BJH - volume 7, issue 2, april 2016
V. De Wilde MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD, W. Schroyens MD, PhD, E. Van den Neste MD, PhD, C. Bonnet MD, M. André MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, V. Van Hende MD, A. Van Hoof MD, PhD
Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare form of extranodal B cell lymphoma of the brain, the eyes, the meninges or the spinal cord in the absence of systemic lymphoma. The management of primary central nervous system lymphoma remains controversial, which is related to the rarity of the cases and the small number of controlled studies available. The present consensus report provides the guidelines proposed by the Belgian Hematology Society Lymphoproliferative Working Party for treating immunocompetent adult patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2016;7(2):69–78)
Read moreBJH - volume 7, issue Abstract Book BHS, january 2016
L. Knoops MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, Z. Berneman MD, PhD, D. Selleslag MD, N. Straetmans MD, PhD, L. Noens MD, PhD, P. Lewalle MD, PhD, M. André MD, PhD, D. Pranger MD, P. Zachée MD, PhD, E. Strobbe , L.J. McGarry , T. Devos MD, PhD
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, PhD, 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, M. André MD, PhD, 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, 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, PhD, 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 Abstract Book BHS, january 2015
P. Mineur MD, C. Doyen MD, N. Straetmans MD, PhD, K. Van Eygen MD, D. Pranger MD, A. Bosly MD, PhD, M. André MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, L. Knoops MD, PhD
BJH - volume 5, issue 3, september 2014
E. Mourin MD, A. Van Hoof MD, PhD, A. Bosly MD, PhD, C. Bonnet MD, V. De Wilde MD, PhD, C. Doyen MD, C. Hermans MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, L. Michaux MD, PhD, W. Schroyens MD, PhD, A. Sonet MD, E. Van den Neste MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD, P. Zachée MD, PhD, M. André MD, PhD
Mantle cell lymphoma was recognised in the nineties and is characterised by the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation which results in overexpression of cyclin D1.1 This disease represents approximately 6% of all non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Mantle cell lymphoma generally affects patients over 60 years-old. Most patients have advanced disease (>70 % Ann Arbor stage IV). Several efforts have been made to predict outcome in mantle cell lymphoma. The cell-proliferation marker Ki-67, the Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and minimal residual disease are prognostic tools. For young patients, chemoimmunotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy plus stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice. For the main group of older patients, chemo-immunotherapy followed by maintenance with rituximab is the gold standard. In relapses, temsirolimus is actually registered and new drugs, such as ibrutinib, are currently evaluated with promising preliminary results.2–5
(BELG J HEMATOL 2014;5(3):89–96)
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