Treatment and Natural History Study of Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis

This study will evaluate the response and long-term effects of alpha-interferon in patients with lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG). The disease causes proliferation of destructive cells involving the lungs, skin, kidneys, and central nervous system. Patients ages 12 and older who have LYG and who are not pregnant, or breast feeding may be eligible for this study. Alpha interferon or chemotherapy, or both, will be used. Alpha interferon is a protein the body naturally produces. If patients have grade 3 disease, they will usually receive etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin (EPOCH)-rituximab (EPOCH-R) chemotherapy (each letter representing a drug). If patients have grade 1 or 2 disease, they will usually receive alpha interferon. If patients have LYG after receiving alpha interferon and/or EPOCH-R, they may receive rituximab alone or with alpha interferon. Rituximab is an antibody, binding to a specific molecule cluster of differentiation 20 (CD20) present on most B-cell lymphomas. Doses of several drugs in EPOCH-R may be increased if patients tolerated them in the previous cycle. If patients respond to EPOCH-R but still have low grade LYG, they may receive alpha interferon. Researchers will also try to obtain a biopsy of patient's lesions, to help in understanding the disease. Patients self-administer alpha interferon by injection under the skin three times weekly. They will visit the clinic every 2 to 12 weeks for follow-up. Patients will receive alpha interferon for 1 year after LYG goes away, depending on response. EPOCH-R has these drugs: rituximab by vein on Day 1; prednisone by mouth on Days 1 to 5; etoposide, doxorubicin, and vincristine as a continuous intravenous infusion on Days 1 to 5; and cyclophosphamide by intravenous injection over 1 hour on Day 5. Each cycle lasts 3 weeks: 5 days of chemotherapy and 16 days of no chemotherapy. Etoposide, doxorubicin, and vincristine are infused through a small pump worn by patients. The drugs are given over 5 days through a central intravenous catheter. There are two cycles of EPOCH-R beyond a maximum response, with six cycles maximum. To reduce harm to bone marrow, patients receive granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), self-administered by injection under the skin daily for approximately 10 days between chemotherapy cycles. If at the end of therapy, patients have a complete response, treatment will stop. If there is residual low-grade disease, patients may receive alpha interferon. Alpha interferon can have flu-like side effects of headache, fever, chills, and body aches. EPOCH-R drugs can cause gastrointestinal problems, hair loss, and weakness. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can cause bone pain, body aches, and hair thinning. Chemotherapy can cause some patients to develop leukemia. This study may or may not have a direct benefit for participants. It is not certain whether the new therapy will help decrease tumors. However, knowledge gained may improve the understanding of and treatment for LYG. ...

Sex

All

Minimum age

12 Years

* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients must have a tissue-diagnosis of grade 1, 2 and/or 3 lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) (or a diagnosis consistent with LYG) confirmed by the Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute (NCI). Final histopathologic classification and pathologic grade will be determined by Stephania Pittaluga, medical doctor (M.D.) or her designee.

Patients with any stage of disease will be eligible.

Previously untreated and treated patients are eligible.

Patients aged 12 or older will be eligible.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients with a history of coronary artery disease with angina pectoris, or a history of congestive heart failure will not be eligible to receive. etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) chemotherapy.

Patients with significant renal (serum creatinine (Cr.) greater than 1.5 mg/dl or creatinine clearance less than 40 cc/min) or hepatic (bilirubin greater than 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) dysfunction not due to tumor involvement will not be eligible to receive DA-EPOCH-R chemotherapy.

Informed consent must be obtained.

Patients who in the opinion of the principal investigator are poor psychiatric or medical risk are not eligible.

Patients who received \> 450 mg/m\^2 doxorubicin and have a cardiac ejection fraction on echocardiogram less than or equal to 40% on protocol entry are not eligible to received DA-EPOCH-R.

Patients with prior hepatitis B exposure may be included in the study provided that they have hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) levels below the World Health Organizations cutoff of 100 IU/mL prior to starting therapy.

• DERIVEDMelani C, Dowdell K, Pittaluga S, Dunleavy K, Roschewski M, Song JY, Calattini S, Kawada JI, Price DA, Chattopadhyay PK, Roederer M, Lucas AN, Steinberg SM, Jaffe ES, Cohen JI, Wilson WH. Interferon alfa-2b in patients with low-grade lymphomatoid granulomatosis and chemotherapy with DA-EPOCH-R in patients with high-grade lymphomatoid granulomatosis: an open-label, single-centre, phase 2 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2023 May;10(5):e346-e358. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(23)00029-7. Epub 2023 Mar 31. PMID 37011643