Citations 139

BRAFV600E frequency and impact on outcomes in adults with langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 2, 2021 | Volume: 39 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 7050-7050

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.7050

7050 Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an inflammatory myeloid neoplasm manifesting as unifocal, multifocal, multisystem (MS) or pulmonary LCH (smoking-related). In pediatric LCH, somatic BRAFV600E prevalence is reported at 55-70%, and associated with increased risk of multisystem disease and early treatment failure. Our aim was to describe the prevalence of BRAFV600E mutation and evaluate its association with clinical manifestations and outcomes in adults with LCH. Methods: A retrospective review of adult patients diagnosed with LCH consecutively seen at Mayo Clinic from 2011 to 2020 was performed.Evaluation of association of BRAFV600E mutational status and clinical factors was conducted by the Chi-square test for independence. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed via the Kaplan Meier method and compared with the log-rank test to assess the effect of BRAFV600E. Results: Of the total LCH cohort ( n= 128), 88 patients with available BRAFV600E results were included in the study. Median age at diagnosis was 41y (range 19 - 88); 52.3% were male. 40 (45.5%) patients had a BRAFV600E mutation. Increasing age was associated with BRAFV600E (10-year increase OR 1.42, 95%CI 1.07-1.89; p= 0.017). No correlation was observed between BRAFV600E status and site of disease, risk organ (RO: liver, spleen, marrow) involvement, or MS disease. Patients with BRAFV600E were 4 times more likely to receive targeted therapy ( BRAF inhibitor) than non- BRAFV600E patients ( p= 0.018). After a median follow up of 46 mo (95% CI 30.8-61.2), PFS was similar between BRAFV600E and non- BRAFV600E patients ( p= 0.167). However, patients with BRAFV600E had a worse 3-year OS compared with non- BRAFV600E patients (84% vs. 97.1%, p= 0.027). Patients who died had a significantly higher age at LCH diagnosis (median 62 vs. 38 years; p= 0.0002). Conclusions: In our cohort of adults with LCH, BRAFV600E was less frequent than reported in pediatric literature and was associated with worse OS. The frequency of BRAFV600E was positively correlated with increasing age. Contrary to reports in pediatric LCH, there were no significant associations between BRAFV600E and high-risk or multisystem disease.[Table: see text]
Single‐agent cladribine as an effective front‐line therapy for adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis

American Journal of Hematology | February 7, 2021 | Volume: 96 | Issue: 5 | Pages: No page available

10.1002/ajh.26119 | PMID 33539584

The Role of Staging Evaluation at Initial Diagnosis of Adult Patients with Clinically Isolated Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

Blood | February 7, 2021 | Volume: 136 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 45-45

10.1182/blood-2020-136861

Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is the most common histiocytic disorder that is now recognized as a neoplasm by the World Health Organization. It is generally classified based on the site and extent of disease involvement (single system or multisystem). Pulmonary LCH (pLCH), an uncommon interstitial lung disease associated with smoking, often presents as isolated pulmonary disease. It is unclear whether patients with clinically isolated pLCH have extra-pulmonary lesions at diagnosis or during the course of their disease. The role of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) in the staging of pLCH remains unclear. Our study aims to better characterize the utility of radiographic staging studies at time of diagnosis and prevalence of extrapulmonary disease at follow up in pLCH. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients presenting with clinical findings consistent with isolated pLCH seen at the Mayo Clinic from January 2000 to January 2020. All patients had a diagnosis of pLCH determined by chest imaging studies [computed tomography (CT) or high-resolution CT (HRCT)] or by histopathologic findings from surgical or transbronchial lung biopsy. Histopathologic findings for the diagnosis of pLCH required the presence of Langerhans cells (S100+/CD1a+/Langerin+). Patients were excluded if they had clinically apparent extra-pulmonary organ involvement at the time of diagnosis. BRAF V600E mutation was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Staging was defined as FDG-PET-CT or whole body CT imaging obtained within 3 months of diagnosis of pLCH. Extra-pulmonary LCH involvement was determined by imaging characteristics or by histopathologic findings. Descriptive statistics and overall survival (OS) were analyzed with JMP software, version 14 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Results: A total of 112 patients with clinically isolated pLCH were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 45 years (range 21-73), and 48 (43%) were male. The majority (n=110, 99%) were former or current smokers with a median pack year of 25 (range 1-57). Three (3%) patients were noted to have occupational industrial exposure. Nine patients had a history of another cancer prior to their diagnosis and staging of pLCH [lung (n=4), breast (n=2), neuroendocrine (n=2), thyroid (n=1)]. Presenting symptoms included dyspnea on exertion 49 (44%), cough 18 (16%), chest pain 14 (13%), and 29 (28%) were incidentally discovered on imaging studies. On HRCT, the following characteristics were observed: 42 (38%) cystic, 32 (29%) cystic and nodular, 37 (33%) nodular, 1 (<1%) ground glass opacities. Seventy (63%) patients had lung biopsy confirmation, of which 11 (16%) patients underwent BRAF V600Emutation testing (7 by IHC, 4 by cfDNA). Six (55%) of these 11 patients were positive for BRAF V600E mutation. 34 (30%) patients underwent radiographic staging studies within 3 months of diagnosis of pLCH (25 FDG-PET-CT and 9 whole-body CT), and none of these imaging studies showed evidence of extra-pulmonary disease. Of the patients who had at least one year of follow-up (n=52), one (2%) developed extra-pulmonary disease. This patient did not undergo initial staging studies, developed headaches and was found to have a large calvarial lytic lesion within 2 months of pLCH diagnosis (BRAF V600E+). Among those who did not undergo staging at diagnosis (n=78), long term (>5 years) follow up data were available for 23 (29%), and none developed extra-pulmonary disease as determined by clinical notes or imaging studies. No patient had evidence of new extra-pulmonary involvement or second malignancy at the time of last known follow-up. After a median follow-up duration of 2.4 years (95% CI: 1.5-3.6, range: 0.1-17) ten (9%) patients died, of which 5 died of pLCH related complications. The median OS for entire cohort was 15 years (95% CI 9.1-not reached, Figure 1). Conclusion: Our study shows that adult patients with clinically isolated pLCH rarely present with extra-pulmonary manifestations at diagnosis or at follow up. These findings suggest a limited role of routine radiographic staging studies in pLCH unless clinically indicated. Studies on longer follow up of this cohort would provide further insights into the natural history of pLCH and are underway. Disclosures Bennani: Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Verastem: Other: Advisory Board; Kite/Gilead: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding. Shah:Dren Bio: Consultancy.
Comment on: Anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment for the prevention of ischaemic events in patients with deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2)

Rheumatology | January 20, 2021 | Volume: 60 | Issue: 6 | Pages: e218-e219

10.1093/rheumatology/keab081 | PMID 33515254

Long-Term Rituximab Use to Maintain Remission of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody–Associated Vasculitis

Annals of Internal Medicine | November 30, 2020 | Volume: 173 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 947-948

10.7326/l20-1198 | PMID 33253612

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography of giant cell arteritis with lower extremity involvement in association with polymyalgia rheumatica

World Journal of Nuclear Medicine | October 2, 2020 | Volume: 20 | Issue: 01 | Pages: 90-92

10.4103/wjnm.wjnm_102_20 | PMID 33850494

AbstractAn 80-year-old man presented with new-onset pain in the shoulders and lower extremities and elevated serum inflammatory markers. A clinical diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) was made, but there was a suboptimal response to glucocorticoid therapy, prompting further evaluation. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) revealed intense FDG uptake in the arteries of the bilateral lower extremities, head, and neck, but sparing the aorta, suggestive of an uncommon pattern of giant cell arteritis (GCA). There were also imaging signs consistent with PMR, including FDG uptake in the synovium of large joints. This case highlights the uncommon manifestation of GCA with lower extremity involvement and sparing of the aorta. The combination of FDG PET imaging features and elevated serum markers obviated the need for invasive biopsy. One might also conclude that standard FDG PET/CT imaging protocols covering orbits/vertex to thighs incompletely evaluate the extent of arterial distribution of GCA.
Efficacy of BRAF-Inhibitor Therapy in BRAF V600E-Mutated Adult Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

The Oncologist | September 28, 2020 | Volume: 25 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 1001-1004

10.1002/onco.13541 | PMID 32985015

Abstract Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare histiocytic neoplasm. To date, there is a lack of U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved treatments in adult LCH to establish optimal first-line therapy. We conducted a retrospective, single-center case series evaluating the use of BRAF inhibitors in adult patients with BRAFV600E- LCH proven by biopsy. Our case series is the first to report the use of BRAF inhibitors as first-line therapy in adults with LCH. We also report the efficacy with single-agent dabrafenib in adult LCH. All but one of our patients had favorable response to targeted therapy.
Incidence and predictors of thoracic aortic damage in biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis

Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology | September 17, 2020 | Volume: 50 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 239-242

10.1080/03009742.2020.1786855 | PMID 32940110

Clinical and Radiographic Features of Giant Cell Arteritis With Intracranial Involvement

ACR Open Rheumatology | July 22, 2020 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 471-477

10.1002/acr2.11161 | PMID 32697426

ObjectiveGiant cell arteritis (GCA) is a large‐vessel vasculitis that primarily affects the aorta and its branches. Extracranial branches of the carotid artery are frequently affected; however, intracranial involvement in GCA is rare.MethodsA retrospective medical record review was performed to identify all patients with intracranial GCA (IC‐GCA) from January 1996 through May 2018.ResultsNine patients with IC‐GCA were included (78% male; mean age, 72.1 years [SD: 7.9]). All patients met ACR criteria for GCA. The median time from onset of GCA to intracranial involvement was 0.6 months (interquartile range: 0.1‐5.1). All patients had neurologic symptoms, 89% had an ischemic cerebrovascular event. Transient or permanent vision loss was frequent (56% of patients). IC‐GCA was diagnosed by cranial imaging in all nine patients. Intracranial vasculitis most commonly affected the internal carotid artery (100%), followed by the vertebral artery (67%), posterior cerebral artery (67%), middle cerebral artery (44%), anterior cerebral artery (33%), and posterior inferior cerebral artery (11%). Intracranial vessel stenosis was present in 89%, occlusion in 33%, wall thickening in 33%, and dilation in 11%.All patients received glucocorticoids. Additional therapeutic agents included cyclophosphamide (67%) and tocilizumab (22%). Despite treatment, five patients had rapid deterioration and mortality. Comparing IC‐GCA patient survival to the expected rates from the US population, the standardized mortality ratio (95% CI) for IC‐GCA was 58.1 (18.9‐135.6).ConclusionAlthough rare, IC‐GCA is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It occurs predominantly in men and presents with ischemic cerebrovascular events. Current treatment strategies appear to be of limited efficacy for IC‐GCA.
A Case of Macrophage Activation Syndrome Associated with Parvovirus and Rheumatoid Arthritis

D52. CRITICAL CARE CASE REPORTS: RHEUMATOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY | July 7, 2020 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: A7093-A7093

10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2020.201.1_meetingabstracts.a7093