Clinical value of ALK and CD30 expression in mature systemic T cell lymphomas: analysis from the Czech Lymphoma Study Group database (NIHIL).

Mature T cell lymphomas (MTCLs) have worse prognosis, and in contrast to B cell lymphomas, there is no universal marker like CD20 with exception of ALK and CD30, which are present in proportion of MTCL only. Up to now, ALK is traditionally associated with good prognosis in ALCLs, and there are some evidences that CD30-positive T cell or B cell lymphomas have better prognosis. In our retrospective, population-based analysis, we analyzed the real clinical value of ALK and CD30 in the most frequent MTCL subtypes.

The interval between progression and therapy initiation is the key prognostic parameter in relapsing diffuse large B cell lymphoma: analysis from the Czech Lymphoma Study Group database (NIHIL).

Relapsing diffuse large B cell lymphomas (rDLBCL) represent a heterogeneous disease. This heterogeneity should be recognized and reflected, because it can deform the interpretation of clinical trial results. DLBCL patients with the first relapse and without CNS involvement were identified in the Czech Lymphoma Study Group (CLSG) database.

The incidence of biopsy-proven transformation in follicular lymphoma in the rituximab era. A retrospective analysis from the Czech Lymphoma Study Group (CLSG) database.

The aim of this study is to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of biopsy-proven transformation in follicular lymphoma (FL) patients in the rituximab era. Transformation was analyzed in 1233 patients with initially diagnosed FL grades 1-3A, identified between 2002 and 2012 in the prospectively maintained Czech Lymphoma Study Group database. Only patients with histologically proven transformation (HT) were included.

Impact of rituximab maintenance and maintenance schedule on prognosis in first-line treatment of follicular lymphoma. Retrospective analysis from Czech Lymphoma Study Group (CLSG) database.

Rituximab maintenance (RM) improves time to progression (PFS) in advanced follicular lymphoma (FL), but the impact of various RM schedules remains unknown. This study performed a retrospective evaluation of RM given for up to 2 years vs observation in 319 untreated FL patients (stage II-IV; grade 1-3A) responding to RCHOP induction and a comparison of two different RM schedules (RM8=eight doses given every 3 months and RM12=12 doses given every 2 months). A total of 183 patients received RM and 136 patients were observed; 5-year PFS was better in the RM arm, 74.

Radiotherapy with rituximab may be better than radiotherapy alone in first-line treatment of early-stage follicular lymphoma: is it time to change the standard strategy?

Early-stage follicular lymphoma (FL) has traditionally been treated with involved-field radiotherapy (RT). Rituximab (R) is a low-toxic, efficient systemic therapy for FL, but there are no data about its clinical impact in early FL. We retrospectively analyzed 93 patients with stage I-II indolent FL treated with RT (n=65) or RT+R (n=14) or R alone (n=14).