity of the classification and to identify prognostic factors for these patients. Ninety-three cases of primary cutaneous LBCL were analyzed for clinicopathologic features, expression of several markers including Bcl-2, Bcl-6, MUM-1, and FOX-P1, in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus, and molecular analyses of IGH gene rearrangement and of Borrelia burgdorferi and human herpesvirus 8 DNA. Patients were classified into the following categories: FCLDT, 44 cases; LBCLLT, 40 cases; and LBCLO, 9 cases. Statistical analyses showed that the LBCLLT and FCLDT groups were clearly distinct in terms of clinicopathologic features and survival. The LBCLO group had features in between those of LBCLLT and FCLDT. Our study shows that accurate morphologic and phenotypic analyses allow us to stratify most patients into the prognostically different categories of LBCLLT and FCLDT. The definition of a third category of LBCLO requires further studies to clarify whether these cases indeed show distinct clinicopathologic features.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

High relapse rate in patients with MALT lymphoma warrants lifelong follow-up.

BACKGROUND: B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is thought to be an indolent disease, with a good prognosis following various forms of treatment. Little, however, is known about the rate and pattern of relapse following successful treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have analyzed time to and pattern of relapse in patients with MALT lymphoma, along with investigation of t(11;18)(q21;q21), t(1;14)(p22;q32), and t(14;18)(q32;q21) involving IGH/MALT1, trisomy 3, and trisomy 18. Eighty-six patients achieving complete remission (CR) after initial therapy with sufficient follow-up data were available. Primary site of disease was the stomach (n = 36), salivary gland (n = 19), ocular adnexa/orbit (n = 12), lung (n = 8), thyroid (n = 5), breast (n = 3), liver (n = 2), and skin (n = 1). RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (37%) relapsed between 14 and 307 months (median 47 months) after initial CR. Ten relapses were local, whereas the remaining patients relapsed in a distant organ. Eight of 36 gastric versus 24 of 50 nongastric MALT lymphomas (P = 0.02) relapsed. Five patients had a second recurrence 26 to 56 months after a second CR. Relapse rates were not related to forms of initial treatment. Chromosomal aberrations were detected in 14 of 28 (50%) relapsing patients, and chromosomal alterations were identical at diagnosis and relapse. No significant association of any of the genetic changes investigated with relapse was found. Interestingly, patients with t(11;18)(q21;q21) had a significantly longer median time to relapse (76 months) than patients without this translocation (29 months; P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In view of the late relapses seen in our series, lifelong observation of all patients treated for MALT lymphoma seems to be required.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Amplification of NOTCH1 and ABL1 gene loci is a frequent aberration in enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma.

We have shown previously that amplification of chromosomal region 9q34 is the most frequent aberration in enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma (ETL). To determine the minimum amplified 9q34 region and identify possible candidate gene(s), we performed a detailed microsatellite screening and quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) on 26 ETL cases. Microsatellite analysis revealed allelic imbalance in both ABL1 and NOTCH1 gene loci (microsatellites D9S290-D9S1847 and D9S158 flanking the former and latter genes, respectively) localized in the band 9q34. The results were confirmed by TaqMan-based QPCR showing amplification of ABL1 and NOTCH1 exons in 50% and 65% of cases, respectively. Amplifications of the NOTCH1 gene were more frequent than of the ABL1 gene; moreover, the analyzed NOTCH1 exon consistently displayed higher levels of amplification than ABL1 coding sequences. From 9q34 known genes, NOTCH1 could thus be the primary target of genomic DNA amplification in ETL.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9↗

PubMed2005

MALT lymphoma with t(14;18)(q32;q21)/IGH-MALT1 is characterized by strong cytoplasmic MALT1 and BCL10 expression.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is specifically associated with t(11;18)(q21;q21), t(1;14)(p22;q32) and t(14;18)(q32;q21). t(11;18)(q21;q21) fuses the N-terminus of the API2 gene to the C-terminus of the MALT1 gene and generates a functional API2-MALT1 product. t(1;14)(p22;q32) and t(14;18)(q32;q21) bring the BCL10 and MALT1 genes respectively to the IGH locus and deregulate their expression. The oncogenic activity of the three chromosomal translocations is linked by the physiological role of BCL10 and MALT1 in antigen receptor-mediated NFkappaB activation. In this study, MALT1 and BCL10 expression was examined in normal lymphoid tissues and 423 cases of MALT lymphoma from eight sites, and their expression was correlated with the above translocations, which were detected by molecular and molecular cytogenetic methods. In normal B-cell follicles, both MALT1 and BCL10 were expressed predominantly in the cytoplasm, high in centroblasts, moderate in centrocytes and weak/negative in mantle zone B-cells. In MALT lymphoma, MALT1 and BCL10 expression varied among cases with different chromosomal translocations. In 9/9 MALT lymphomas with t(14;18)(q32;q21), tumour cells showed strong homogeneous cytoplasmic expression of both MALT1 and BCL10. In 12/12 cases with evidence of t(1;14)(p22;q32) or variants, tumour cells expressed MALT1 weakly in the cytoplasm but BCL10 strongly in the nuclei. In all 67 MALT lymphomas with t(11;18)(q21;q21), tumour cells expressed weak cytoplasmic MALT1 and moderate nuclear BCL10. In MALT lymphomas without the above translocations, both MALT1 and BCL10, in general, were expressed weakly in the cytoplasm. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed a good correlation between MALT1 and BCL10 mRNA expression and underlining genetic changes, with t(14;18)(q32;q21)- and t(1;14)(p22;q32)-positive cases displaying the highest MALT1 and BCL10 mRNA expression respectively. These results show that MALT1 expression pattern is identical to that of BCL10 in normal lymphoid tissues but varies in MALT lymphomas, with high cytoplasmic expression of both MALT1 and BCL10 characterizing those with t(14;18)(q32;q21).

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2005

Very good partial response in a patient with MALT-lymphoma of the lung after treatment with low-dose thalidomide.

Pulmonary MALT lymphoma is a rare disease entity and generally follows an indolent clinical course. Due to scarce information from randomized prospective trials, no standardized therapy protocols exist. Besides irradiation and chemotherapy, novel biological agents such as the anti CD20-antibody rituximab and thalidomide constitute a promising new approach. In this report we demonstrate the case of a 52-year-old male patient with extra-intestinal MALT lymphoma of the lung. After 10 months of treatment with low dose thalidomide (100mg/d), very good partial response of the intrapulmonary lesions was achieved.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

Transformation of MALT lymphoma to pure plasma cell histology following treatment with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab.

Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a relatively common lymphoma arising from marginal-zone B-cells which are closely related to plasma cells. As opposed to the large majority of plasma cells, MALT lymphoma cells express CD20, and the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab has been reported as active treatment in patients with MALT lymphoma. We present a patient with MALT lymphoma involving stomach and lung which transformed to a pure plasma cell tumor after therapy with rituximab. This observation again supports the close association between the cell of origin of MALT lymphoma and plasma cells, suggesting that "plasmacytoma of the GI-tract" as anecdotally reported may in fact be a MALT lymphoma with extreme plasmacytic differentiation. In addition, our findings suggest that MALT lymphomas with plasmacytic differentiation might have a different 18F-FDG uptake as compared to classical MALT lymphoma.

Aged, 80 and over↗

PubMed2005

Genetic aberrations in primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma: a fluorescence in situ hybridization study of 25 cases.

In contrast to nodal large B-cell lymphomas, recurrent chromosomal aberrations have been studied only in a small number of cases of primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PCDLBCL). We investigated 25 PCDLBCLs (classified according to the WHO-EORTC classification into PCDLBCL, leg-type, 8; and PCDLBCL, other, 17), using an interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization technique. All cases were analyzed for chromosomal aberrations commonly observed in nodal large B-cell lymphomas, including structural aberrations of the genes BCL2, BCL6, and c-MYC, and numerical aberrations of the chromosomes/genes 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18q, RB1, and p53. We observed genetic aberrations in 19 (76%) of 25 patients. The most frequent numerical aberrations were gains of chromosome 12 (7 of 25, 28%), 7 (5 of 25, 20%), 3 (5 of 25, 20%), 18q (3 of 25, 12%), 11 (3 of 25, 12%), X (3 of 25, 12%), and losses of chromosome/gene 17/p53 (3 of 25, 12%). BCL2, c-MYC, and BCL6 were rearranged with the IGH gene in 4 (16%), 1 (4%), and none (0%) of 25 cases, respectively. Most aberrations were homogeneously distributed among cases of PCDLBCL, leg-type and of PCDLBCL, other, cases located on the leg or at other body sites, cases with round and cleaved cell morphology, and Bcl-2+ and Bcl-2- cases. These results suggest that PCDLBCLs show similar chromosomal aberrations irrespective of classification, anatomic site, cell morphology, and Bcl-2 expression, and that many similarities between primary cutaneous and nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphomas can be observed.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Effective treatment of indolent non-hodgkin's lymphomas with mitoxantrone, chlorambucil and prednisone.

UNLABELLED: Since indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) represent about 35% of all malignant lymphomas and mainly affect elderly patients, availability of a conventional chemotherapy regimen with high efficacy and low toxicity is of clinical importance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 13 patients with advanced indolent NHL who were treated with 6-9 cycles of MCP: mitoxantrone 8 mg/m2 (days 1 and 2), chlorambucil 3 x 3 mg/m2 (days 1-5) and prednisone 25 mg (days 1-5) every 4 weeks. RESULTS: The overall response was 84% (61% complete response, 23% partial response), 1 patient had stable disease and 1 patient experienced progressive disease. Median time to progression was 37 months (95% CI: 20-53) and the median survival has not yet been reached. The main toxicity (66%) was neutropenia (WHO grade III). There was no hair loss and no cardial or neurologic adverse event. CONCLUSION: In summary, MCP is an effective and well tolerated chemotherapy regimen and is probably an alternative to the more toxic CHOP regimen, especially in older patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Monoclonal immunoglobulin production is a frequent event in patients with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma comprises 7% of all newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and is therefore among the most common lymphoma entities. Monoclonal gammopathy due to production of a monoclonal immunoglobulin by lymphoma cells is a well-known phenomenon associated with various types of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical relevance of paraprotein (PP) production in patients with MALT lymphoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Fifty two patients were prospectively evaluated with regard to differentiation of the MALT lymphoma cells, t(11;18) translocation, monoclonal immunoglobulin production, Helicobacter pylori (HP) status, stage, treatment, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Nineteen of 52 MALT lymphoma patients (36%) had PP (8 IgMkappa, 6 IgGkappa, 4 IgMlambda, and 1 IgAkappa). The histologic feature of plasmacytic differentiation correlated significantly with the production of PP (P = 0.001). No correlation was found between PP and clinical stage, HP status, and t(11;18) status. PP was, however, negatively associated with response to eradication of HP in gastric MALT lymphoma, and PP levels declined significantly in patients responding to chemotherapy or radiation. Importantly, both immunofixation and serum electrophoresis have to be performed to detect low PP levels. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, PP levels may probably be used as a potential prognostic tool for response to HP eradication, and serial measurements may also allow for noninvasive assessment of response to radiation or chemotherapy in patients with MALT lymphoma.

Adult↗