Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Limited Stage High Grade B-Cell Lymphoma with MYC/BCL2 and/or BCL6 Rearrangements: A Single Center Experience
Authors: Lue Jennifer Kimberly , Luttwak Efrat , Caron Philip , Boardman Alexander P. , David Kevin A. , Rivas-Delgado Alfredo , Epstein-Peterson Zachary D. , Falchi Lorenzo , Ghione Paola , Hamlin Paul A. , Horwitz Steven M. , Intlekofer Andrew M. , Johnson William , Kumar Anita , Moskowitz Alison , Noy Ariela , Palomba Maria Lia , Stuver Robert , Torka Pallawi , Vardhana Santosha A , Zelenetz Andrew D. , Zhang Yanming , Galera Pallavi , Dogan Ahmet , Aypar Umut , Salles Gilles 
Published: December 2023

Introduction: High grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC, BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements (HGBCL MYC/BCL2 and/or BCL6-R) is a group of aggressive lymphomas associated with poor outcomes when treated with R-CHOP. Most HGBCL present in advanced stage and have a high risk for CNS relapse. MYC partner (Immunoglobulin (IG) vs. Non-IG) status has been correlated with clinical outcomes. Recent data suggests that MYC/BCL6 translocations may not portend the same inferior outcomes as MYC/BCL2-R and that limited stage HGBCL MYC/BCL2-R may have similar PFS and OS when treated with intensive chemotherapy vs. R-CHOP. In this study, we aimed to build upon the paucity of data available by describing the clinical characteristics of limited stage HGBCL including the risk of CNS relapse, and the role of MYC partner on clinical outcome.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of pts with newly diagnosed HGBCL MYC/BCL2 and/or BCL6-R at MSKCC from 1/2010 to 9/2022. All pts had pathological confirmation conducted at MSKCC. Patient demographics, disease/treatment history, clinical response (CRR and ORR), PFS and OS were extracted from electronic medical record. Stage modified IPI (smIPI) [age&gt;60, elevated LDH, Stage II/IIE, ECOG ≥2] and Stage Adjusted IPI (stIPI) [age &gt;60, elevated LDH, ECOG ≥2] were calculated. PFS and OS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and comparisons were made using log-rank test. Associations between survival outcomes, clinical, and treatment characteristics were evaluated using Cox regression models, from which HRs and corresponding 95% CIs were obtained. FISH for MYC partner was performed on archived tissue.

Results: A total of 188 patients were identified with HGBCL MYC/BCL2 and/or BCL6-R. Nine pts were excluded due to limited information, and 41 pts were identified as having limited stage disease. Median age at diagnosis was 60 years (22-88 years), 63% had Stage II disease, 34% had extranodal involvement of which 50% involved the GI tract, 65% had a smIPI of 0-1, 75% with stIPI of 0-1, and 24% had transformed disease. Regarding rearrangement status, 41% of patients had MYC/BCL2-R 22% were characterized by MYC/BCL6-R and 37% had MYC/BCL2/BCL6-R . The median diagnosis-to-treatment interval was 23 days. First-line treatment included DA-R-EPOCH (76%), R-CHOP (20%), R-CODOX-M-IVAC (2%), and R-GCVP (2%) (median of 6 cycles). Twenty-seven percent received radiation. Thirty-two percent of patients received CNS prophylaxis, with the majority receiving IT-chemotherapy alone (median of 4 doses).

After a median follow-up of 48 months, the median PFS was not reached and median OS was 63 months, respectively (Table 1). The 2-year PFS and OS were 56% and 67%, respectively. The ORR and CRR were both 73%. Fifteen patients had relapse/refractory disease, with the majority being primary refractory (12/15). Seven pts received salvage with ASCT (n=1), CAR T-cell therapy (n=4) or both (n=2). Eleven died due to progressive disease. No CNS relapses occurred. MYC/BCL2-R had inferior outcomes with a median PFS of 17 months (95% CI 6.4-27.6) as compared to MYC/BCL6-R (not reached) (P=0.0079, Fig 1), and there was no additional impact on PFS and OS if MYC/BCL2/BCL6-R was present compared to MYC/BCL2-R alone. In a univariate analysis, elevated LDH (p=0.04), MYC/BCL2 (p=0.009), and stIPI ≥2 (p=0.0025) were associated with inferior PFS as well as OS. On the contrary, extranodal disease, age, ECOG ≥2, smIPI, bulky disease, consolidation with radiation, transformed disease, and intensive chemotherapy (DA-R-EPOCH) did not impact outcome. MYC partner evaluation and copy number analysis (n=31) is in progress.

Conclusions: In our series,pts with limited stage MYC/BCL2-R had poor outcomes while MYC/BCL6-R experienced favorable outcomes. There was no additional prognostic impact when BCL6-R is present with MYC/BCL2-R . This adds to the growing evidence that MYC/BCL6-R is not a poor prognostic factor in HGBCL. Primary refractory disease defines the majority of treatment failures in our study and is associated with dismal outcomes, although our CAR-T cell experience was limited due time period of this study. Despite this, our results emphasize the need for improved treatment strategies for this patient population. Ongoing analysis of MYC partner and copy number analysis may reveal genetic mechanisms driving outcomes. No CNS relapses occurred, suggesting that CNS prophylaxis can be safely omitted for the majority.