Search

Although most small B-cell lymphomas (SBCLs) can be diagnosed using routine methods, challenges exist. For example, marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs) can be difficult to rule-in, in large part because no widely-used, sensitive, and specific biomarker is available for the marginal zone cell of origin. In this study, it was hypothesized that DNA methylation array profiling can assist with the classification of SBCLs, including MZLs. Extramedullary SBCLs, including challenging cases, were reviewed internally for pathology consensus and profiled. By combining the resulting array data set with data sets from other groups, a set of 26 informative probes was selected and used to train machine learning models to classify 4 common SBCLs: chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and MZL. Prediction probability cutoff was used to separate classifiable from unclassifiable cases, and show that the trained model was able to classify 95% of independent test cases (n = 264/279). The concordance between model predictions and pathology diagnoses was 99.6% (n = 262/263) among classifiable test cases. One validation reference test case was reclassified based on model prediction. The model was also used to predict the diagnoses of two challenging SBCLs. Although the differential examined and data on difficult cases are limited, these results support accurate methylation-based classification of SBCLs. Furthermore, high specificities of predictions suggest that methylation signatures can be used to rule-in MZLs.

Lymphomas associated with breast implants are mostly of the T-cell type. They are predominantly anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK-negative ALCL) characterized by CD30 positivity universally. Whilst the majority of primary breast lymphomas occurring in the absence of breast implants are of B-cell origin, there are few cases of implant-associated B-cell lymphomas reported to date in the literature, a subset of which are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Given the rarity of this entity, we describe two cases of breast implant-associated DLBCL. Both patients developed Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-positive large cell lymphoma of B-cell origin confined to the implant capsule with no evidence of systemic lymphoma. Considering the association with EBV, the activated B-cell phenotype and the presumed chronic inflammatory environment associated with the implant capsule, these might represent forms of DLBCL associated with chronic inflammation (DLBCL-CI) or fibrin-associated DLBCL (FA-DLBCL). Treatment included implant removal with total capsulectomy, and for one of the cases adjuvant systemic chemotherapy. Recognizing this rare type of breast implant-associated B-cell lymphoma could improve our understanding of this entity and hence develop appropriate management strategies.

Although most small B-cell lymphomas (SBCLs) can be diagnosed using routine methods, challenges exist. For example, marginal zone lymphomas (MZLs) can be difficult to rule-in, in large part because no widely-used, sensitive, and specific biomarker is available for the marginal zone cell of origin. In this study, it was hypothesized that DNA methylation array profiling can assist with the classification of SBCLs, including MZLs. Extramedullary SBCLs, including challenging cases, were reviewed internally for pathology consensus and profiled. By combining the resulting array data set with data sets from other groups, a set of 26 informative probes was selected and used to train machine learning models to classify 4 common SBCLs: chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and MZL. Prediction probability cutoff was used to separate classifiable from unclassifiable cases, and show that the trained model was able to classify 95% of independent test cases (n = 264/279). The concordance between model predictions and pathology diagnoses was 99.6% (n = 262/263) among classifiable test cases. One validation reference test case was reclassified based on model prediction. The model was also used to predict the diagnoses of two challenging SBCLs. Although the differential examined and data on difficult cases are limited, these results support accurate methylation-based classification of SBCLs. Furthermore, high specificities of predictions suggest that methylation signatures can be used to rule-in MZLs.

Despite continuing improvements in the management of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), relapse remains associated with a risk of lymphoma-related mortality. The biological composition of relapse tumour biopsies shows interpatient variability, which can be leveraged to design prognostic biomarkers. Here, we validated the RHL30 assay, a previously reported gene expression model in an independent cohort of 41 patients with relapsed cHL. Patients classified as high-risk by the RHL30 assay had inferior failure-free survival (FFS) after autologous stem cell transplantation (2-year FFS 41% vs. 92%, P = 0·035). The RHL30 model is a robust biomarker that risk-stratifies patients considered for autologous stem cell transplantation.

The surgical management of phyllodes tumors (PTs) is still controversial. Some studies have suggested surgical margins ≥1 cm, but recent studies suggested that negative margins could be appropriate regardless of their width. To evaluate recurrence rates of PTs following surgery according to margins. Retrospective study of women who attended a tertiary breast cancer reference center between 1998 and 2010: 142 patients with a PT diagnosis, either at minimally invasive breast biopsy or at surgery, were identified. Clinical, pathologic and follow-up characteristics were assessed. Among 140 patients who underwent surgery, 64.3% of biopsies accurately predicted the final PT diagnosis at surgery. Forty-two (42/87, 48.3%) PTs had positive margins. Twenty-one (21/42, 50.0%) patients had a surgical revision of margins. Only one (1/42, 2.4%) had margins greater or equal to 1 cm. After a median follow-up of 1.29 years in benign PTs, 4.99 years in borderline PTs, and 5.42 years in malignant PTs, there were five local recurrences, three in originally benign PTs and two in borderline PTs. All were managed with surgery. Four had initial margins ≤1 mm. One patient with borderline PT had a local recurrence and later progressed to regional recurrence and metastasis. Free surgical margins are necessary to treat PT, and margins of at least 1 mm might be sufficient to prevent recurrence. Core needle biopsy might not be the best diagnostic tool for PTs.

Introduction: Central nervous system (CNS) relapse is a rare phenomenon in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), occurring in less than 5% of all patients, but is associated with disproportionate morbidity and mortality. Indeed, the median survival of patients diagnosed with CNS relapse is as low as 2-4 months. Individual risk factors for CNS relapse are well established, and include clinical parameters such as stage, number/type of extranodal sites and elevated lactate dehydrogenase. These and other clinical risk factors have been integrated into a risk score that is reproducible and easy to calculate (CNS International Prognostic Index). Moreover, molecular attributes such as double-hit translocation status, MYC/BCL2 dual protein expression and the activated B-cell-like subtype have been associated with a higher risk of CNS relapse. However, while experts recommend prophylactic interventions for high-risk patients, the major shortcoming of available risk tools is their limited sensitivity. Herein, we evaluated whether gene expression and/or mutational profiles can identify those patients that will ultimately experience CNS relapse, and whether intratumoral heterogeneity impedes accurate prognostication. Methods: We accrued diagnostic FFPET samples from 230 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients, selected to fall into 3 clinical groups: 1) cases with CNS relapse/CNS involvement at diagnosis (n=58); 2) cases with systemic relapse but without CNS relapse (n=64) and 3) cases without any relapse (n=108). These 230 samples were subjected to microarray-based gene expression profiling and differential gene expression analysis. Pathway analysis was performed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis on ranked gene lists. We assembled a partially overlapping dataset with mutation data of 45 genes in 213 diagnostic samples (n=65 with CNS relapse, 62 with systemic relapse and 86 without relapse). Lastly, we performed exome sequencing in 5 pairs (peripheral and CNS parenchymal tumors) of patients with CNS relapse or CNS involvement at diagnosis, and reconstructed clonal phylogenies using PyClone. Results: Focusing on gene expression data at first, we did not observe significant differential expression between CNS relapse and non-relapse cases at the individual gene level. This was in contrast to the comparison between systemic relapse vs. non-relapse cases where 368 genes were differentially expressed (adjusted P Conclusion: In summary, we have documented that CNS and systemic relapse result from distinct biological processes that, in part, may be associated with the underlying taxonomy of DLBCL. Our findings further show that CNS relapse results from the dissemination of sub-clones that may not be readily sampled at the time of diagnosis, and that intratumoral heterogeneity may limit our ability to predict CNS relapse. Large-scale, integrative analyses and in-depth characterization of clonal trajectories hold the promise to increase our ability to predict dissemination of DLBCL into the CNS. Disclosures Kridel: Gilead Sciences: Research Funding. Villa:Roche, Abbvie, Celgene, Seattle Genetics, Lundbeck, AstraZeneca, Nanostring, Janssen, Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria. Steidl:Nanostring: Patents & Royalties: Filed patent on behalf of BC Cancer; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy; Tioma: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy. Savage:BMS, Merck, Novartis, Verastem, Abbvie, Servier, and Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Scott:Celgene: Consultancy; Roche/Genentech: Research Funding; NanoString: Patents & Royalties: Named inventor on a patent licensed to NanoSting [Institution], Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Background: Trastuzumab is well tolerated without major side effects except for cardiac toxicity. Although a number of clinical parameters have been associated with trastuzumab-associated cardiac toxicity (TACT), there is some indication that genetic variation of the HER2 gene may be associated with TACT in a population of metastatic breast cancer patients. However, this finding needs confirmation and we looked at a population of non-metastatic breast cancer. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the association between cardiac toxicity and HER2 [Ile655Val] polymorphism in non-metastatic breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab. Method: The Ile655Val HER2 polymorphism was assessed in 41 women using TaqMan technology. For this study, the genotyping was performed using DNA extracted from normal breast tissue located at more than 1 cm of any other lesions. Charts review was used to collect information on TACT which was defined as a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥15% or ≥10% with a resulting LVEF < 50% or any follow-up LVEF of < 45%. The Fisher exact test was used to evaluate the association between cardiac toxicity and HER2 polymorphism. Results: No deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium has been observed for the allele and genotype frequencies. The distribution of HER2 polymorphism was 10 Ile/Val (24%) and 31 Ile/Ile (76%). In this population, 22% (9/41) developed a cardiac toxicity. The Val655Ile genotype was associated with cardiac toxicity (0.03). In this preliminary study, 50% (5/10) of Ile/Val carriers compared to 13% (4/31) of Ile/Ile carriers showed TACT. Conclusion: HER2 Ile655Val polymorphism may be an efficient marker of TACT considering this tendency with this small cohort of patients. Larger sample is needed to strengthen this conclusion, since this result may influence on prescribing decision for adjuvant chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy in HER2 positive patients. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-12-12.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening systemic inflammatory clinical syndrome that can be primary/familial or secondary to a variety of underlying conditions. The 2004 diagnostic criteria for HLH require 5 out of 8 of the following clinical and pathological variables to be present: fever, splenomegaly, cytopenia in at least 2 lineages, hypertriglyceridemia/hypofibrinogenemia, haemophagocytosis on pathology examination, low/absent NK cell activity, ferritin greater than 500µg/L or soluble IL-2 receptor (sCD25) greater than 2400 U/mL. At least 5 of these criteria must be met, as each one lacks specificity. With regard to the pathology detection of haemophagocytosis, the sensitivity and specificity reported in the literature were 83% and 60% respectively. Indeed, a degree of haemophagocytosis can be seen outside the context of HLH. Furthermore, some of the diagnostic features of HLH may not be useful when applied to single cases because they may be intrinsic to the underlying condition. Therefore, we wondered whether the histopathological diagnosis might be improved. We investigated whether testing for S100B expression in macrophages might render the detection of haemophagocytosis more specific and sensitive. S100B is a marker of macrophage activation, and can routinely be detected by immunohistochemistry. S100B has pro-inflammatory properties and has been shown to affect macrophage function. It is typically expressed in macrophages of Rosai-Dorfman disease apart of having also a tissue-specific expression pattern, marking melanocytes as well as Langerhans cells and other subsets of dendritic cells. A natural language search of the pathology database at our institution identified 32 patients with bone marrow samples reporting haemophagocytosis as evaluated on bone marrow smear preparations, between January 2002 and July 2015. Cases that did not have available paraffin-embedded bone marrow trephine biopsy and clinical data were excluded. The bone marrow samples of three patients without haemophagocytosis and without any clinical features of HLH were used as controls: a new diagnosis of acute leukemia, a follow-up of acute leukemia post-transplant and a known lymphoma patient with unexplained pancytopenia. Clinical parameters relevant to the diagnosis of HLH were evaluated. Cases were clinically categorized as diagnostic for HLH (≥5 criteria), clinically likely ( The median patient age was 57 years (range 18-80). Underlying clinical diagnoses are reported in Table 1. Expression of S100B ranged from 0-76.4%. Cases without morphological evidence of haemophagocytosis had less than 1% S100B-positive cells. Cases with presence of haemophagocytic cells showed various levels of S100B-positive cells. Of interest, >10% S100B-positive cells (of all cells) was 100% specific for cases meeting ≥4 HLH criteria, 91% specific for cases clinically likely HLH or confirmed HLH. The sensitivity was 60% for cases meeting ≥4 HLH criteria, 52% for cases being likely HLH or confirmed HLH. Percentage of CD68-positive cells or S100B/CD68 ratio did not add relevant information. The high specificity of S100B expression by immunohistochemistry indicates it may be an additional diagnostic feature of HLH. Of note, the test is available in routine immunohistochemistry laboratories. Since not all cases of HLH show increased numbers of S100B-expressing macrophages, the test does not obviate the need for the 2004 criteria. Serological immunoassays for S100B have been developed for use in the context of brain disease/injuries and malignant melanoma. Based on our data, we intend to further investigate the sensitivity and specificity of S100B as a serological marker of HLH. Disclosures Kuruvilla: BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy; Amgen: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Canada: Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation: Research Funding; Lundbeck: Honoraria.

[Figure][1] A 68-year-old woman of Asian descent presented with fatigue and anemia requiring blood transfusion. There was no splenomegaly. The blood work revealed hemoglobin, 59 g/L; mean corpuscular volume, 103 fL; absolute neutrophil count, 2.3 × 109/L; platelets, 238 × 109/L; and

Trastuzumab has no major side-effects except the potential for cardiac toxicity. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the association between trastuzumab-associated cardiac toxicity and two potential risk factors: alcohol intake and HER2 polymorphisms.In a retrospective cohort study of 237 women with non-metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab, traditional risk factors were assessed by review of medical records, alcohol use by an administered questionnaire to women (n=132), and HER2 polymorphisms (Ile655Val and Ala1170Pro) using TaqMan assays (n=73).Association was observed between alcohol intake (10 drinks and more per week) during the trastuzumab treatment and cardiac toxicity (p=0.04). For polymorphisms, compared to Ile/Ile carriers, HER2 Ile/Val was associated with a higher risk of cardiac toxicity (p=0.02).Heavy alcohol use during the course of trastuzumab treatment and the HER2 Ile/Val genotype may constitute risk factors for cardiac toxicity.

634 Background: Trastuzumab is well tolerated without major side effects except for cardiac toxicity. Although a number of clinical parameters have been associated with trastuzumab-associated cardiac toxicity (TACT), there is some indication that genetic variation of the HER2 gene may play a toxic role in a population of metastatic breast cancer patients. However, this finding needs confirmation and we looked at a population of non-metastatic breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the association between cardiac toxicity and HER2 [Ile655Val] polymorphism in non-metastatic breast cancer patients treated with trastuzumab. Methods: The Ile655Val HER2 polymorphism was assessed in 73 women using TaqMan technology. For this study, the genotyping was performed using DNA extracted from normal breast tissue located at more than 1 cm of any other lesions. Charts review was used to collect information on TACT which was defined as any decline in LVEF > 10 % from the baseline to < 55 % or a decline in LVEF > 5 % to < 50 % (lower limit of normal). The Fisher exact test was used to evaluate the association between cardiac toxicity and HER2 polymorphism. Results: No deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium has been observed for the allele and genotype frequencies. The distribution of HER2 polymorphism was 3 Val/Val (4%), 18 Ile/Val (25%) and 52 Ile/Ile (71%). In this population, 19% (14/73) developed a cardiac toxicity. We found that 29% (6/21) of Ile/Val or Val/Val carriers compared to 15% (8/52) of Ile/Ile carriers showed TACT, but this association did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.21). Conclusions: HER2 Ile655Val polymorphism may be an efficient marker of TACT considering this tendency with this small cohort of patients. Larger sample is needed to strengthen this conclusion, since this result may influence on prescribing decision for adjuvant chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy in HER2 positive patients.