Successful Treatment of Extranodal Natural Killer T Cell Lymphoma Nasal Type Complicated by Severe Hemophagocytic Syndrome A Case Report

Introduction

Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type(ENKL), is a rare malignancy of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis [1]. It is mostly endemic to East Asia and is associated with Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) infection [2]. Its lesions are predominantly present in the Upper Aerodigestive Tract (UADT) such as the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses or palate. Less commonly, ENKL can manifest at extra nasal locations like the lung, skin, soft tissue, gastrointestinal tract, and testis. Since the neoplasm can destroy the midline facial structures, the disease used to be known as lethal midline granuloma [3,4].The presentation of the disease at extra nasal locations is nonspecific and may mimic many other benign or malignant lesions. Patients with extra nasal presentation often have more adverse clinical features such as an advanced stage, elevated LDH and poor performance status, and the survival rate is inferior compared with the nasal sites [5-7]. Hemophagocytic Syndrome (HPS), also known as Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), is highly heterogeneous and comprises primary and secondary types.
Secondary HPS is associated with a variety of underlying conditions such as infection, malignancy, and autoimmune diseases. ENKL is frequently complicated with HPS, and survival is discouraging in this circumstance [8]. However, no standard treatment has been established based on the results of randomized controlled trials because of the rarity of the disease [9]. Here, we report a case of ENKL complicated by severe Lymphoma- Associated Hemophagocytic Syndrome (LAHS). The patient was treated according to the R-DEP (ruxolitinib, liposomal doxorubicin,VP-16,dexamethasone) chemotherapeutic regimen, and the hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis gradually improved during chemotherapy. Then P-Gemox (pegaspargase, gemcitabine, oxaliplatin) chemotherapy in combination with the use of anti- PD1 antibody (Sintilimab Injection ) were performed and achieved PR(partial remission). For personal reasons, the patient chose a different hospital to continue the treatment. He achieved CR (Complete Remission) with the therapy of anti-PD1 antibody and Chidamide. Unit now the patient has received the therapy for almost one year and follow up regularly in outpatient department.

Case Report

A 32-year-old non-smoking man was emergently transferred to our hospital on June 30, 2019, because of a month-long highgrade fever, cough, left-sided chest pain and blood in phlegm. Prior to this, the patient had a history of trauma to the right lower limb and the wound healed itself. About ten days later he presented to a local hospital with the above-mentioned chief complaint and a chest computed tomography scan showed multiple nodules, ground-glass opacities and patchy infiltration scattered in both lung fields. Then he had been treated as for pneumonia. However, his clinical condition did not improve. The patient was therefore admitted to our hospital for further evaluation and treatment. There was no relevant personal or family medical history for this patient. The physical examination upon admission revealed a palpable mass(3cm)on the left dorsal side and the lower margin of the right 9th rib, respectively. Fine rales were heard in the lower left lung. Hematologic examination showed a white blood cell count of 2.67×109/L, a hemoglobin concentration of 11.6 g/ dL, and a platelet count of 77×109/L. Serum chemistry showed abnormal results as follows: aspartate aminotransferase (AST)115 IU/L, alanine aminotransferase (ALT)133 IU/L, fibrinogen 1.13g/L, lactate dehydrogenase 966IU/L (normally 114–240 IU/L),Creactive protein 25.53 mg/L (normally less than 10mg/L),the procalcitonin level 0.17ng/ml(normally<0.05ng/ml),triglyceride 2.96mmol/L (normally 0.33-1.7 mmmol/L), serum ferritin8141.3 ㎍/L (normally 20–200 ㎍/L), soluble interleukin (IL)- 2 receptor>7500U/mL (normally 223–710U/mL) and natural killer (NK) cell activity 1.75%.In addition, his plasma EBV DNA level was 4300copies/ml. A bone marrow aspiration did not show lymphoma involvement (Figure 1).

Figure 1:

a) PET/CT revealing heterogeneous hypermetabolic masses in both lung fields, as well as hepatic, splenic, osseous, soft tissue, and multiple lymph node metastases that involved the mediastinum, porta hepatis, bilateral hilum of lung.
b) Chest CT scan showing multiple nodules, ground-glass opacities and patchy infiltration in both lungs.

The patient was HIV negative. Two sets of blood cultures, and tumor markers, including CEA,SCC, CFRA21-1,Pro-GRP, and NSE were all normal. The G test and GM test were both negative. Antinuclear antibody, anti-ENA antibodies, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were all negative. Administration of broadspectrum antibiotics did not resolve hissymptoms. Bronchoscopic examination did not give a definite diagnosis. Lung nodules increased and grew larger, and hypoxia progressed. A CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy of the left lower lung was performed (Figure 2). During the course of treatment, FDG PET/CT was conducted and revealed heterogeneous hypermetabolic masses in both lung fields, as well as hepatic, splenic, osseous, soft tissue on the left dorsal side and the lower margin of the right 9th rib, and multiple lymph node metastases that involved the mediastinum, porta hepatis, bilateral hilum of lung. Then we also performed a ultrasound-guided percutaneous puncture biopsy of soft tissue at the lower margin of the right 9th rib. Immunohistochemical staining of these two specimens both yielded positive results for CD56, CD3, CD2,and the Ki-67 proliferation index was 80%;in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded early small RNAs (EBER) was also positive; however, results were negative for CD79a,CD20.

Figure 2: PET-CT on December 24, 2019, showing that the lesions almost disappeared.

Moreover, Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was confirmed by cytopenia, fever, splenomegaly, hyperserotonemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low natural killer (NK) cell activity and increased circulating soluble IL-2 receptor. A diagnosis of ENKL complicated by LAHS was made. The markedly elevated circulating plasma EBV-DNA level supported the diagnosis. R-DEP(ruxolitinib, liposomal doxorubicin,VP-16,dexamethasone) chemotherapeutic regimen was performed to control the LAHS and it gradually improved during chemotherapy. Then six cycles of P-GEMOX(pegaspargase, gemcitabine, oxaliplatin) chemotherapy in combination with the use of anti-PD1 antibody(Sintilimab Injection) were performed and achieved PR(partial remission) after the treatment. Although the patient suffered from septic shock caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in the neutropenic period, he was cured by broad-spectrum antibiotics when neutrophil improved. For personal reasons, the patient chose a different hospital to continue the treatment. He achieved CR(complete remission) confirmed by using positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PETCT) with the therapy of anti-PD1 antibody(Tislelizumab Injection) and Chidamide. Until now the patient has received the therapy for more than one year and follow up regularly in outpatient department (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Pathologic findings in CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy specimens.
a) Histologically, a small number of nuclear hyperchromatic cells presented with large areas of observable necrosis(HEstaining;magnification,×400).
b) Immunohistochemical staining positive for the expression of CD2(magnification,×400).
c) Immunohistochemical staining positive for CD3 expression (magnification,×400).
d) Immunohistochemical staining positive for the expression of CD56 (magnification,×400).
e) Immunohistochemical staining positive for the expression of TIA-1(magnification,×400).
f) In situ hybridization positive for EBV-encoded RNA (magnification,×400).

Discussion

To our knowledge, there have been only a few reports documenting long-term remission in patients with ENKL complicated by severe LAHS. Han et al conducted a study comparing NK/T-LAHS with LAHS associated with other T cell lymphomas, which indicated that both had poor prognosis with a median survival time of 28 and 33 days, respectively [10]. Chang, et al. [11] identified that a long diagnosis time was a poor prognostic factor for patients with LAHS. So the early identification of lymphoma-associated HPS is essential to improve patient, prognosis. However it is challenging since misdiagnosis often occurs as fever and pancytopenia may also be caused by severe infection. The CT findings of pulmonary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are varied and nonspecific. Patchy consolidations, nodules, and masses are the most frequent CT findings and infiltrations can also be seen [12]. It is reported that PET-CT may act as a significant tool to assess patients with LAHS, as it is highly sensitive in detecting neoplasms of the majority of histologic subtypes of lymphoma, and also demonstrates extensive 18‑fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in tumor tissues [13]. Anyhow there is no non-invasive test specific enough to make a correct diagnosis of ENKL. So lymphoma complicated with HPS should be considered in patients presenting with fever, cough, dyspnea and pancytopenia, associated with unilateral or bilateral pulmonary consolidation and pleural effusion, when combination therapy involving numerous antimicrobial agents has failed. A proper diagnosis may be established by a histopathological examination.
The International Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma Project demonstrated that extranasal NK/T-cell lymphoma (nasal type) has worse clinical features and survival rate, even in cases with apparently localised disease, than nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma in extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma [14].In this report, the tumor involved multiple organs throughout the patient’s body. As with the progressive disease courses and poor prognosis, effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. As for HPS, the patient was treated according to the R-DEP(ruxolitinib, liposomal doxorubicin,VP-16,dexamethasone) chemotherapeutic regimen, and the overall condition of the patient gradually improved during chemotherapy. Nevertheless, it was equally important to treat primary diseases as well as treating HPS [11]. Regarding ENKL, no standard treatment has been established based on the results of randomized controlled trials because of the rarity of the disease [9]. ENKL cells are associated with a high expression of P-glycoprotein, leading to multidrug resistance that is likely responsible for the poor response to conventional anthracycline-based chemotherapy [15]. P-GEMOX is a modification of the Gemcitabine, L-Asparaginase, and Oxaliplatin (GELOX) regimen in which L-asparaginase is switched to pegaspargase and was also included as a suggested treatment regimen for ENKL in the NCCN guidelines [16]. In a retrospective analysis of 117 patients with ENKL (96 with newly diagnosed ENKL and 21 with relapsed/refractory(R/R) disease), the P-GEMOX regimen resulted in an ORR of 88% and responses were similar for patients with newly diagnosed and R/R ENKL [17].
Recently, newer agents for ENKL, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitor, have been shown to exhibit promising efficacy. Tislelizumab is an anti-human programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) monoclonal IgG4 antibody that is being developed by Bei Gene as an immunotherapeutic, anti-neoplastic drug. Tislelizumab has been investigated in haematological cancers and advanced solid tumours, leading to its approval in December 2019 in China for patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma after at least secondline chemotherapy [18].The registration of tislelizumab for other indications is currently underway. Chidamide (CS055, HBI-8000),a novel oral benzamide class of subtype-selective inhibitor of HDAC 1,2,3 and10,inhibited cell proliferation and interfered withPI3KAkt- mTOR and MAPK signaling. A prospective phase II trial in China illustrated that chidamide monotherapy was effective in 15 patients (detailed disease stages not reported) with relapsed/refractory extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma [19]. In our case the patient has already received the therapy of anti-PD1 antibody with Chidamide for more than one year, showing that this treatment is effective and safe. As randomized trials comparing different regimens have not yet been conducted and standard therapy has not yet been established for these patients, treatment should be individualized based on patient, tolerance and comorbidities.

Conclusion

At this moment, there is no recommended treatment for ENKL complicated with HPS because of the extreme rarity of this entity. It was equally important to treat primary diseases as well as treating HPS. L-asparaginase-containing regimens are the cornerstone for treating ENKL. In this modern ENKL treatment era, newer agents are being investigated for treating ENKL and prospective multicenter trials need to be performed to establish an optimal treatment for this rare and dismal disease.

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