Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of clonal malignant B cells and heterogeneous clinical outcomes. This study explored the role of the immune checkpoint receptor LILRB4 (ILT3), previously implicated in acute myeloid leukemia, in the pathogenesis and progression of CLL. Analysis of 126 CLL patient samples revealed aberrantly elevated LILRB4 expression on leukemic B cells, with higher levels observed in advanced disease stages. Elevated LILRB4 expression was correlated with shorter time-to-treatment intervals and reduced overall survival, highlighting its potential as a prognostic marker. Mechanistically, LILRB4 was enriched in a proliferative leukemic subpopulation driven by the TLR9 and BTK signaling pathways. Functional assays demonstrated that LILRB4 promotes immune evasion by suppressing T and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, while its blockade restored immune effector activity and impaired leukemic cell migration. Furthermore, elevated levels of soluble LILRB4 (sLILRB4) in patient serum are associated with poor clinical outcomes, including an increased incidence of secondary malignancies. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated the high sensitivity and specificity of sLILRB4 as a biomarker for disease progression. Collectively, these findings identify membrane-bound LILRB4 as a mediator of immune suppression and disease progression in CLL, while highlighting sLILRB4 as a potential biomarker associated with poor clinical outcomes. Further investigations into LILRB4-directed therapies could pave the way for improved patient stratification and novel treatment strategies in CLL patients.

Introduction: In mouse models of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), an effective anti-leukemia immune response was obtained by depleting a specific regulatory T-cell (Treg) subset. While STAT5 signaling could alter the homeostasis of naïve (nTreg) and activated (aTreg) subsets, which are capable of suppressing also CLL patients' responses to microbial antigens, perturbed STAT3 signaling could drive CXCR5 expression in circulating T-follicular regulatory cells (Tfr) and their entry into the lymph node/tumor microenvironment. Materials and Methods: By using phospho-specific flow cytometry, we monitored STAT signaling/phosphorylation (pSTAT), in vitro responses to Sars-Cov2-antigen-specific stimulation, and circulating Treg subsets in relation to Binet stage and total tumor mass/tumor distribution (TTM/TD) scoring in 62 patients with CLL. Results: The percentage of CXCR5+ Treg significantly increased in patients with Binet stage B disease, and Tfr-like subsets were associated with higher TTM and lower TD. The pSTAT3 levels in CD4+ T-cells were only significantly increased in patients undergoing therapy. Lower nTreg percentages correlated with increased disease duration, and an increased aTreg/nTreg ratio correlated with SARS-CoV-2-antigen-induced STAT5 signaling responses. Conclusions: The results show increased amounts of circulating CXCR5+ Tfr-like subsets in patients with extensive lymph node involvement and augmented STAT3 signaling in patients on therapy. While STAT5 responses may drive nTreg differentiation into aTreg, nTreg decline is associated with increased disease duration.

Rituximab (RTX) is a chimeric human/murine CD20 monoclonal antibody, which has been administered in treating hematological malignancies and various autoimmune disorders. This study aimed to present our center's experience in RTX use in adults with lymphoma and autoimmune diseases (AID) including primary membranous nephropathy (pMN), as well as therapeutic effects of RTX on clinical outcome of pMN patients.

A total of 761 Chinese patients were retrospectively included, who received RTX treatment at Shandong Provincial Hospital between January 1st, 2017 and December 31st, 2021, with person time of exposure spanning between their first dose of RTX and last follow-up date or the end of the study period.

Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 487 patients (64.0%), with a majority of infection (309, 40.6%) and a minority of non-infectious AEs (178, 23.4%); and the incidences of AEs were higher in lymphoma patients (381, 65.8%) than that in AID patients (106, 58.2%). Respiratory infections (215, 28.3%), gastrointestinal infections (49, 6.4%), urinary tract infections (41, 5.4%), cutaneous and mucosal infections (31, 4.1%), and infections in the abdominal cavity or pleurisy (4, 0.5%) were the leading types of infections. Cancer diagnosis [hazard ratio (HR), 3.926; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.730-8.913] and prophylactic sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMZ/TMP) administration (HR, 3.793; 95% CI, 1.101-13.069) were associated with increased risk of infections. Immediate non-infectious AEs included anaphylaxis (44, 5.8%) and infusion reactions (99, 13.0%). Long-term non-infectious AEs included hypogammaglobulinemia (106, 28.6%), neutropenia (11, 5.5%) and interstitial lung disease (1, 0.1%). Female sex (HR, 0.515; 95% CI, 0.289-0.918) and cancer diagnosis (HR, 0.126; 95% CI, 0.049-0.323) were associated with higher risk of hypogammaglobulinemia. In 74 pMN patients, 13 (17.6%) patients experienced infections, with 2 cases of non-infectious AEs (2.7%). 6-month follow-up showed remission was achieved in 45 patients (60.8%), either as initial (61.0%) or alternative therapy (60.7%), without significant impacts on kidney function (p > 0.05).

Our findings indicated AEs were common during RTX treatment, particularly in lymphoma patients, most of which were moderate and mild, highlighting a whole-process monitoring, timely interference and caring. And RTX was a safe and effective therapeutic option for pMN either as initial or alternative therapy in adult Chinese patients.

T cells play a central role in anti-tumor immunity, yet their function is often compromised within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, leading to cancer progression and resistance to immunotherapies. T-cell activation and differentiation require dynamic metabolic shifts, with mitochondrial metabolism playing a crucial role in sustaining their function. Research in cancer immunometabolism has revealed key mitochondrial abnormalities in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, including reduced mitochondrial capacity, depolarization, structural defects, and elevated reactive oxygen species. While these mitochondrial disruptions are well-characterized in solid tumors and linked to T-cell exhaustion, their impact on T-cell immunity in lymphoproliferative disorders remains underexplored. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most prevalent chronic adult leukemia, is marked by profound T-cell dysfunction that limits the success of adoptive cell therapies. Emerging studies are shedding light on the role of mitochondrial disturbances in CLL-related T-cell dysfunction, but significant knowledge gaps remain. This review explores mitochondrial metabolism in T-cell exhaustion, emphasizing recent findings in CLL. We also discuss therapeutic strategies to restore T-cell mitochondrial function and identify key research gaps.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is the commonest leukaemia and is associated with profound immunosuppression. Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) have revolutionised chronic lymphocytic leukaemia management; however, therapy impairs vaccine-induced immunity. We evaluated whether a 3-week pause of BTKi treatment improved spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) immunity to SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination while maintaining disease control.

We performed an open-label, two-arm, parallel-group, randomised trial in secondary-care haematology clinics in 11 UK hospitals. Participants aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and currently taking BTKi therapy (frontline or relapsed setting) for at least 12 months were eligible. Participants were randomly allocated (1:1, by a centralised computer randomisation program, stratified by BTKi therapy line) to pause BTKi for 3 weeks, starting 6 days before their SARS-CoV-2 vaccination booster date, or to continue therapy as usual. Neither participants nor clinical staff were blinded but laboratory staff were. Intramuscular injection of either original BA.1 or original BA.4/5 bivalent mRNA vaccine (50 μg mRNA-1273 or 30 μg BNT162b2), or 5 μg protein-based Vidprevtyn Beta (Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France) were received according to the national vaccination programme schedule. The primary outcome measure was anti-spike-RBD-specific antibody titre 3 weeks after vaccination and analysis performed by intention to treat (as randomly allocated, irrespective of compliance) following trial completion. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, 14197181, and has been completed.

Between Oct 10, 2022, and June 8, 2023, 99 individuals (71 [72%] male and 28 [28%] female, with 89 [90%] of White ethnicity) were randomly allocated to groups pausing (n=50 [51%]) or continuing (n=49 [49%]) their BTKi therapy, and followed up for 12 weeks. At 3 weeks after vaccination, the geometric mean anti-spike-RBD-specific antibody titre was 218·8 U/mL (SD 122·9) in the continue group and 153·4 U/mL (103·2) in the pause group, with geometric mean ratio 1·104 (95% CI 0·565-2·158, p=0·77) using a mixed-effects model. The only serious adverse event during the 12-week follow-up was the death of one participant in the pause group due to COVID-19 infection 2 months after randomisation.

Although the study was slightly underpowered, the results suggest that pausing BTKi around the time of vaccination is not beneficial for immunity and should not be recommended in clinical practice.

National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Patients with hematologic malignancies are at high risk of dying from infectious diseases. However, little attention has been paid to infectious diseases mortality (IDM) in these patients. The aim of our study is to determine the incidence and trends of IDM in patients with hematologic malignancies, identify risk factors associated with IDM, and compare the risk of IDM in patients with the general United States population.

The data of patients with hematologic malignancies between 2000 and 2020 was retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and IDM rates were calculated. A competing risk model was performed to identify potential risk factors of IDM.

Among 700,678 patients, 15,028 IDM were identified with an IDM rate of 401.31/100,000 person-years. Compared with the general population, the SMR of IDM was 3.34, and the elevated risk of IDM ran through the follow-up period. For all cancer subtypes, the IDM rates were highest in the first 2 months after diagnosis and gradually declined thereafter. For all patients, the early period of diagnosis, older age, male, non-Hispanic black, single or divorced/separated/widowed status, no chemotherapy, and no radiation were risk factors for IDM. For patients with Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, advanced stage was also a risk factor for IDM.

Given the high risk of IDM in patients with hematologic malignancies, it is extremely important to identify patients at high risk of IDM and provide timely intervention to prevent early death from infections and improve prognosis.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in adults in Western countries, with a median age at diagnosis of 72 years. This guide, developed by the Spanish Group for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (GELLC), addresses the most relevant aspects of CLL, with the objectives of facilitating and aiding the diagnostic process, establishing therapeutic recommendations for choosing the best treatment for each type of patient, as well as standardizing the management of CLL and ensuring equity across different hospitals in terms of the use of the various available treatment regimens.

The references obtained were classified according to the level of evidence and following the criteria established by the Agency for Health Research and Quality, and the recommendations were classified according to the criteria of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).

The diagnosis of CLL requires the presence of 5 × 109/l clonal B lymphocytes with the characteristic phenotype (CD19, CD5, CD20, CD23, and kappa or lambda chain restriction) demonstrated by flow cytometry in peripheral blood and maintained for at least 3 months. The presence of cytopenia caused by a typical bone marrow infiltrate establishes the diagnosis of CLL, regardless of the number of circulating lymphocytes or existing lymph node involvement. CLL and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are the same disease with different presentations, so they should be treated the same way. Current international guidelines recommend FISH with the 4 probes as a mandatory test in clinical practice to guide the prognosis of patients. They also recommend determining the mutational status of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) before the first treatment and detecting TP53 mutations before the first and subsequent relapses.

Treatment should be initiated in symptomatic patients with criteria for active disease according to iwCLL. The first aspect to highlight is the prioritization of targeted therapies over immunochemotherapy. In first-line treatment, for patients with del(17p) and/or TP53 mutation, the best therapeutic option is a second-generation covalent Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) administered indefinitely, while in cases without del(17p) or TP53 mutation with mutated IGHV, time-limited therapy with a combination including a BCL2 inhibitor (BCL2i) should be considered as the first therapeutic option. For patients with unmutated IGHV, both continuous BTKi and finite therapy with BCL2i are valid options that should be individually evaluated considering potential toxicities, drug interactions, patient preference, and logistical aspects. In very frail patients, supportive treatment should be considered. In relapse/refractory patients, prior treatment, the biological risk of CLL, the duration of response (if prior finite treatment), or the reason for stopping BTKi (if prior continuous treatment) should be considered.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer with poor outcomes in immunosuppressed patients. While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) achieve ~60% response rates in immunocompetent MCC patients, their efficacy in immunosuppressed patients remains unclear due to exclusion from trials. This study compares ICI outcomes, safety and the impact of immunosuppression subtypes between these groups.

This retrospective study analysed 183 advanced MCC patients on first-line ICIs from a Seattle-based data repository. Of these, 147 were immunocompetent, and 36 were immunosuppressed (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) n=10, autoimmune disorders n=10, other haematologic malignancies n=9, solid organ transplants n=4 and HIV/AIDS n=3). Outcomes included objective response rate, disease progression, MCC-specific and overall survival probability, adjusted for age, sex and stage at ICI initiation.

Initial ICI response rates at 6 months were 50% in immunosuppressed and 61.5% in immunocompetent patients (HR=0.71, p=0.17). Immunosuppressed patients had higher risks of disease progression (2 years: 53.9% vs 42.1%, HR=1.65, p=0.05) and MCC-specific mortality (2 years: 38.7% vs 24.4%, HR=1.85, p=0.04). CLL patients (n=10) had a particularly low response rate (response rate: 20.0% vs 61.5%, HR=0.18, p=0.02) and high progression risk (2 years: 80.0% vs 42.1%, HR=4.09, p=0.01). Immunosuppressed patients faced higher rates of ICI toxicity (6-month risk: 51.6% vs 36.6%, HR=1.79, p=0.03).

ICIs provide meaningful benefits to immunosuppressed MCC patients, though their response rates are lower, and progression risk is higher compared with immunocompetent patients.

Lymphomas represent a heterogeneous group of blood tumors, generally divided into non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (90% of all lymphomas) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). High-grade NHL can rapidly progress so that new strategies and potentially therapeutical options are needed. Recently, it was shown that Vitamin D (VitD) inhibits the growth of cancer cells, controls their invasion and metastasis, and strengthens the antitumor activity of various types of chemotherapeutic anticancer agents. Therefore, we reviewed the recent literature about the influence of VitD and its analogues (VDAs) on the treatment and the prognosis of B-cell lymphomas. As to the in vitro studies in different cell lines, VitD3 and VDAs enhanced the anti-proliferative efficacy of various chemotherapeutics and increased the expression of VitD receptor. In in vivo studies, blood levels of VitD were considered: higher values of plasma bioavailable VitD were correlated with better progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), while an unfavorable PFS and OS were observed in VitD deficient groups. No clinical trial was made on the analogs, thus confirming the absence of in vivo positive role of these synthetic drugs. In conclusion, higher levels of circulating VitD are related to improved OS, reduced cancer-specific mortality, and better disease-free survival. VitD and analogs showed also positive effects in in vitro studies, while only VitD was able to improve clinical parameters. Furthermore, a complex approach with plant-based diet, adequate levels for motor exercise, and/or eventual VitD supplementation could be a valuable strategy to challenge lymphomas.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are subtypes of non-Hogkin lymphoma (NHL) that are generally distinct form one cases, but the transformation of one of these diseases into the other is possible. Some patients with CLL, for instance, have the potential to develop Richter transformation such that they are diagnosed with a rare, invasive DLBCL subtype. In this study, bioinformatics analyses of these two NHL subtypes were conducted, identifying key patterns of gene expression and then experimentally validating the results. Disease-related gene expression datasets from the GEO database were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and DEG functions were examined using GO analysis and protein-protein interaction network construction. This strategy revealed many up- and down-regulated DEGs, with functional enrichment analyses identifying these genes as being closely associated with inflammatory and immune response activity. PPI network analyses and the evaluation of clustered network modules indicated the top 10 up- and down-regulated genes involved in disease onset and development. Serological analyses revealed significantly higher ALB, TT, and WBC levels in CLL patients relative to DLBCL patients, whereas the opposite was true with respect to TG, HDL, GGT, ALP, ALT, and NEUT% levels. In comparison to the CLL and DLBCL groups, the healthy control samples demonstrated higher signals of protein peak positions (621, 643, 848, 853, 869, 935, 1003, 1031, 1221, 1230, 1260, 1344, 1443, 1446, 1548, 1579, 1603, 1647 cm-1), nucleic acid peak positions (726, 781, 786, 1078, 1190, 1415, 1573, 1579 cm-1), beta carotene peak positions (957, 1155, 1162 cm-1), carbohydrate peak positions (842 cm-1), collagen peak positions (1345 cm-1), and lipid peak positions (957, 1078, 1119, 1285, 1299, 1437, 1443, 1446 cm-1) compared to the CLL and DLBCL groups. Verification of these key genes in patient samples yielded results consistent with findings derived from bioinformatics analyses, highlighting their relevance to diagnosing and treating these forms of NHL. Together, these analyses identified genes and pathways involved in both DLBCL and CLL. The set of molecular markers established herein can aid in patient diagnosis and prognostic evaluation, providing a valuable foundation for their therapeutic application.

Due to its rarity, there are very limited data available on the cause of death (COD) and its association with comorbidities in Japanese chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients.

To investigate the prevalence of comorbidities and their impact on cause-specific mortality, we retrospectively reviewed 121 Japanese patients with CLL.

The median age was 69 years, with 47.9% having at least one comorbidity listed in the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and 12.4% were multimorbid. With a median follow-up of 74 months, the 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 80.6% and 60.1%, respectively. Among the 44 deaths observed, CLL progression was the leading COD (38.6%), which together with infections and other malignancies accounted for nearly 80%. Patients with higher CCI risk categories had significantly higher 5-year all-cause mortality (CCI 1-2: 22.9% and ≥ 3: 31.4%) and non-CLL-specific mortality (CCI 1-2: 18.8% and ≥ 3: 31.4%) compared to those without (CCI 0: 12.6%, p = 0.005; 3.5%, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas CLL-specific mortality was not influenced. On multivariate analysis, age and CCI retained a significant prognostic impact on all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.08, p < 0.001 and HR 1.88, p = 0.004, respectively) and non-CLL-specific mortality (HR 1.12, p < 0.001 and HR 3.81, p < 0.001, respectively).

Our study showed that CLL itself was the leading COD, and comorbidity burden was associated with non-CLL-specific deaths. This highlights the importance of better disease control and effective management of comorbidities.

Despite the current international prognostic index for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) being widely accepted and broadly used, it does not consider the kinetics of the B-cell clone over time. Here, we investigated the potential association between distinct features of leukemic cells and other immune cells in blood and the kinetics of clonal B-cells in CLL stage Binet A/Rai 0 (A/0) patients; Methods: Based on the leukemia cell kinetics, 69 CLL A/0 cases followed for a median of 105 months were classified as carrying stable (n = 53) vs. rapidly increasing in size (n = 16) CLL clones; Results: Patients with increasing CLL clones had a significantly higher risk of disease progression and shortened time to first therapy vs. those carrying stable B-cell clones (p ≤ 0.001). Strikingly, the distribution of various immune-cell populations in blood at diagnosis also differed significantly between the two groups, with lower Tαβ CD4+CD8lo cell counts (p = 0.03), a greater switched/unswitched memory B-cell ratio (p = 0.01), and higher plasma cell counts (p = 0.05) in CLL with increasing vs. stable clones. Multivariate analysis revealed that the number of circulating clonal B-cells (≥15 × 109/L) and Tαβ CD4+CD8lo cells (≤35 cells/µL), together with an IGHV unmutated gene status at diagnosis, were independent predictors of an increasing CLL clone; Conclusions: Altogether, these data suggest that the expansion of the CLL clone in stage A/0 patients may depend on both the intrinsic characteristics of CLL cells and the surrounding immune microenvironment.

The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) consists of the continuous use of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis) such as ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib and pirtobrutinib, or Bcl-2 inhibitors, such as venetoclax. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of CLL patients are significantly improved with the use of these therapies. Adverse effects (AEs) that can occur during treatment and the presence of pre-existing comorbidities in patients can influence subsequent treatment outcomes and, consequently, OS and PFS. Managing these AEs, including cardiologic toxicity and infections (including fungal infections), as well as treating cardiovascular and other comorbidities, can be challenging due to potential drug interactions with the medications used for the management of AEs and comorbidities. Therefore, this review examined the key challenges associated with the concomitant use of novel CLL therapies and medications for managing comorbidities and AEs. This review aims to enhance and facilitate the management of patients with CLL.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment has undergone a significant evolution with a shift from historical chemotherapeutic regimens to targeted therapies such as Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and BCL-2 inhibitors. These advancements have been associated with a notable improvement in survival rates with a transformation of CLL into a chronic and manageable condition for most persons with this disease. However, as a consequence of improved outcomes, long-term CLL survivors now face emergent challenges which include a risk of infections, cardiovascular complications, and secondary malignancies. In this changed scenario, holistic models of care are essential to address emergent health risks. Such models of care for CLL patients require a multidisciplinary approach that integrates CLL treatment with the proactive management of frailty, comorbidities, and psychosocial well-being to enhance both survival and quality of life (QoL). CLL predominantly affects older persons, many of whom present with concurrent frailty and comorbidities that may complicate CLL treatment and impact QoL. Comprehensive geriatric assessments (GA) may play a critical role in the identification of persons at a heightened risk of treatment-related toxicity and may help guide rational therapy selection, particularly in very frail persons. In addition to the assessment of hematological responses, the prospective assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and frailty metrics may offer a more nuanced understanding of the global treatment benefits. A survivorship-focused care model is crucial to address the multifaceted needs of CLL patients with the extension of patient care into the broader domain of long-term health maintenance with associated improvements in QoL.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a hematological malignancy marked by the clonal proliferation of the mature, yet dysfunctional B lymphocytes in blood and its subsequent infiltration of the marrow, lymphoid tissues and spleen. The resultant immune dysfunction exposes the body to multiple infections and is a cause of major mortality. Here, we discuss the case of a 46-year-old male suffering from CLL who presented with long-standing episodes of low-grade fever, productive cough and throat irritation, lethargy and pedal edema. He was treatment-naïve at the time of presentation. He was treated in lines of Rajayakshma as per Ayurveda, and Kuruthiputru as per Siddha medicine. After three years of treatment with continued follow up till date, comprising of Shamana Chikitsa (Ayurveda and Siddha internal medications), Sodhana (bio purificatory methods)through Mridu Virechana (therapeutic purgation) using Trivrut Avaleha 35g, Guduchi Rasayana (Tinospora cordifolia) and Yashtimadhu Rasayana(Glycyrrhiza glabra), patient reported reduction in frequency of infections, improved performance score with a mean reduction in TLC counts by 100 thousand/cu. mm in 10 months starting intervention. Presently the patient is stable with occasional episodes of dry cough and generalized weakness. Integrated practices involving Ayurveda and Siddha medicines may be beneficial to patients suffering from CLL by reducing the episodes of infections, improving the quality of life while pacifying the deranged hematological parameters to certain extent.

The incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) are not well described.

We aimed to determine the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of incident VTE in patients with newly diagnosed MBL/CLL and compare the incidence to the age- and sex-matched general population.

Using the Mayo Clinic CLL Database, we identified 946 patients with newly diagnosed MBL/CLL between 1998 and 2021. Incidence of VTE was identified by querying the electronic health record for VTE-specific International Classification of Diseases-9 and -10 codes and reviewing results of radiographic studies.

Eighty patients developed VTE. The incidence of VTE in patients with newly diagnosed MBL/CLL was ∼1% per year. In multivariable analyses, prior history of VTE (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.33; 95% CI: 1.93-14.68, P = .001) and high/very high-risk CLL-International Prognostic Index score (HR: 2.63; 95% CI: 1.31-5.26; P = .006) were associated with an increased risk of VTE; receipt of CLL treatment or occurrence of nonhematologic malignancy was not. Development of VTE was associated with shorter overall survival (HR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.30-2.55) after adjusting for age, sex, prior history of VTE, and Rai stage. The age- and sex-adjusted VTE incidence rate for patients with MBL/CLL and no prior history of VTE (n = 904) was 1254 per 100 000 person-years compared with 204 per 100 000 person-years in the general population, reflecting a 5.9-fold increase.

Our study demonstrates a 6-fold increased risk of VTE in patients with MBL/CLL compared with the age- and sex-matched general population.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by disease- and treatment-related immunosuppression. Patients with CLL comprise a vulnerable population to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), while the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination remains uncertain.We conducted a systematic review to evaluate published data reporting response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with CLL. The primary outcome was the rate of seropositivity after full primary vaccination, while secondary outcomes were rates of positive neutralizing antibodies, cellular responses, and adverse events. Response after booster doses of vaccination was also evaluated.Twenty-three studies of full primary vaccination (12 CLL-specific with 1747 patients, 11 with mixed hematologic diseases including 1044 patients with CLL) with a total of 2791 patients, and eight studies on booster doses with 389 patients were included in the analysis. The serologic response varied between studies with a median of 55%. Where reported, the median neutralizing antibody response rate was 61.2% and the cellular response rate was 44.2%. Poor serologic response was noted in patients under active treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, BCL2, and BTK inhibitors.The present review highlights the substantially impaired humoral and cellular response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with CLL with patients under active treatment being the most vulnerable.

Elderly patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD) are vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Here, we retrospectively described the clinical features and outcomes of the first time infection of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 in 364 elderly patients with lymphoma enrolled in Jiangsu Cooperative Lymphoma Group (JCLG) between November 2022 and April 2023 in China. Median age was 69 years (range 60-92). 54.4% (198/364) of patients were confirmed as severe and critical COVID-19 infection. In univariable analysis, Age > 70 years (OR 1.88, p = 0.003), with multiple comorbidities (OR 1.41, p = 0.005), aggressive lymphoma (OR 2.33, p < 0.001), active disease (progressive or relapsed/refractory, OR 2.02, p < 0.001), and active anti-lymphoma therapy (OR 1.90, p < 0.001) were associated with severe COVID-19. Multiple (three or more) lines of previous anti-lymphoma therapy (OR 3.84, p = 0.021) remained an adverse factor for severe COVID-19 in multivariable analysis. Moreover, CD20 antibody (Rituximab or Obinutuzumab)-based treatments within the last 6 months was associated with severe COVID-19 in the entire cohort (OR 3.42, p < 0.001). Continuous BTK inhibitors might be protective effect on the outcome of COVID-19 infection (OR 0.44, p = 0.043) in the indolent lymphoma cohort. Overall, 7.7% (28/364) of the patients ceased, multiple lines of previous anti-lymphoma therapy (OR 3.46, p = 0.016) remained an adverse factor for mortality.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis) are the preferred treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Despite their therapeutic benefits, these targeted agents have been associated with an increased risk of invasive infections. We describe a 68-year-old male who developed multiple bacterial, fungal and viral infections while on treatment with acalabrutinib. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of concomitant CNS infections with Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus, along with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) pneumonia while on acalabrutinib. This case adds to the scarce literature of fungal and bacterial infections associated with acalabrutinib, raising the suspicion that infection risk is a medication class effect for BTKis.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," are synthetic chemicals which have been used since the 1940s. Given their remarkable thermostability and chemical stability, PFAS have been widely utilized in commercial products, including textiles, surfactants, food packages, nonstick coatings, and fire-fighting foams. Thus, PFAS are widely distributed worldwide and have been detected in human urine, blood, breast milk, tissues and other substances. Growing concerns over the risks of PFAS, including their toxicity and carcinogenicity, have attracted people's attention. Recent reviews have predominantly emphasized advancements in the detection, adsorption, and degradation of PFAS through their chemical structures and toxic properties; however, further examination of the literature is needed to determine the link between PFAS exposure and cancer risk. Here, we introduced different PFAS detection methods based on sensors and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Then, we discussed epidemiological investigations on PFAS levels and cancer risks in recent years, as well as the mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis. Finally, we proposed the "4C principles" for ongoing exploration and refinement in this field. This review highlights PFAS-cancer associations to fill knowledge gaps and provide evidence-based strategies for future research.

Third-generation chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CARTs) for relapsed or refractory (r/r) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may improve efficacy compared to second-generation CARTs due to their enhanced CAR design. We performed the first phase 1/2 investigator-initiated trial evaluating escalating doses of third-generation CARTs (HD-CAR-1) targeting CD19 in patients with r/r CLL and B-cell lymphoma. CLL eligibility criteria were failure to two therapy lines including at least one pathway inhibitor and/or allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Nine heavily pretreated patients received HD-CAR-1 at dose levels ranging from 1 × 106 to 200 × 106 CART/m2. In-house HD-CAR-1 manufacturing was successful for all patients. While neurotoxicity was absent, one case of grade 3 cytokine release syndrome was observed. By day 90, six patients (67%) attained a CR, five of these (83%) with undetectable MRD. With a median follow-up of 27 months, 2-year PFS and OS were 30% and 69%, respectively. HD-CAR-1 products of responders contained significantly more CD4 + T cells compared to non-responders. In non-responders, a strong enrichment of effector memory-like CD8 + T cells with high expression of CD39 and/or CD197 was observed. HD-CAR-1 demonstrated encouraging efficacy and exceptionally low treatment-specific toxicity, presenting new treatment options for patients with r/r CLL. Trial registration: #NCT03676504.

The development and progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) depend on genetic abnormalities and on the immunosuppressive microenvironment. We have explored the possibility that genetic drivers might be responsible for the immune cell dysregulation that shapes the protumor microenvironment. We performed a transcriptome analysis of coding and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) during leukemia progression in the Rag2-/-γc-/- MEC1-based xenotransplantation model. The DLEU2/miR-16 locus was found downmodulated in monocytes/macrophages of leukemic mice. To validate the role of this cluster in the tumor immune microenvironment, we generated a mouse model that simultaneously mimics the overexpression of hTCL1 and the germline deletion of the minimal deleted region (MDR) encoding the DLEU2/miR-15a/miR-16-1 cluster. This model provides an innovative and faster CLL system where monocyte differentiation and macrophage polarization are exacerbated, and T-cells are dysfunctional. MDR deletion inversely correlates with the levels of predicted target proteins including BCL2 and PD1/PD-L1 on murine CLL cells and immune cells. The inverse correlation of miR-15a/miR-16-1 with target proteins has been confirmed on patient-derived immune cells. Forced expression of miR-16-1 interferes with monocyte differentiation into tumor-associated macrophages, indicating that selected ncRNAs drive the protumor phenotype of non-malignant immune cells.

Objective: To investigate the vaccination status, characteristics and prognosis of patients suffering from a combination of COVID-19 and chronic lymphocytic anemia (CLL) in China. Methods: Clinical data of 328 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who were first diagnosed with COVID-19 and treated in the Department of Hematology of Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital between November 2022 and February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis of data of patients with severe/critical COVID-19 were conducted by applying the binary logistic regression model. Results: The median age of the CLL patients was 60 (24-87) years. 23.5% (77/328) of these patients suffered from severe/critical COVID-19 infection. Univariate analysis of the data demonstrated that a combination of factors including age >67 years (OR=2.15, 95% CI 1.24- 3.73, P=0.006), diabetes (OR=2.09, 95% CI 1.05-4.20, P=0.037), chronic hepatitis B (OR=2.91, 95% CI 1.30-6.51, P=0.010), CLL progressive (OR=3.79, 95% CI 1.57-9.15, P=0.003) and CD20 antibody-based treatments within three months prior to the COVID-19 infection (OR=2.79, 95% CI 1.35-5.77, P=0.006) were the risk factors for severe/critical COVID-19. According to the multivariate analysis, CLL progressive (OR=2.98, 95% CI 1.10-8.10, P=0.033) was an independent risk factor for severe/critical COVID-19 and administration of the BTK (Bruton tyrosine kinase) inhibitor monotherapy might exert a protective effect and influence a positive outcome of the COVID-19 infection (OR=0.38, 95% CI 0.16-0.90, P=0.028). Among the 242 patients who were followed up until October 2023, 9.1% (22/242) had multiple subsequent COVID-19 infections (≥3), and 2.1% (5/242) had persistent COVID-19 infections (patients with persistent positive test for the SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing until missing follow-up for any reason). The peak value of the anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG titres was observed between three and four months post symptom onset (median: 3.511 S/CO vs 1.047 S/CO, P<0.05). The levels of immunoglobulin A gradually decreased following infection with COVID-19, and its trough levels were attained between two to four weeks post infection (median: 0.30 g/L vs 0.74 g/L, P<0.05). According to this study the mortality of patients suffering from a combination of COVID-19 infection and CLL was 2.7% (9/328), and the main reason for their death was respiratory failure and heart failure. Conclusions: A low rate of COVID-19 vaccination and a high rate of severe/critical COVID-19 infection was observed in the CLL patients. CLL progressive was associated with severe/critical COVID-19. Anti-CD20-based treatments received within the past three months might be a risk factor for exacerbation of COVID-19 infection, whereas a monotherapy with BTK inhibitors exert a protective effect and improve outcome of COVID-19 infection.

Ibrutinib, a highly effective inhibitor of the Bruton tyrosine kinase, has significantly transformed the therapeutic approach in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Despite these advancements, the disease continues to be characterized by immune dysfunction and increased susceptibility to infections, with mortality rates from infections showing no significant improvement over the past few decades. Therefore, timely prevention, recognition, and treatment of infections remains an important aspect of the standard management of a patient with CLL. A panel of hematologists with expertise in CLL met to discuss existing literature and clinical insights for the management of infectious in CLL undergoing ibrutinib treatment. Despite not being a fully comprehensive review on the topic, this work provides a set of practical recommendations that can serve as a guide to healthcare professionals who manage these patients in their daily clinical practice.

Autologous T-cell-based therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, exhibit low success rates in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and correlate with a dysfunctional T-cell phenotype observed in patients. Despite various proposed mechanisms of T-cell dysfunction in CLL, the specific CLL-derived factors responsible remain unidentified. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms through which CLL cells suppress CAR T-cell activation and function. We found that CLL-derived T cells get activated, albeit in a delayed fashion, and specifically that restimulation of CAR T cells in the presence of CLL cells causes impaired cytokine production and reduced proliferation. Notably, coculture of T cells with CD40-activated CLL cells did not lead to T-cell dysfunction, and this required direct cell contact between the CD40-stimulated CLL cells and T cells. Inhibition of kinases involved in the CD40 signaling cascade revealed that the Spare Respiratory Capacity (SRC) kinase inhibitor dasatinib prevented rescue of T-cell function independent of CD40-mediated increased levels of costimulatory and adhesion ligands on CLL cells. Transcriptome profiling of CD40-stimulated CLL cells with or without dasatinib identified widespread differential gene expression. Selecting for surface receptor genes revealed CD40-mediated downregulation of the Sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 10 (Siglec-10) ligands CD24 and CD52, which was prevented by dasatinib, suggesting a role for these ligands in functional T-cell suppression in CLL. Indeed, blocking CD24 and/or CD52 markedly reduced CAR T-cell dysfunction upon coculture with resting CLL cells. These results demonstrated that T cells derived from CLL patients can be reinvigorated by manipulating CLL-T-cell interactions. Targeting CD24- and CD52-mediated CLL-T-cell interaction could be a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance T-cell function in CLL.

Immune dysregulation is a hallmark of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Anti-CD20 antibodies (e.g., rituximab [R]) can be combined with venetoclax (Ven) to treat CLL. However, anti-CD20 antibodies can increase hypogammaglobulinemia risk, while the effects of Ven on immune dysregulation are still uncertain. We report long-term immune changes in VenR- and bendamustine-R (BR)-treated patients with relapsed/refractory CLL in the MURANO trial (NCT02005471). Patients were randomized to fixed-duration VenR (2 years Ven; VenR for the first 6 months) or BR (6 months). Immune cell levels were evaluated at the end of combination treatment (EOCT), end of treatment (EOT; VenR arm only), and 12 and 24 months post-EOCT. Overall, 130/194 VenR- and 134/195 BR-treated patients completed treatment without progressive disease. In patients who completed VenR combination therapy, median immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels decreased from baseline to EOT (p ≤ 0.01 and p ≤ 0.0001, respectively); by 24 months, post-EOT IgG had returned to baseline level and IgM had increased from baseline (p ≤ 0.001). Median IgA levels increased from baseline to 12 (p ≤ 0.0001) and 24 months post-EOT (p ≤ 0.0001). In BR-treated patients, changes in IgG, IgA, and IgM levels across the assessed time points were not significant, and by 24 months, post-EOCT IgG, IgA, and IgM were above baseline levels. Grade ≥3 infection rates on treatment were low. Overall, immune recovery was observed with VenR and BR, with stabilization of Ig levels after treatment. Post-treatment infection rates were generally low, making these very tolerable therapies for CLL.

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have suggested that BTK inhibitors (BTKis) might increase infectious disease (ID) risk. Systematic analysis of this topic as derived from RCTs and clinical practice is needed.

An extensive Medline, Embase, and Cochrane search of peer-reviewed sources reporting on ID morbidity in patients on BTKis was performed (1 January 2014 - 31 December 2023). Contribution of intrinsic immune defects in indolent B-cell lymphomas to this morbidity was carefully considered.

Patients with indolent B-cell lymphomas display a wide range of innate and adaptive immune defects. In addition, BTKi use is linked with an increased signal of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and pneumonias, mainly grade 1-2. These agents also increase the risk of rare invasive fungal infections (IFIs), mainly due to Cryptococcus and Aspergillus spp. with a peak within several months after the start of therapy. More than half of these IFIs are fatal. Research suggests a similar ID risk across 1st, 2nd and 3rd generations of BTKis, all causing B-cell dysfunction due to BTK inhibition, along with off-target functional neutrophil/macrophage alterations. Expanding the knowledge base on ID morbidity in patients on BTKis would facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment, and improve clinical outcomes.

To date, few cases of concurrent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been reported. Due to the complexity of the pathogenesis and the absence of a uniform treatment regimen, the associated prognosis remains poor. The present study reports the case of a 58-year-old male with asymptomatic leukocytosis, who was previously healthy with no malignancies. Flow cytometry analysis revealed protocytosis, monocytosis and monoclonal B lymphocytosis in a bone marrow specimen. Results of a gene rearrangement assay demonstrated positive immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region gene status in monoclonal B lymphocytes. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with AML with maturation (AML-M2) that co-existed with untreated CLL. The normative daunorubicin (40 mg/m2 on days 1-3) and cytarabine (80 mg/m2 on days 1-7) regimen combined with venetoclax (400 mg on days 1-7) and rituximab (375 mg/m2 on day 0) was used as induction chemotherapy. The patient achieved morphological complete remission in both AML and CLL following the first course of chemotherapy. In addition, the present study retrospectively analyzed the data of 22 patients with concurrent AML and untreated CLL, and the results demonstrated that the median age at the time of AML diagnosis was 69 years (range, 52-86 years). Moreover, the male:female ratio was 6.33:1 and AML-M2 was the most frequent subtype at diagnosis. The presence of a complex karyotype was associated with the poorest prognosis, and patients who received venetoclax often exhibited an improved prognosis. In conclusion, the combination of venetoclax and rituximab improves the prognosis of patients with concurrent AML and untreated CLL.

Patients undergoing allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are at an increased risk of mortality due to transplantation-related complications in the first year post-transplantation, owing in part to the profound immune dysregulation with T cell and B cell lymphopenia and functional impairment. Although several large studies have reported higher mortality rates from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in HSCT recipients, to date no study has focused on the impact of early COVID-19 infection on immune reconstitution post-transplantation and the correlation with transplantation outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 61 consecutive adult patients who underwent their first allogeneic HSCT at our institution. Thirteen patients (21.3%) experienced early COVID-19 infection, with a median time to diagnosis of 100 days post-transplantation. In multivariable analysis, patients with early COVID-19 infection had significantly worse overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26 to 13.05; P = .019) and progression-free survival (aHR, 6.68; 95% CI, 2.11 to 21.11; P = .001). This was attributed mainly to higher nonrelapse mortality (NRM) among early COVID-19 patients (P = .042). Allogeneic HSCT recipients with early COVID-19 infection had significant delays in absolute lymphocyte count (95% CI, -703.69 to -56.79; P = .021), CD3+CD4+ cell (95% CI, -105.35 to -11.59; P = .042), CD3+CD8+ cell (95% CI, -324.55 to -57.13; P = .038), and CD3-CD56+ cell (95% CI, -193.51 to -47.31; P = .014) recovery compared to those without early COVID-19 infection. Our findings suggest that patients with early COVID-19 infection after allogeneic HSCT have higher NRM and worse survival, at least in part due to impaired immune reconstitution post-transplantation.