BJH - volume 6, issue 5, december 2015
V. Vergote MD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, E. Van den Neste MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, E. Mourin MD, M. André MD, A. Van Hoof MD, PhD
Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma characterised by a t(11;14) translocation resulting in overexpression of cyclin D1 and cell cycle dysregulation. Mantle cell lymphoma represents approximately 7–9% of all lymphomas in Europe.1 Although new treatment regimens have improved the outcomes over the last decades, mantle cell lymphoma is still considered one of the worst prognosis B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with a median overall survival of less than five years.2 In September 2014 the Belgian Hematological Society recommendations for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma were published.3 Since then, novel therapies such as ibrutinib and bortezomib have been approved by the European Medicines Agency in the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma. We present the new updated recommendations of the Belgian Hematological Society Lymphoproliferative Working Party. For young patients, the first line therapy remains an AraC-containing chemo-immunotherapy followed by high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. For the main group of elderly patients, chemo-immunotherapy followed by maintenance with rituximab appears to be the gold standard. In relapse we can recommend treatment with BTK-inhibitor ibrutinib as first choice. Temsirolimus is reimbursed as third line treatment. Relapse patients should also be considered for allogeneic stem cell transplantation if eligible.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2015;6(5):203–8)
Read moreBJH - volume 6, issue 4, october 2015
V. Van Hende MD, D. Bron MD, PhD, E. Van den Neste MD, PhD, C. Bonnet MD, PhD, M. André MD, A. Van Hoof MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, T. Tousseyn MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, V. De Wilde MD, PhD, K.L. Wu MD, PhD, P. Heimann MD, PhD
Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia is a B-cell disorder characterised by bone marrow infiltration with lymphoplasmacytic cells, along with demonstration of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy in the blood. This condition belongs to the lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas as defined by the World Health Organization classification (ICD-0 code 9671/3). Approximately one-fourth of patients are asymptomatic. Clinical features of the symptomatic patients are diverse and may relate to overall disease burden (such as peripheral blood cytopaenias, organomegaly and constitutional symptoms) or may be directly attributable to the IgM paraprotein. The latter include hyperviscosity syndrome, amyloidosis, peripheral neuropathy and cold haemagglutinin. Therapeutic options have traditionally involved alkylating agents, nucleoside analogues, and rituximab, either as single therapy or in combination. However, emerging new data on combination therapy as well as novel agents have shown encouraging results. This report provides the Belgian Hematology Society guidelines according to recent clinical studies.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2015;6(4):142–50)
Read moreBJH - volume 6, issue 2, may 2015
C. Bonnet MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, K.L. Wu MD, PhD, W. Schroyens MD, PhD, V. Van Hende MD, P. Heimann MD, PhD, T. Tousseyn MD, PhD, M. André MD, D. Bron MD, PhD, A. Van Hoof MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, B. De Prijck MD, Y. Beguin MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD
Burkitt’s lymphoma is a rare but very aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma characterised by an isolated translocation t(8;14)(q24;q32). The sporadic form is the sub-entity most frequently encountered in Belgium. Diagnosis and initial work-up must be completed rapidly to start treatment as soon as possible. Positron emission tomography scan is useful for initial staging and to evaluate the chemosensitivity of the tumour during and after treatment. After debulking, it is recommended to add rituximab to chemotherapy. Currently intensive short-cycle and low intensity chemotherapies are two valuable options. Radiotherapy is not indicated except in case of central nervous system involvement. Patients achieving complete remission must be followed carefully during the first year to detect recurrence of the disease. More than 80% of patients sustain their remission one year following initial treatment and are considered cured. For patients in partial remission or with chemosensitive relapse, autologous stem cell transplantation is recommended following re-induction with non-cross-resistant polychemotherapy. Monitoring complete blood counts and cognitive functions is important to detect late toxicity of the applied therapies.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2015;6(2):61–9)
Read moreBJH - volume 6, issue 1, march 2015
F. S. Benghiat MD, PhD, Y. Beguin MD, PhD, B. Dessars MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, P. Lewalle MD, PhD, P. Mineur MD, N. Straetmans MD, PhD, K. Van Eygen MD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, L. Knoops MD, PhD
Imatinib has drastically changed the outcome of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia, with the majority of them showing a normal life span. Recently, the development of second and third generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the possibility of treatment discontinuation made the management of these patients more challenging. In this review, practical management guidelines of chronic myeloid leukaemia are presented adapted to the Belgian situation in 2014. In first line chronic phase patients, imatinib, nilotinib and dasatinib can be prescribed. While second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors give faster and deeper responses, their impact on long-term survival remain to be determined. The choice of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor depends on chronic myeloid leukaemia risk score, priority for a deep response to allow a treatment-free remission protocol, age, presence of comorbid conditions, side effect profile, drug interactions, compliance concerns and price. Monitoring the response has to be done according the 2013 European LeukemiaNet criteria, and is based on the bone-marrow cytogenetic response during the first months and on the blood molecular response. Molecular follow-up is sufficient in patients with a complete cytogenetic response. For patients who fail frontline therapy, nilotinib, dasatinib, bosutinib and ponatinib are an option depending on the type of intolerance or resistance. T315I patients are only sensitive to ponatinib, which has to be carefully handled due to cardiovascular toxicity. Advanced phase diseases are more difficult to handle, with treatments including allogeneic stem cell transplantation, which is also an option for patients failing at least two tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The possibility of treatment-free remission and pregnancy are also discussed.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2015;6(1): 16–32)
Read moreBJH - volume 6, issue Abstract Book BHS, january 2015
D. Dierickx MD, PhD, K. Saevels MD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD
BJH - volume 6, issue Abstract Book BHS, january 2015
D. Dierickx MD, PhD, D. Gullentops , G. Verhoef MD, PhD, S. Vanderschueren MD, PhD, T. Tousseyn MD, PhD, O. Gheyssens , M. Delforge MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD
BJH - volume 6, issue Abstract Book BHS, january 2015
D. Dierickx MD, PhD, A. van Mellaert , L. Smets , G. Verhoef MD, PhD, P. Clement MD, PhD, P. Demaerel , T. Tousseyn MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD
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