Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

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Angiocentric lymphoma
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Extranodal NK-T-cell lymphoma
Other namesAngiocentric lymphoma, Nasal-type NK lymphoma, NK/T-cell lymphoma, Polymorphic/malignant midline reticulosis
Histopathology of extranodal NK-T cell lymphoma, nasal type (H&E stain).[1] These lymphoma cells are typically monotonous, with folded nuclei, indistinct nucleoli and moderate amount of cytoplasm.[2]
SpecialtyHematology and Oncology
CausesEpstein–Barr virus

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTCL-NT) (also termed angiocentric lymphoma, nasal-type NK lymphoma, NK/T-cell lymphoma, polymorphic/malignant midline reticulosis,

necrotic, and extremely disfiguring lesions. However, ENKTCL-NT can also involve the eye, larynx, lung, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and various other tissues.[6] ENKTCL-NT mainly affects adults; it is relatively common in Asia and to lesser extents Mexico, Central America, and South America but is rare in Europe and North America.[7] In Korea, ENKTCL-NT often involves the skin and is reported to be the most common form of cutaneous lymphoma after mycosis fungoides.[8]

ENKTCL-NT is classified as an

NK cells or a T cell variant termed cytotoxic T cells, that are infected with the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Typically, the viral infection, which affects >90% of the world population, occurs years before evidence of ENKTCL-NT, is carried in cells in a latent, asymptomatic form, and for unclear reasons becomes active in causing the disease. Following the virus's activation, the infected cells acquire numerous genetic abnormalities which may play an important role in the development and/or progression of ENKTCL-NT.[10]

Epstein-Barr virus-positive nodal NK/T cell lymphoma (EBV+ nodal NKTCL) was considered to be one form of ENKTCL-NT since it is a malignancy of EBV-infected NK or T cells. However, EBV+ nodal NKTCL is manifested primarily by its involvement in

lymph nodes; it also has clinical, pathological, pathophysiological, and genetic features that differ significantly from those of ENKTCL-NT. The World Health Organization, 2016, therefore reclassified this lymphoma as a variant of a disease to which its features more closely resemble, peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified.[9]

While a rare disease, particularly in North America, ENKTCL-NT has recently gained much interest. Clinical studies have found that newer

chemotherapeutic regimens greatly improved survival in cases of early disease. While, survival in advanced cases is still extremely poor, generally being only a few months,[11] recent studies suggest that new regimens directed at gene mutation and expression abnormalities may improve survival.[11][12]
Further study of these new regimens has important implications not only for ENKTCL-NT but also for other NK/T cell malignancies.

Presentation

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type occurs primarily in Asians and South Americans; it is comparatively uncommon in other areas. Affected patients (median age 50–60 years old; males predominate) most often (~80% of cases) present with nasal bleeding, upper airway obstruction, perforation of the

night sweats, and/or weight loss. Most (70–75%) patients are diagnosed with early stage I or II disease while the rest have far more serious stage III or IV disease. Rarely, patients with stage III or IV disease have evidence of a life-threatening complication, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.[16] Also in rare cases, patients evidence a widespread disease that includes malignant cell infiltrations in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and/or blood. These case are, or may soon progress to, a related but potentially fatal disease, aggressive NK-cell leukemia.[14]

About 45% of patients present with elevated levels of serum

histiocytes in the liver, spleen, bone morrow, and/or other tissues.[17] or aggressive NK-cell leukemia (e.g. decreased circulating red blood cells, leukocytes, and/or platelets, increased circulating large, granule-containing malignant NK cells, and infiltrations of the latter cells in bone marrow and other tissues).[14]

Pathogenesis

Disease location

ENKTCL-NT is a disease of malignant NK or, very much less often,

cytotoxic T cells. Unlike most other lymphomas, which typically develop in and involve lymphatic tissues (particularly lymph nodes and spleen), ENKTCL-NT commonly develops in non-lymphatic tissues. This difference in distribution probably reflects the occupancy of the T cell and B cell precursors to most lymphomas in lymphatic tissues versus the frequent occupancy of the NK and cytotoxic T cells precursors to ENTCL-NT in non-lymphatic tissues.[14]

Genes

ENKTCL-NT is thought to arise from the expression of EBV genes in the infected NK or cytotoxic T cells and the ability of these genes to cause the cells they infect to overexpress and acquire mutations in key genes that regulate cell growth, immortalization, invasiveness, and ability to evade normal control mechanisms, particularly immune surveillance. Since these gene-related abnormalities are multiple and vary between patients, it is not clear which contribute to the development and/or progression of ENKTCL-NT. Clinical studies are therefore examining targeted therapy tactics to determine which gene abnormalities contribute to, and which drugs targeting these abnormalities are useful in treating, ENKTCL-NT.[18]

EBV genes

Infected cells carry ~10 cytosolic EBV

B cell receptor proteins and to activate the NF-κ pathway[11] which when over-activated blocks these cells' apoptosis response and promotes their survival and proliferation; EBER 1 and 2 non-coding RNAs induce infected cells to overexpress the gene that makes the interleukin 10 protein which when overexpressed may promote its parent cells to proliferate and avoid the host's immune system;[9] and certain BART microRNAs may help infected cells avoid attack by the hosts immune system[10] and modify their notch signaling pathway thereby promoting their proliferation.[19] In consequence, the EBV latency II genes force infected cells to become immortal, proliferate excessively, invade tissues, and avoid attack by the hosts' immune system. Due at least in part to these imposed factors, the infected cells may acquire other genetic abnormalities that further promote their malignant behavior.[14][18]

Infected cell genes

The rapidly proliferating and immortalized EBV-infected NK/T cells accumulate numerous changes in the expression or activity of their genes by acquisition of chromosome deletions, gene mutations, and changes in gene expression.[citation needed]

Chromosomes

chromosomes and thereby exhibit chaotic losses or increases in the expression of the genes located on these chromosomes.[12]

Mutated genes

losses
of activity; d) pro-malignant effects on EN/T cells and e) clinical impacts on the course of ENKTCL-NT:

Gene Product Mutation rate Function Mutation type Influence on cell function Clinical impact on ENKTCL-NT
TP53
p53 13–62%
tumor suppressor
gain promotes cell proliferation, survival, migration, invasiveness, and metastasis correlates with advanced stage and poor prognosis[18]
DDX3X DDX3X 12–20% tumor suppressor
loss
lost ability to inhibit proliferation correlates with advanced stage and poor prognosis[18]
STAT3 STAT3 8–26% JAK-STAT signaling pathway component gain promotes cell proliferation and survival unknown[18]
STAT5B STAT5B ~2–6% JAK-STAT signaling pathway component gain promotes cell proliferation and survival unknown[18]
JAK3
JAK3 0–35% JAK-STAT signaling pathway component gain promotes cell proliferation and survival unknown[18]
MGA MAX dimerization protein ~8% tumor suppressor loss unknown unknown[18]
MLL2
MLL2 7–80% histone methyltransferase, tumor suppressor loss reduces cellular differentiation, possibly promoting cell proliferation and survival unknown[18]
BCOR BCL-6 corepressor 21–32% inhibits BCL-5, may regulate apoptosis loss may increase cell survival unknown[18]
ECSIT ECSIT 19% element in TGF-β/BMP/signaling pathways gain activates NF-κB to promote cell survival and prolifaration correlates with advanced stage and poor prognosis[12]
ARID1A ARID1A 4–8% a SWI/SNF protein that regulates expression of other proteins loss unknown unknown[18]
MCL1 MCL1 most cases a SWI/SNF protein that regulates expression of other proteins loss unknown unknown[18]

In the above table, ARID1A protein stands for AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A and ECSIT protein stands for evolutionarily conserved signaling intermediate in Toll pathway; mitochondrial. A gain of function mutation in the ECSIT gene that changes the amino acid at the 140 position in its product protein from

MGAM, CHPF2, (see[20]) and MIR17HG ((see[21]).[18]

Overexpressed genes

ENKTCL-NT malignant cells overexpress

programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), that when up-regulated increases the ability of these cells to avoid attack by the host's immune system.[25]

Signaling pathways

In consequence of, or addition to the cited genetic abnormalities, ENKTCL-NT malignant cells have overly active the; JAK-STAT signaling pathway that in the cancer setting promotes cell proliferation, survival, and other pro-malignant behaviors;[14] platelet-derived growth factor signaling pathway that in the cancer setting promotes cell survival and proliferation; Notch signaling pathway that in the cancer setting promotes cellular differentiation and proliferation; and NF-κB signaling that in the cancer setting promotes cell survival and proliferation. Studies suggest that that overactive VEGF receptor and Protein kinase B signaling pathways may also play a role in the pathogenesis of ENKTCL-NT.[12])

Epigenetic abnormalities

Studies on cultured malignant NK cells and/or patient tissue specimens find that numerous genes are

ASNS) and the MIR146A gene for its miR-146a microRNA product. Studies conducted on the expression of microRNAs in cultured malignant NK cells have also revealed that many are either over- or under-expressed compared to non-malignant cultured NK cells. This dysregulation of these microRNA genes may reflect the action of products expressed by certain EBV genes and/or the overexpression of the infected cells' MYC gene. In all cases, the epigenetic dysregulation of these genes requires further study to determine its significance for the development and progression of ENKTCL-NT.[12]

Histology

On microscopic examination, involved tissues show commonly show areas of

white blood cells, including eosinophils, are also commonly found in these infiltrates.[14]

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of ENKTCL-NT depends on histological findings that biopsied tissue infiltrates contain lymphocytes that express CD3ε, cytotoxic molecules (granzyme B, perforin, TIA1), and EBV.[12] Bone marrow examination is recommended to determine its involvement in this disorder. Whole body PET-CT scans are recommended to determine the extent of disease at presentation as well as to follow the effects of therapeutic interventions. The tumor load of each individual's disease as well as response to therapies has also been estimated by assaying plasma levels of EBV DNA.[14] ENKTCL-NT can be mimicked by two benign diseases which involve the excessive proliferation of non-malignant NK cells in the GI tract viz., Natural killer cell enteropathy, a disease wherein NK cell infiltrative lesions occur in the intestine, colon, stomach, and/or esophagus, and lymphomatoid gastropathy, a disease wherein these cells infiltrative lesions are limited to the stomach.[26] Another lymphoproliferative disorder of the GI tract, indolent T cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract may also mimic ENKTCL-NT. This chronic disorder involves the proliferation of CD+4, CD8+, CD4-/CD8-, or CD4+/CD8+ T cells in the mucosal layers of the GI tract to give a variety of GI tract symptoms. While generally a persistent and benign disorder, a small but significant percentage of cases have progressed to aggressive lymphomas.[27][28]

Course of ENKTCL-NT

The course of the untreated disease is heavily dependent on its clinical stage at diagnosis. Patients presenting with highly localized stage I nasal disease usually have nasal but no other symptoms; these individuals commonly show no progression of their disease over long periods of time. Other patients with limited (i.e. stage I or II) disease involving other sites in the head area are more likely to have a relatively slow progression of their disease while patients with stage III or IV disease have a more rapidly progressive disease with a poor prognosis. Patients presenting with ENKTCL-NT that does not involve the head area typically have a disseminated and aggressively progressive disease with a very poor prognosis.[13] Patients with stage I or II localized disease that have been treated with the recently defined chemotherapeutic protocols have 5 year survivals of ~70–89%[11] while those with advanced stage III or IV disseminated disease treated with these protocols have 5 year survivals of 50%.[25] Patients who relapse or are resistant to these protocols have had overall survivals of just a few months.[11]

Three prognostic models, NK-PI, PINK (i.e. prognostic index of natural killer lymphomas), and PINK-E) for ENKTCL-NT have evolved over the past 12 years. The latest model, PINK-E, which applies to patients treated with recently defined regimens, lists 5 risk factors (age >60, state III or IV disease, no nasal involvement, distant lymph node involvement, and detectable blood levels of EBV DNA) to define patients as low, intermediate, and high risk based on their having 0–1, 2, or 3–5 risk factors, respectively. Overall 3 year survival in these 3 respective groups were 81, 55, and 28%.[25] Patients, particularly those in the advanced poor risk groups may develop hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis or have their disease progress to aggressive NK-cell leukemia. Both conditions are life-threatening and far less responsive to treatment.[14]

Treatment

The treatment of ENKTCL- NT employs

phase 3 clinical trials that examine their effectiveness relative to other regimens. The following regimens are recommended by many studies and the European Society for Medical Oncology Clinical Practice guidelines[16] or National Comprehensive Cancer Network:[30]

Experimental drugs

There are numerous regimens that use non-chemotherapeutic agents to target specific elements known or thought to be involved in the survival of the malignant cells in a significant percentage of ENKTCL-NT cases. The targets should be determined as overexpressed or present in the malignant tissues of each case before treatment.[16] The targets, therapeutic agents, and some phase 1 clinical trials (testing for appropriate dosages, safety, and side effects) and/or phase 2 clinical trials (testing for efficacy and safety) include:

  • PD1:
    programmed cell death 1 receptor on lymphocytes thereby blocking the action of PD-L1 in suppressing the anti-cancer actions of these cells. Seven patients with refractory or relapsed ENKTCL-NT had either complete (5 patients) or partial (2 patients) responses to Pembrolizumab and three patients with relapsed ENKTCL-NT had had either complete (2 patients) or partial (1 patient) responses to Nivolumab.[25] A clinical study sponsored by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City is recruiting individuals to study the effects of Pembrolizumab in patients with early-stage ENKTCL-NT;[31] a phase I/II clinical study sponsored by the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia is recruiting individuals to examine the effects of Pembrolizumab in individuals with relapsed or refractory ENKTCL-NA;[32] and a clinical phase 2 study sponsored by the University of Hong Kong is recruiting individuals to examine the effects of Pembrolizmab on ENKTCL-NT.[33]
  • CD30: The malignant cells in ~40% of ENKTCL-NT cases express the surface membrane protein, CD30. Two case reports have indicated that the CD30-targeted monoclonal antibody, which is conjugated to the cytoxic/antineoplastic agent auristatin E, brentuximab vedotin, was helpful in treating relapsed ENKTCL-NT.[25] A not-yet-recruiting study estimated to be finished by Sept., 2018 examines the effects of brentuxixmab vedotin on EBV-positive, CD30-positive lymphomas.[34]
  • CD38: CD38 is almost always expressed in the malignant cells of ENkTCL-NT. One patient with this disease, after relapsing following each of two chemotherapy courses, had a complete remission when treated with a cytotoxic antibody directed at CD38, Daratumumab.[11] A phase 2 clinical study on the effects of Daratumumab on ENTCL-NT sponsored by Janssen Research & Development, LLC is recruiting patients in China, South Korea, and Taiwan.[35]
  • EBV antigens: EBV-infected cells express the viral LMP1 and LMP2 proteins on their surface membranes and therefore are potential targets for attack by cytotoxic T cells (CTL). Studies have used CTL that have been engineered to attack and kill LMP1 and/or LMP2 expressing cells. Eleven patients with refractory or relapsed ENKTCL-NT were treated with their own CTL that had been engineered to kill LMP1/2-expressing cells. Nine patients had durable (>4 years) remissions, 1 patient had a complete remission which lasted only 9 months, and 2 patients show no response to the treatment. In a second study, 8 patients with localized and two with advanced disease who were in complete remission after chemotherapy (with or without radiation treatment) were given their own CTL that had been engineered to kill LMP1/2-bearing cells. One patient relapsed after 32 months while the remaining 7 patients had progression-free and overall survivals of 100 and 90%, respectively.[25] A phase I clinical trial sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine, the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, and the Methodist Hospital System is recruiting individuals to test the effects of donor CTL engineered to kill cells bearing LMP1/2, ARF, and/or EBNA-1 viral antigens.[36] A phase 2 clinical study sponsored by ViGenCell Inc. is being conducted at the Catholic University of Korea to test the effects of CTL engineered to kill EBV-infected cells on patients that are in complete remission following chemotherapy (±radiation treatment) but at high risk for recurrent disease. Patients will receive the CTL or placebo (i.e. peripheral blood mononuclear cells). The study, which begins recruitment in late Feb., 2019, seeks to determine if the CTL treatment prolongs remissions.[37]
  • Bcl-2 proteins:
    City of Hope Medical Center and the National Cancer Institute to evaluate its effects on refractory and recurrent ENKTCL-NT.[38]

Small molecule inhibitors of

JAK2 (e.g. AZD1480), STAT3 (e.g. WP1066), and DDX3X (e.g. RK-33) are being study in pre-clinical in vitro experiments as potential inhibitors of malignant NK/T cell proliferation and survival. They are in further studies to test them as potential therapeutic agents in ENKTCL-NT patients that have activating mutations or overexpression of the cited targets.[18]

See also

References

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  2. ^ Mario L. Marques-Piubelli, M.D., Carlos A. Torres-Cabala, M.D., Roberto N. Miranda, M.D. "Extranodal NK / T cell lymphoma, nasal type". Pathology Outlines.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Last author update: 5 January 2021. Last staff update: 14 October 2021
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  31. ^ "Pilot Study of Pembrolizumab in Untreated Extranodal, NK/T Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type". 12 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Phase I/II Study of Pembrolizumab in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Extranodal NK/T- Cell Lymphoma (ENKTL), Nasal Type and EBV-associated Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphomas (EBV-DLBCL)". 5 May 2021.
  33. ^ "PD-1 Blockade with Pembrolizumab in Relapsed/Refractory Mature T-cell and NK-cell Lymphomas". 15 April 2019.
  34. ^ "A Phase II Study of Brentuximab Vedotin in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory EBV-and CD30-positive Lymphomas". 31 October 2019.
  35. ^ "An Open Label, Phase 2 Study to Assess the Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Daratumumab in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type". 18 December 2020.
  36. ^ Rouce, Rayne (8 January 2021). "Administration of Most Closely Matched Third Party Rapidly Generated LMP, BARF1 and EBNA1 Specific CytotoxicT-Lymphocytes to Patients With EBV-Positive Lymphoma and Other EBV-Positive Malignancies".
  37. ^ "A Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Postremission Therapy Using VT-EBV-N in EBV Positive Extranodal NK/T Cell Lymphoma Patients". 5 November 2019.
  38. ^ "A Phase 2 Study of Venetoclax and Romidepsin with Safety Lead-In for Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Mature T-Cell Lymphomas". 7 April 2021.

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