Second Neoplasms in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The Role of Race

Oncology Research Unit, Oncology Hospital, National Medical Center, Avenida, Mexico

*Corresponding author: Agustin Aviles Oncology Research Unit, Oncology Hospital, National Medical Center, Avenida Cuauhtemoc 330, Colonia Doctores, Ciudad de, Zip 06620, Mexico, Tel: + 52 5556276959. Email: [email protected]

Received: December 13, 2022 Published: January 18, 2023

Citation: Agustin A. (2023). Second Neoplasms in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The Role of Race. Cases. 2(1):09.

Copyright: Agustin A. © (2023).

ABSTRACT

Aim: Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, (DLBCL) have an increased risk to develop a second neoplasm (SN). Multiple factors have been considered at risk: age, familial history, smoking, use of alkylating agents, or etoposide at increased doses, and especially radiotherapy. Moreover, most of the studies have been performed in USA and Europe countries, with a preponderance of white population. The aim of the study is analyze a large number of patients with DLBCL in a search to define the presence of SN in a Mestizo population. Patients and Methods: Electronic files of patients with pathological confirmed diagnosis of DLBCL, treated in our hospital between August 1988 to December 2020; age> 18 years age treated, with combined chemotherapy that were in complete response for at least 3 years. Probably factors associated were analyzed. Median follow-up were 22.4 (range 3.1 to 31.8) years. Results: A total of 9316 patients were evaluated, only 16 cases (0.16%) developed SN. Neither of previous mentioned risks factors: age, gender, smoking doses of chemotherapeutic drugs, alkylating agents, use of radiotherapy, advance stage, elevated International Prognostic index, history of cancer, not were associated to the development of a SN, only race were different, 98 % of our patients were mestizo race. Until now race has not been considered as a factor to be associated with the development of a SN. Conclusion: The unique differences in large number of cases and longer follow-up, was that the presence of an non-white populations, thus it is appear that in an Mestizo population race could have any protective possibility.

Keywords: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, radiotherapy, second neoplasms, race, and Mestizo race.

INTRODUCTION

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common hematological malignancy (HM) and considered that annually increase the incidence in most parts of the world; in United States, estimated 81560 new cases with 20 720 die secondary to the neoplasm in 2021[1]. Increased worldwide from 1990 to 2019 in both genders and in most geographic regions, as in East Asia.

NHL remains a substantial challenge globally and the incidence rates show marked different variation from country to country [2]. Greater improvement has been observed in the treatment of this neoplasm; based in the best knowledge of biology, identification of prognostic factors and the introduction of new therapeutic approaches. Thus, actually > 60 % of patients may be survivors at > 5-years, but longer survival has been associated with the appearance with later adverse events: cardiac dysfunction, infertility, but the most disturbing late complication is the development of a (SN); that is associated with a poor response to treatment and poor prognosis. Seemingly, the risk remains for many decades after treatment of NHL. These adverse events have been associated to various factors: age at treatment of NHL, familiar history of cancer, type and doses of cytotoxic agents, especially alkylating agents, use of radiotherapy, also other factors has been mentioned; as immunosuppressive status (not specified), family history, use of rituximab, and smoking. Moreover, most have been reported in sites of white populations: Europe and USA [3-10]; and some studies have been reported in East Asia [12-15]; and none in Latin America, or Africa that have a different ethnic population. Thus, we conducted and observational study in a Mestizo population, with homogenous histology and treatments schedules.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From August 1988 to December 2020, patients with DLBCL who were diagnosed and treated in our institution, with at least a 3-years of follow were including according with the following criteria: age > 18 years with no upper limit, no gender differences, previously untreated, negatives for presence of acquired immunodeficiency, hepatitis B and C, treated with combined anthracycline regimen, in complete response were including. The factors that were considered were age, stage, cumulative doses of cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin, use of rituximab and radiotherapy (fields and doses), positive history of familiar cancer and smoking [1-10].

The follow-up of all patients were performed every 3 months, from the first three years, every 6 months to 3 to 5 years, and annually until the last follow-up (December 2020). The patients were evaluated with clinical examination, complete blood counts, serum chemistry, serum determinations of lactic dehydrogenase and beta 2 microglobulin, X ray of thorax, abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, if the patient report any specific sings or alteration in laboratory test, they were conducted for specific studies, to determine relapse, or SN including biopsy of the possible affected anatomic site. If SN was confirmed, they were sending to the Oncology service according to the pathological diagnosis to received specific treatment. If the patient die, autopsy was mandatory to establish the cause of death: secondary to second neoplasm or no cancer cause.

Statistical Analysis

Categorical variables were expressed in terms of quantity (percentage) and were compared using the chi-square test of Fisher exact test. Survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meir method and the differences groups were compared using the Log-siting rank test. Differences between the comparative tests were significant if the two-sided p value was <0.05.

RESULTS

We found 9316 patients that fulfilled the criteria entry. Demographic at diagnosis and at the time of appearance of SN are shown in Table1, that is similar to the population all were in advanced stages (III and IV), no gender differences, 5075 (54.4%) were > 60 years old; 69.1% had higher clinical risks, no history of familiar cancer was documented and 2622 (25.8%) were smokers. They were treated with standard CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (1988-2002); R-CHOP: CHOP + rituximab, 2002-2008) and dosedense CHOP (2008-2017). Radiotherapy was administered to 4025 (40.4%) patients, most 3123 (77.5%) adjuvant treatment in patients with initial bulky disease at diagnosis. The doses ranged between 25 to 36 Gy.

Table 1: Demographics and clinical characteristics

Abbreviations: IPI; International Project Index; CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone, administered every 21 days) CHOP-21 (CHOP administered every 14 days), R-CHOP (rituximab + CHOP) every 21 days); R_CHOP-14 (RCHOP administered every 14 days) ** doses total of 6 cycles.

Table 2 shows the characteristics at the time of diagnosis of second neoplasms. Only 16 patients (0.17%) developed a SN, all were diagnosed in early stage, thus response was better that patients of general population Treatment for second neoplasm was well tolerated and complete response was achieved in 7 cases (49%), at the last follow-up, 6 patients remain in complete response, 10 patients died secondary to tumor progression, at death no dates of DLBCL were observed. As expected, the outcome did not show any statistical differences between patients that developed second neoplasm or not (Table 3).

Table 3: Univariate analysis