Secondary malignancies among mantle cell lymphoma patients

With modern treatments, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients more frequently experience long-lasting remission resulting in a growing population of long-term survivors. Follow-up care includes identification and management of treatment-related late-effects, such as secondary malignancies (SM). We conducted a population-based study to describe the burden of SM in MCL patients.

All patients with a primary diagnosis of MCL, aged ≥ 18 years and diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 in Sweden were included along with up to 10 individually matched population comparators. Follow-up was from twelve months after diagnosis/matching until death, emigration, or December 2019, whichever occurred first. Rates of SM among patients and comparators were estimated using the Anderson-Gill method (accounting for repeated events) and presented as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age at diagnosis, calendar year, sex, and the number of previous events.

Overall, 1 452 patients and 13 992 comparators were followed for 6.6 years on average. Among patients, 230 (16%) developed at least one SM, and 264 SM were observed. Relative to comparators, patients had a higher rate of SM, HR_adj= 1.6 (95%CI:1.4-1.8), and higher rates were observed across all primary treatment groups: the Nordic-MCL2 protocol, R-CHOP, R-bendamustine, ibrutinib, lenalidomide, and R-CHOP/Cytarabine. Compared to Nordic-MCL2, treatment with R-bendamustine was independently associated with an increased risk of SM, HR_adj= 2.0 (95%CI:1.3-3.2). Risk groups among patients were those with a higher age at diagnosis (p < 0.001), males (p = 0.006), and having a family history of lymphoma (p = 0.009). Patients had preferably higher risk of melanoma, other neoplasms of the skin and other hematopoietic and lymphoid malignancies.

MCL survivors have an increased risk of SM, particularly if treated with R-bendamustine. The intensive treatments needed for long-term remissions are a concern, and transition to treatment protocols with sustained efficacy but with a lower risk of SM is needed.