NCCN: Continuing Education
Target Audience: This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who manage patients with cancer.
Accreditation Statements
In support of improving patient care, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Medicine (ACCME): NCCN designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nursing (ANCC): NCCN designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 contact hour.
Pharmacy (ACPE): NCCN designates this knowledge-based continuing education activity for 1.0 contact hour (0.1 CEUs) of continuing education credit. UAN: 0836-0000-19-004-H01-P
All clinicians completing this activity will be issued a certificate of participation. To participate in this journal CE activity: (1) review the educational content; (2) take the posttest with a 66% minimum passing score and complete the evaluation at https://education.nccn.org/node/84832; and (3) view/print certificate.
Pharmacists: You must complete the posttest and evaluation within 30 days of the activity. Continuing pharmacy education credit is reported to the CPE Monitor once you have completed the posttest and evaluation and claimed your credits. Before completing these requirements, be sure your NCCN profile has been updated with your NAPB e-profile ID and date of birth. Your credit cannot be reported without this information. If you have any questions, please e-mail education@nccn.org.
Release date: January 10, 2019; Expiration date: January 10, 2020
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
Integrate into professional practice the updates to the NCCN Guidelines for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
Describe the rationale behind the decision-making process for developing the NCCN Guidelines for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
The NCCN staff listed below discloses no relevant financial relationships:
Kerrin M. Rosenthal, MA; Kimberly Callan, MS; Genevieve Emberger Hartzman, MA; Erin Hesler; Kristina M. Gregory, RN, MSN, OCN; Rashmi Kumar, PhD; Karen Kanefield; and Kathy Smith.
Individuals Who Provided Content Development and/or Authorship Assistance:
William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, Panel Chair, has disclosed that he receives grant/research support from AbbVie, Inc.; Acerta Pharma, LLC; Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Intrexon Corporation; Juno Therapeutics, Inc.; Kite Pharma, Inc.; Oncternal Therapeutics; Precigen, Inc.; Xencor, Inc.; Pharmacyclics, Inc.; Roche Laboratories, Inc.; and Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He also receives consulting fees/honoraria from sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC.
John C. Byrd, MD, Panel Vice Chair, has disclosed that he has no relevant financial relationships.
Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, Panel Member, has disclosed that she receives grant/research support from Gilead Sciences, Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Verastem Oncology, and Loxo Oncology; and that she serves on the data safety monitoring committee for Invectys. She also receives consulting fees/honoraria from AbbVie, Inc.; Acerta Pharma, LLC; BeiGene; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Juno Therapeutics, Inc.; Celgene Corporation; Kite Pharma, Inc.; Morphosys; Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, TG Therapeutics, Inc.; and Verastem Oncology.
Sami Malek, MD, Panel Member, has disclosed that he has equity interest/stock options in AbbVie, Inc., Gilead Sciences, Inc., and Portola Pharmaceuticals; and that he receives grant/research support from Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, LP, and Pharmacyclics, Inc.
Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, Panel Member, has disclosed that he receives grant/research support from AbbVie, Inc.; Acerta Pharma, LLC; BeiGene; Celgene Corporation; Emergent BioSolutions Inc.; Genentech, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Merck & Co., Inc.; Mustang Bio, Inc.; TG Therapeutics, Inc.; and Pharmacyclics, Inc. He also serves as a scientific advisor for AbbVie, Inc.; Genentech, Inc.; ADC Therapeutics; Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.; Sound Biologics; and Verastem Oncology.
Deborah Stephens, DO, Panel Member, has disclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships.
Mary A. Dwyer, MS, CGC, Senior Manager, Guidelines, NCCN, has disclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships.
Hema Sundar, PhD, Oncology Scientist/Senior Medical Writer, NCCN, has disclosed that she has no relevant financial relationships.
This activity is supported by educational grants from AstraZeneca, Celgene Corporation, Clovis Oncology, Eisai, Genentech, Genomic Health, Inc., Novartis, Taiho Oncology, Inc., and TESARO. This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from AbbVie. This activity is supported by educational funding provided by Amgen. This activity is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead Sciences, Medical Affairs.
Histologic Transformation (Richter's) and Progression
Overview
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) constitutes approximately 7% of newly diagnosed cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.1 CLL remains the most prevalent adult leukemia in Western countries. In 2018, an estimated 20,940 people were diagnosed with CLL and an estimated 4,510 people died of the disease in the United States.2 CLL is generally characterized by an indolent disease course. Histologic transformation (also known as Richter's transformation) to more aggressive lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), occurs in approximately 2% to 10% of patients during the course of their disease and treatment.3–5 Unlike CLL, clinical outcomes in patients with histologic transformation are exceedingly poor, with a pattern of no to minimal response to chemoimmunotherapy regimens and a median survival of 5 to 8 months.6
NCCN CATEGORIES OF EVIDENCE AND CONSENSUS
Category 1: Based upon high-level evidence, there is uniform NCCN consensus that the intervention is appropriate.
Category 2A: Based upon lower-level evidence, there is uniform NCCN consensus that the intervention is appropriate.
Category 2B: Based upon lower-level evidence, there is NCCN consensus that the intervention is appropriate.
Category 3: Based upon any level of evidence, there is major NCCN disagreement that the intervention is appropriate.
All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise noted.
Clinical trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any patient with cancer is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
NCCN GUIDELINES INSIGHTS: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Version 2.2019
Version 2.2019 © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2019. All rights reserved. The NCCN Guidelines® and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN®.
Citation: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network J Natl Compr Canc Netw 17, 1; 10.6004/jnccn.2019.0002
The exact mechanism of Richter's transformation is not well understood; however, it has been associated with molecular characteristics of the patients' CLL and their prior CLL-directed therapies. Molecular characteristics that have been associated with risk of developing Richter's transformation and that may be linked to the pathogenesis of the disease include7–14:
Unmutated immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable (IGHV) status
Stereotyped B-cell receptor subset 8 combined with VH4-39 use
Cytogenetic abnormalities detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization, such as del(17p) and complex karyotype (≥3 clonal chromosome abnormalities)
Genetic abnormalities, such as NOTCH1 mutation, C-MYC activation, and inactivation of TP53 or CDKN2A/B
However, none of these markers is sufficiently predictive to allow for individualized risk prediction.
Incidence of Richter's transformation increases with the number of prior chemoimmunotherapy regimens, and the rate is higher in patients treated with a combination of purine nucleoside analogs and alkylating agents.9 Richter's transformation has also been reported after treatment with the novel agents ibrutinib and venetoclax.15–17 Unlike progressive CLL, Richter's transformation developing after treatment with ibrutinib lacked
NCCN GUIDELINES INSIGHTS: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Version 2.2019
Version 2.2019 © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2019. All rights reserved. The NCCN Guidelines® and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN®.
Citation: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network J Natl Compr Canc Netw 17, 1; 10.6004/jnccn.2019.0002
CLL with expanded proliferation centers (accelerated CLL) may be diagnosed when proliferation centers in CLL are expanded or fuse together and show a high Ki-67 proliferative rate (>40%). Progression to CLL with increased prolymphocytes (CLL-PLL) may occur when there are increased prolymphocytes in the blood (>10% to <55%). Neither of these findings are considered to be Richter's transformation, but rather progression of CLL, associated with a more aggressive disease course.18
Diagnosis and Workup
The diagnosis of Richter's transformation should be confirmed by excisional lymph node biopsy (if lymph node is accessible). Core needle biopsy is acceptable, when excisional or incisional lymph node biopsy is not feasible (see HT-1, opposite page).
The workup of patients with Richter's transformation or progression is similar to that of patients with CLL/SLL and should include history and physical examination with attention to node-bearing areas, including Waldeyer ring, and the size of liver and spleen; whole-body PET/CT scan; or chest/abdominal/pelvic CT with contrast of diagnostic quality. PET/CT scans are recommended to identify the optimal site for nodal biopsy, and biopsies should be directed to lesions with the highest FDG uptake on PET scans (see HT-2, on this page).19–22 A maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) ≥10 on PET scan has been shown to be a valid marker to distinguish Richter's transformation from CLL among patients not treated with kinase inhibitor therapy.23 However, PET SUVmax ≥10 alone lacks both sensitivity and specificity to distinguish Richter's transformation from CLL in patients who develop Richter's transformation while on ibrutinib.24 Tissue biopsy is required for the definitive diagnosis of Richter's transformation. PET alone is insufficient.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been reported in 16% of patients with Richter's transformation and is associated with a poor outcome.25 EBV infection can produce Reed-Sternberg (RS)–like proliferations, and presence of morphologic RS cells in a CLL background should not be considered as Richter's transformation. However, RS-like
NCCN GUIDELINES INSIGHTS: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Version 2.2019
Version 2.2019 © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2019. All rights reserved. The NCCN Guidelines® and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN®.
Citation: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network J Natl Compr Canc Netw 17, 1; 10.6004/jnccn.2019.0002
DLBCL arising from CLL can either be clonally unrelated (21%) or clonally related (79%) to CLL.8 Richter's transformation to clonally unrelated DLBCL is characterized by a significantly lower prevalence of TP53 mutations/deletions and a significantly longer median survival than clonally related DLBCL (62 vs 14 months).8 Most patients with Richter's transformation to clonally related DLBCL carry unmutated IGHV.27 Molecular analysis is useful to establish the clonal relationship between baseline CLL tumor cells and histologically transformed tumor cells (see HT-1, page 14). IGHV gene sequencing or clonal IGHV rearrangements can be used to establish the clonal relationship between CLL and histologically transformed tumor cells.8,27
Treatment
Richter's Transformation to DLBCL
Richter's transformation to clonally unrelated DLBCL should be managed similar to de novo DLBCL, as outlined in the NCCN Guidelines for B-Cell Lymphomas (available at NCCN.org).
For Richter's transformation to clonally related (or unknown clonal status) DLBCL, enrollment in a clinical trial is the preferred initial treatment option (see HT-3, above). In the absence of a suitable clinical trial, chemoimmunotherapy regimens recommended for DLBCL can be used; however, these regimens typically result in poor responses.6 Elevated platelet counts, higher hemoglobin levels, lower beta-2-microglobulin levels and lower lactate dehydrogenase levels have been identified as independent predictors of higher response rates to chemoimmunotherapy.6 However, the use of these prognostic variables for selection of therapy for Richter's transformation has not yet been established. Evidence (mostly from single-arm phase I/II studies) to support the use of chemoimmunotherapy regimens for DLBCL arising from CLL are discussed further and are also summarized in Table 1.
In a phase II trial conducted by the German CLL Study Group that included 15 patients with Richter's transformation, R-CHOP (rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone), resulted in an overall response rate (ORR) of 67% (7% complete response
NCCN GUIDELINES INSIGHTS: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma, Version 2.2019
Version 2.2019 © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2019. All rights reserved. The NCCN Guidelines® and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN®.
Citation: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network J Natl Compr Canc Netw 17, 1; 10.6004/jnccn.2019.0002
In a single-institution retrospective cohort study of 46 patients with Richter's transformation treated with R-EPOCH (rituximab/etoposide/prednisone/vincristine/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin), the ORR was 39% (17 of the 44 patients evaluable for treatment response).29 After a median follow-up of 39 months, median PFS and OS were 4 and 6 months, respectively. Complex karyotype was associated with significantly shorter PFS and OS. The estimated 1-year OS rate was 71% for patients without a complex karyotype.
The modified R-hyperCVAD regimen (rituximab/cyclophosphamide/vincristine/liposomal daunorubicin/dexamethasone alternating with methotrexate + cytarabine) with growth factor support was also active in patients with Richter's transformation (n=30), resulting in an ORR of 43% (27% CR), and the 1-year OS rate was 28%.30 However, it was associated with significant toxicity (grade 3 neutropenia was the most common hematologic toxicity) and was not more effective than an alternate hyperCVAD regimen (did not include methotrexate, cytarabine, rituximab, or growth factor support) that was evaluated in an earlier study.31
The OFAR regimen (oxaliplatin/fludarabine/cytarabine/rituximab) at different dosing schedules has also been evaluated in patients with Richter's transformation. In a phase I/II trial that included 20 patients with Richter's transformation, OFAR (with increasing doses) resulted in an ORR of 50%.32 The median response duration was 10 months. After a median follow-up of 9 months, the 6-month OS rate was 53% and the survival rate was higher for patients achieving CR or partial response (PR). A modified OFAR regimen with reduced-dose cytarabine resulted in an ORR of 39% (7% CR), in a phase I/II study that included 35 patients with Richter's transformation. With a median follow-up of 26 months, median survival was 7 months and the 2-year OS rate was 20%.33 Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the most common hematologic toxicities, occurring in 80% of patients, with both schedules of the OFAR regimen.
R-CHOP, R-EPOCH, R-hyperCVAD, and OFAR are included as options for chemoimmunotherapy, based on available data from clinical trials discussed earlier (see HT-3, opposite page).
Chemoimmunotherapy for Richter's Transformation
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT) can be considered for patients with disease responding to initial chemoimmunotherapy.6,34,35 In a nonrandomized comparative analysis, the estimated cumulative 3-year survival rate was significantly higher (75%) for patients who underwent alloHCT after achieving a CR or PR to initial therapy compared with those who responded to initial therapy but did not undergo alloHCT, or who underwent alloHCT for relapsed or refractory Richter's transformation (75% vs 27% and 21%, respectively; P=.019).6 In a retrospective analysis that evaluated the outcome after autologous HCT or alloHCT in 59 patients with Richter's transformation, the 3-year estimated OS, relapse-free survival, and cumulative incidences of relapse and nonrelapse mortality rates were 36%, 27%, 47%, and 26%, respectively, for alloHCT, and 59%, 45%, 43%, and 12%, respectively, for autologous HCT.34 In a multivariate analysis, chemotherapy-sensitive disease and reduced-intensity conditioning were found to be associated with superior relapse-free survival after alloHCT. Autologous HCT may also be appropriate for patients with disease responding to initial therapy but are not candidates for alloHCT due to age, comorbidities, or lack of a suitable donor.34
There are no effective treatment options for patients with Richter's transformation refractory to chemoimmunotherapy. Enrollment in a clinical trial is the preferred treatment option, if available. Preliminary data from ongoing clinical trials suggest that anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) have promising activity in patients with Richter's transformation.36–38 In a phase I/II study that included 20 patients with Richter's transformation, nivolumab + ibrutinib resulted in an ORR of 60% (CR, 5% and PR, 55%)37; median PFS was 4 months. Diarrhea (31%), pyrexia (23%), and fatigue (23%) were the most common treatment-related grade 1/2 adverse events. Incidence of grade 3/4 febrile neutropenia and anemia were reported in 5% and 20% of patients, respectively. In a phase II study of 25 patients (16 with relapsed CLL and 9 with Richter's transformation to DLBCL), use of pembrolizumab as a single agent resulted in an objective response rate of 44% in patients with Richter's transformation. Median PFS and OS were 5 and 11 months, respectively.38 Treatment-related grade ≥3 adverse events were reported in 60% of patients. Thrombocytopenia (20%), anemia (20%), neutropenia (20%), and dyspnea and hypoxia (8% each) were the most common grade 3/4 adverse events.
The panel acknowledged that there are limited published data supporting the use of nivolumab and pembrolizumab in patients with Richter's transformation refractory to chemoimmunotherapy or in those with a del(17p)/TP53 mutation, and that additional data will be forthcoming. However, some panel members felt that given the unmet clinical need and the lack of effective treatment options, inclusion of PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) as a treatment option is reasonable (based on the data discussed earlier) for patients with Richter's transformation refractory to chemoimmunotherapy (especially if considering alloHCT). Some panel members also pointed out that these agents would also be appropriate as an initial treatment option for patients with del(17p) or TP53 mutation and those who are unable to receive chemoimmunotherapy regimens. Few panel members felt that monotherapy with PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) is not an effective treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory Richter's transformation outside of a clinical trial, citing a recent report in which the use of PD-1 monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Richter's transformation in a nontrial population (10 patients with biopsy-proven Richter's transformation to DLBCL, all of whom had received prior therapy with Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors) was associated with poor efficacy and a short time to treatment failure.39
Nivolumab and pembrolizumab with or without ibrutinib is included as an option with a category 2B recommendation for patients unable to receive chemoimmunotherapy, with del(17p) or TP53 mutation, or with chemoimmunotherapy-refractory disease (see HT-3, page 16).
Richter's Transformation to HL
Histologic transformation to HL is clinically less aggressive than Richter's transformation to DLBCL, but is associated with a poorer prognosis than de novo HL.4,5,40 Richter's transformation to HL should be managed as outlined in the NCCN Guidelines for HL (available at NCCN.org). ABVD (doxorubicin/bleomycin/vinblastine/dacarbazine) was the most commonly used regimen, resulting in an ORR of 68%, and achievement of CR to the ABVD regimen was the most important factor predicting survival among patients with Richter's transformation to HL.41,42
CLL-PLL or Accelerated CLL
Enrollment in a clinical trial is the recommended treatment option, because the optimal management is not established. In the absence of a suitable clinical trial, CLL-PLL should be managed with treatment options outlined for CLL/SLL based on the presence or absence of del(17p) or TP53 mutation.
Summary
Histologic transformation of CLL to more aggressive lymphomas is associated with a poor prognosis. Histologic transformation to HL is managed with chemotherapy regimens used for the treatment of de novo HL. DLBCL arising from CLL can either be clonally unrelated or clonally related to CLL. Chemoimmunotherapy followed by alloHCT (in patients achieving response to initial therapy) is the standard treatment approach for the management of histologic transformation to DLBCL. However, chemoimmunotherapy regimens typically result in poor responses. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab with or without ibrutinib are reasonable treatment options for patients with del(17p) or TP53 mutation or those with chemotherapy-refractory disease. Precise diagnosis of histologic transformation and enrollment in clinical trials evaluating novel agents targeting the specific genetic abnormalities implicated in the pathogenesis of histologic transformation will improve the clinical outcomes of patients with histologic transformation.
To participate in this journal CE activity, go to https://education.nccn.org/node/84832.
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