Background Maintenance therapy following autologous stem cell transplantation can delay disease progression and prolong survival in multiple myeloma (MM). Ixazomib is ideally suited for maintenance therapy given its efficacy, convenient once-weekly oral dosing, and low toxicity profile. Methods The phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, TOURMALINE-MM3 study randomised 656 patients with newly diagnosed MM from 227 clinical/hospital sites in 30 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Africa,

These data suggest that PET/CT is a useful tool for both, initial staging and follow-up after therapy in patients with MALT lymphoma. Its sensitivity depends on disease location and stage at initial diagnosis.

SummaryWe reviewed eight cases that were diagnosed before 1995 with B-prolymphocytic leukaemia (B-PLL) harbouring t(11;14)(q13;q32) and/or cyclin D1 staining. Thirteen B-PLL patients without t(11;14) were selected as controls. Peripheral blood, bone marrow and histological sections were re-examined without cytogenetic information. Final diagnosis was made using morphology, cytogenetics, immunophenotype and immunohistochemistry. Clinical characteristics were similar for both groups except for younger age, male predominance and extranodal involvement in cases with t(11;14). CD5 was more frequently positive in the t(11;14)+ group (80%) than in the t(11;14)) group (31%). Surface membrane immunoglobulin was strongly expressed by all t(11;14)+ cases, but only 45% of t(11;14)) cases. Histopathological and cytological review of cases with t(11;14) showed an infiltrate with a mixture of cells, some resembling prolymphocytes and others with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) morphology. Blood films of cases with t(11;14) showed features suggestive of B-PLL in three, and in others, a mixture of cells resembling MCL and nucleolated ones; none corresponded to the blastoid form of MCL. We suggest that 'B-PLL' with t(11;14) may represent a splenomegalic form of MCL evolving with leukaemia. These cases illustrate the importance of tissue diagnosis with cyclin D1 staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis in B-cell leukaemia with prolymphocytic features.

BACKGROUNDBoth pentostatin and cladribine have efficacy in hairy cell leukemia (HCL), but it is not known which agent achieves better results.METHODSWe reviewed a series of 219 patients with HCL, with median follow‐up from diagnosis of 12.5 years (range 1.0 –34.6 yrs), treated with either pentostatin (n = 185) or cladribine (n = 34), to compare these agents and assess the potential for cure.RESULTSOverall response to pentostatin was 96% with a complete response (CR) in 81% and a median disease‐free survival (DFS) of 15 years. Response to first‐line cladribine was 100% with a CR in 82% and DFS of 11+ years. The relapse rates at 5 years and 10 years were 24% and 42%, respectively, with pentostatin, and 33% and 48% with cladribine. Survival at 10 years was respectively 96% and 100%. CR rates decreased with each sequential relapse through 69% to 45% (P ≤ 0.001). Patients achieving CR after first‐line treatment had a significantly longer DFS (P = 0.00007) than those achieving a partial response; a similar result was seen after second‐line therapy (P = 0.00001). DFS also declined with sequential treatment (P = 0.00005).CONCLUSIONWe have shown equivalent efficacies for both agents in the treatment of HCL, with DFS showing no plateau. True cure in HCL remains elusive, but the addition of monoclonal antibodies may be beneficial. Our results suggest that achieving CR should remain the main goal of treatment. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.