Rituximab Plus Dose Intense Rapid-Cycling Chemotherapy with Intrathecal CNS Prophylaxis in Patients with Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) and Intermediate Unclassifiable Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma/BL: Single Institution Experience
Authors: Frairia Chiara , Ciochetto Chiara , Audisio Ernesta , Benevolo Giulia , Botto Barbara , Chiappella Annalisa , Nicolosi Maura , Orsucci Lorella , Pecoraro Clara , Pregno Patrizia , Marmont Filippo , Vitolo Umberto 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Abstract 1631
Introduction. Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) and the novel category of B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between BL and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (intermediate DLBCL/BL) listed in the 2008 WHO classification, are mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. They were characterized by a high degree of proliferation with an aggressive clinical course. With the introduction of dose intense, rapid-cycling chemotherapy (Magrath 1996), mainly when supplemented with Rituximab, the prognosis of BL was improved. Conversely, the issue of intermediate DLBCL/BL treatment is still a matter of debate. On this basis, we conducted a retrospective analysis to investigate the outcome of adult patients with BL and intermediate DLBCL/BL treated in a single hematological center. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 23 adult patients divided in two groups according to histological diagnosis treated with Rituximab plus dose intense rapid-cycling chemotherapy with intrathecal CNS prophylaxis. Group 1: 18 adult BL patients, including three with a diagnosis of L3 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, treated according to CODOX-M/IVAC regimen including Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Methotrexate, Ifosfamide, Etoposide and high dose Cytarabine in association with Rituximab and intrathecal liposomal Cytarabine (R-CODOX-M/IVAC). Group 2: five intermediate DLBCL/BL, treated with Rituximab intensified CHOP with intrathecal Methotrexate followed by high dose Cytarabine and Mitoxantrone and high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (R-HDC plus ASCT) or with R-CODOX-M/IVAC. Results. Group 1 included 18 patients with a median age of 45 years (range 29–74), stage IV in 14 cases (78%), performance status (PS) 2 in 14 (78%), LDH upper normal value in 13 (72%), bone marrow involvement in eight (44%), B symptoms in eight (44%) and liquor positivity at citoflussimetry in one (5%). Between 2006 and 2011 all 18 patients were treated according to R-CODOX-M/IVAC. Group 2 included five patients with median age of 47 years (range 32–58), stage IV in four patients (80%), PS 2 in all patients, LDH upper normal value in four (80%) bone marrow involvement in three (60%), B symptoms in three (60%) and liquor positivity at citoflussimetry in two (50%). Between 2008 and 2011 two patients were treated with R-HDC plus ASCT while the other three patients were treated with R-CODOX-M/IVAC regimen. All 18 BL patients of group 1 were evaluable for response: 15 patients were in persistent complete remission (CR) and three died of progressive disease. With a median follow-up of 70.3 months, progression free survival and overall survival were 76.5% and 80.3%, respectively. Therapy was well tolerated, with no significant acute and late treatment related toxicities and no toxic deaths. In group 2 the two patients treated with R-HDC plus ASCT died of progressive disease; of the three patients treated with R-CODOX-M/IVAC regimen, one died of early relapse disease occurred three months after achieving CR and two are still on therapy. Conclusions. Our data suggest that in BL R-CODOX-M/IVAC is a safe and highly effective therapeutic regimen providing a high rate of persistent CR. Within the limits of a small sample size, in our experience, patients with intermediate DLBCL/BL have a clinical aggressive disease with a poor prognosis regardless of the type of treatment. Additional and larger studies are warranted to clarify the behavior of this new histological entity and develop novel and efficacy therapeutic approaches.

Disclosures:
Vitolo: Roche Italy: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Jannsen-Cilag: Speakers Bureau.