Case Report: Composite Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma and Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive B-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder as Other Iatrogenic Immunodeficiency-Associated Lymphoproliferative Disorders
Seiji Kakiuchi1,2* 
Kimikazu Yakushijin2 
Ikumi Takagi1 Junpei Rikitake1,2 Hiroaki Akiyama1 Hiroyuki Matsuba1 Yoshitake Hayashi3 Kazuyoshi Kajimoto4 Nobuko Iwata1- 1Department of Hematology, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, Osaka, Japan
- 2Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- 3Division of Molecular Medicine & Medical Genetics, Department of Pathology, Kobe Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- 4Department of Pathology, Hyogo Cancer Center, Akashi, Japan
Immunosuppressants are widely used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and their adverse effects have been known to cause other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (OIIA-LPDs). We report a patient with RA who had been treated with methotrexate (MTX) and tacrolimus (TAC) and who developed whole body lymphadenopathy. We simultaneously confirmed angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) through a right cervical lymph node biopsy and Epstein-Barr virus-positive B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV-positive B-LPD) through a bone marrow examination. After cessation of immunosuppressant therapy, both LPDs completely disappeared. Patients with AITL are occasionally reported to develop B-cell lymphoma through reactivation of the EBV, which leads to clonal expansion in the microenvironment. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that both LPD components were positive for EBV-encoded RNA. Moreover, in this patient, the plasma EBV DNA level was found to be high; therefore, EBV infection was a probable etiology. Synchronous coexistence of AITL and B-LPD as an OIIA-LPD has rarely been reported. This case report is the first to discuss the disappearance of both LPDs on withdrawal of immunosuppressants only. AITL occasionally accompany B-LPD; however, this composite lymphoma comprised AITL and B-LPD, and OIIA-LPDs should not be overlooked.
Introduction
According to the World Health Organization classification of tumors of hemopoietic and lymphoid tissues, other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (OIIA-LPD) is categorized as an immunodeficiency-related lymphoproliferative disorder. It is associated with anti-rheumatoid arthritis drugs including methotrexate (MTX), tacrolimus (TAC), and biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic medication such as anti-TNFα drugs (1). B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma comprise most OIIA-LPDs, whereas T-cell lymphoma or natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma comprise between 4 and 8% only (1–5). To date, only 50 patients (men, n = 26; women, n = 24) with MTX-associated T-LPDs (MTX T-LPDs) have been reported, including our patient, as detailed in Table 1 (2, 4, 6–18). Of these, 49 patients were treated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and one patient was treated for polymyalgia rheumatica. Data concerning the duration of MTX usage was available for 38 patients, and the median duration was 5 years (range, 0.4–24 years). Treatment for 38 patients initially involved the withdrawal of MTX only and, of these, 35 patients improved post-MTX cessation [complete response (CR), n = 31; partial response (PR), n = 4]. Chemotherapy was the initial treatment for 12 patients and response data was recorded for 10 patients [CR, n = 9; progressive disease (PD), n = 1]. Finally, data of 48 patients were available comprising 35 patients with a CR, four patients with a PR, and nine patients with PD. In total, 10 of 48 patients relapsed or progressed after initial treatment.
Table 1. Clinicopathological features of methotrexate-associated T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.
We encountered a 73-year-old male with a long medication history of MTX and TAC administration for the treatment of RA, who developed composite lymphomas consisting of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and Epstein-Barr virus-positive B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV-positive B-LPD). Considering the possibility of OIIA-LPD, we discontinued immunosuppressant therapy and undertook careful observation. Immunohistochemical test results indicated composite lymphomas, and both tumors were EBV-encoded RNA (EBER)-positive. In addition, his plasma level of EBV DNA copies was also high. He achieved CR only after immunosuppressant withdrawal. Therefore, composite lymphomas can be considered MTX-associated LPDs with different lineages and, here, we report one such type as a first case.
Case Presentation
A 73-year-old man with a 20-year history of RA and a medication history of MTX (duration, 17.8 years), TAC (duration, 10.2 years), and prednisolone (PSL) was admitted to our hospital with a 4-day history of high fever and fatigue. On arrival, his vital signs were normal, except for his heart rate (113 beats/min) and body temperature (40.1°C). On physical examination, we observed right cervical lymphadenopathy. His blood test results are described in Table 2. His soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level was markedly elevated (11,200 IU/mL; normal range, 145–519 IU/mL). A whole body computed tomography (CT) scan revealed bilateral cervical, subclavian, axilla, inguinal, mediastinal, portal, periaortic, and pelvic lymph node swelling. Given his medication history of immunosuppressant therapy, we assumed the possibility of an OIIA-LPD and consequently discontinued MTX and TAC. We continued PSL only and started intravenous antibiotics, and his elevated body temperature was soon resolved. On day 2, a bone marrow examination was conducted, and a cervical lymph node biopsy was performed on day 7.
Table 2. Patient laboratory data on admission.
Histopathological examination of the bone marrow biopsy revealed scattered infiltration of large atypical lymphocytes (Figures 1A,B). These cells were positive for CD20, CD25, and MUM1, and negative for CD3 (Figure 1C). EBER-positive lymphocytes were detected using in situ hybridization background staining (Figure 1D). However, histological examination of the lymph nodes showed an effaced structure with a marked increase in small-to-medium-sized atypical mononuclear cells with irregular nuclei and clear cytoplasm in a background of arborizing endothelial venules (Figures 2A,B). Immunostaining showed these atypical cells were positive for CD3 and CD4, and large immunoblastic lymphocytes scattered among the neoplastic cells were positive for CD20 (Figure 2C). No Reed-Sternberg-like cells were observed. In addition, the neoplastic cells were positive for BCL6 and CD10, suggestive of the follicular T-helper cell phenotype. Podoplanin immunostaining, a highly effective marker of follicular dendritic cells, showed an expanded follicular dendritic cell meshwork, although it was negative for CD21 (Figure 2D) (19, 20). PD-1-positive lymphocytes were EBER-negative, while CD20-positive background cells were EBER-positive (Figures 2E,F).
Figure 1. Histopathology of bone marrow biopsy showing scattered infiltration of atypical large lymphocytes. (A) Low-power view of the bone marrow biopsy (H&E stain, ×50). (B) High-power view of the atypical lymphocytes (H&E stain, ×200). (C) Immunohistochemical staining of CD20-positive lymphoproliferative cells (×400). (D) EBER in situ hybridization indicating positive signals in the nuclei of background cells (×200).
Figure 2. Photomicrography of the nodal biopsy. (A) Low-power view reveals effaced structure by marked infiltrate of small-to-medium-sized atypical lymphocytes with clear cytoplasm (H&E stain, ×100). (B) High-power view showing polymorphous lymphoid infiltrate with high endothelial venules (H&E stain, ×400). (C) Immunohistochemically, large immunoblastic lymphocytes were positive for CD20 (×400). (D) Podoplanin immunostain revealed expanded follicular dendritic cell meshwork (×400). (E) EBER in situ hybridization followed by PD-1 immunostaining showed that lymphoma cells were negative for EBER. (F) EBER in situ hybridization followed by the immunostaining of CD20 indicated positive-signal lymphocytes infiltrate indicating positive signals in the nuclei of background cells (×600).
Diagnoses of AITL from cervical lymph nodes and of EBV-positive polymorphic B-LPD from bone marrow were confirmed. Thereafter, his lymph node swellings gradually regressed and his general condition improved. On day 22, he was discharged from hospital. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction for plasma EBV DNA on that day showed 1,700 copies/106 cells (normal range, <20). On day 24, a fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/CT scan revealed CR. His sIL-2R level dropped to 622 IU/mL on day 47, then returned to a normal level (421 IU/mL) on day 68. In addition, a bone marrow examination was conducted on day 148. Flow cytometry showed no abnormal cells, the G-band showed a normal karyotype, immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) rearrangement was negative, and no evidence of disease was histologically evident. Thus, he achieved CR. So far, he is still in disease-free for more than 20 months.
Discussion
We encountered a patient with RA who had been treated with immunosuppressant therapy, who developed composite lymphomas consisting of AITL and EBV-positive B-LPD. To date, only 3 cases have been reported that have exhibited metachronous or synchronous coexistence of AITL and B-LPD as OIIA-LPDs, comprising two metachronous cases and one synchronous case (9, 17). Concerning the synchronous case, Satou et al. presented a 72-year-old woman with RA who had received MTX (17). She was diagnosed with AITL through lymph node biopsy, and was found to be EBV-positive according to cutaneous lesion biopsy results. The disease did not exhibit spontaneous regression after MTX withdrawal; therefore, she was treated with a combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone and achieved CR. She remained alive 6 months after diagnosis without recurrence. Satou et al. also reported a 66-year-old woman with RA who had received MTX for 2.5 years as a metachronous case. Lymph node biopsy results were used to diagnose AITL and a CR was achieved post-MTX withdrawal. Thereafter, she relapsed and was found to have lymphadenopathy, and the lymph node biopsy results indicated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). She died of the disease 93 months after initial diagnosis. Concerning a second metachronous case, Ishibuchi et al. presented a 66-year-old woman with polymyalgia rheumatica and a 4-month history of MTX therapy (9). An inguinal lymph node biopsy was performed and she was diagnosed with AITL. MTX therapy was stopped and the disease disappeared 6 months after MTX cessation. Eight months later, subcutaneous nodules appeared and a biopsy was performed, which later revealed DLBCL. With discontinuation of MTX only, the disease also regressed after 4 months. To our knowledge, no case of AITL and B-LPD simultaneously occurring and both disappearing through withdrawal of immunosuppressant therapy only has previously been reported prior to our case.
Composite lymphoma, a term introduced by Custer (21), is a rare pathological condition in which two different lymphomas co-exist simultaneously in one patient. Composite lymphoma has been reported to account for 1–4% of all lymphoma cases (22). Additionally, an analysis of 9,426 lymphoma cases in Japan revealed OIIA-LPD accounted for 147 (1.56%) cases (23). As previously stated, only 50 patients with MTX T-LPD have been reported. Composite lymphoma including T-cell lineage as an OIIA-LPD appears to be extremely rare and, as such, the clinicopathological features of MTX T-LPD remain to be elucidated. Clinicopathological feature of MTX T-LPD has yet to be elucidated because of its rarity. However, concerning our case, we consider EBV has key roles in lymphomagenesis.
In terms of EBV, Feng et al. suggested that MTX may directly reactivate latent EBV, as another cause of immunodeficiency, and lead to the development of LPDs in most MTX-associated LPDs (24). However, most proliferative T- and NK-cells are negative for EBV in MTX T-LPDs. Therefore, this suggestion does not appear readily applicable. As described in Table 1, while the tumor cells were positive for EBV in 8 (17%) of 48 patients, background cells were positive in 32 (82%) of 39 patients with available data (2, 4, 6–18). In relation to patients with AITL or those with AITL-like lymphomas, background cells were EBV-positive in 24 (96%) of 25 patients with available data. Therefore, immunodeficiency may suppress EBV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes activity (25), and the reactivation of EBV suggests that the patients are immunodeficient and may suppress any immune response to prevent tumor growth. Furthermore, the relationship between EBV-positive background B-cells and AITL should be noted. AITL is a neoplasm due to clonal expansion of germinal center T-cells (26). Moreover, microarray studies have shown that tumor cells originate from follicular helper T-cells (27, 28). Of note, patients with AITL are frequently found to have EBV-positive B-cells in the microenvironment, as mentioned earlier. These B-cells accumulate somatic mutations through clonal expansion, and it has been suggested that some of these mutated cells develop B-cell lymphomas (29). Approximately 10% of patients with AITL have been found to have concurrent B-cell lymphoma at diagnosis or during the course of the disease (30, 31). In our case, B-LPD cells as well as CD20-positive cells surrounding AITL cells were EBER-positive. We speculate that MTX-associated EBV reactivation may have triggered the mutation and caused clonal expansion into the B-cells surrounding the AITL cells, leading to the development of B-LPD. Moreover, immunosuppressant can certainly accelerate lymphomageneses through inhibition of cytotoxic T-cell activity.
This case is the first to report AITL and EBV-positive B-LPD co-occurring as an OIIA-LPD that disappeared after we stopped immunosuppressant therapy only. AITL is known as a lymphoma that occasionally complicates B-LPD; thus, AITL co-locating with B-cell LPD as an OIIA-LPD might be overlooked. It is important to note that AITL can accompany B-LPD simultaneously or at a later stage, regardless of whether it is an OIIA-LPD.
Data Availability Statement
The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found in the article/supplementary material.
Author Contributions
SK and KY wrote the manuscript, with support from all other authors. IT, JR, HA, HM, and NI treated the patient and provided the clinical history. YH and KK performed the histological examinations. All authors have critically revised and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Keywords: composite lymphoma, Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, methotrexate, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), clonal expansion
Citation: Kakiuchi S, Yakushijin K, Takagi I, Rikitake J, Akiyama H, Matsuba H, Hayashi Y, Kajimoto K and Iwata N (2020) Case Report: Composite Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma and Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive B-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder as Other Iatrogenic Immunodeficiency-Associated Lymphoproliferative Disorders. Front. Med. 7:625442. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.625442
Received: 03 November 2020; Accepted: 07 December 2020;
Published: 23 December 2020.
Edited by:
Paolo Fabrizio Caimi, Case Western Reserve University, United StatesCopyright © 2020 Kakiuchi, Yakushijin, Takagi, Rikitake, Akiyama, Matsuba, Hayashi, Kajimoto and Iwata. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Seiji Kakiuchi, kakky_49@yahoo.co.jp