MALT lymphoma natural history

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sujit Routray, M.D. [2], Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [3]

Overview

MALT lymphoma is usually slow growing (indolent), but some can be high grade. If left untreated, MALT lymphoma may progress to develop fever, anemia, weight loss, and large cell lymphoma. Complications of MALT lymphoma include anemia, cachexia, obstruction, and perforation of small intestine. The prognosis is good, and the 10-year survival rate for gastric MALT lymphoma is approximately 90% with a disease-free survival of approximately 70%. However, in rare instances, MALT lymphoma can progress and transform into aggressive high-grade tumors, such as extranodal diffuse large B cell lymphoma (eDLBCL), whereby the 10-year survival rate drops to approximately 42%.

Natural History

Many people are diagnosed with localized or early stage disease that has not spread elsewhere in the body. MALT lymphoma is usually slow growing (indolent), but some can be high grade. They often remain in the area in which they started for a long period of time.
If left untreated, MALT lymphoma may progress to develop fever, anemia, weight loss, and large cell lymphoma.

Complications

Complications of MALT lymphoma include:

Prognosis

The prognosis is good, and the 10-year survival rate for gastric MALT lymphoma is approximately 90% with a disease-free survival of approximately 70%.^[1]
However, in rare instances, MALT lymphoma can progress and transform into aggressive high-grade tumors, such as extranodal diffuse large B cell lymphoma (eDLBCL), whereby the 10-year survival rate drops to approximately 42%.
A t(11;18)(q21;q21) chromosomal translocation, giving rise to a AP12-MLT fusion gene, is predictive of poor response to eradication therapy.^[2]

References

↑ Troppan, Katharina; Wenzl, Kerstin; Neumeister, Peter; Deutsch, Alexander (2015). “Molecular Pathogenesis of MALT Lymphoma”. Gastroenterology Research and Practice. 2015: 1–10. doi:10.1155/2015/102656. ISSN 1687-6121.
↑ Liu H, Ruskon-Fourmestraux A, Lavergne-Slove A, Ye H, Molina T, Bouhnik Y, Hamoudi R, Diss T, Dogan A, Megraud F, Rambaud J, Du M, Isaacson P (2001). “Resistance of t(11;18) positive gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma to Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy”. Lancet. 357 (9249): 39–40. PMID 11197361.

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[TroppanWenzl2015-1] Troppan, Katharina; Wenzl, Kerstin; Neumeister, Peter; Deutsch, Alexander (2015). “Molecular Pathogenesis of MALT Lymphoma”. Gastroenterology Research and Practice. 2015: 1–10. doi:10.1155/2015/102656. ISSN 1687-6121.

[2] Liu H, Ruskon-Fourmestraux A, Lavergne-Slove A, Ye H, Molina T, Bouhnik Y, Hamoudi R, Diss T, Dogan A, Megraud F, Rambaud J, Du M, Isaacson P (2001). “Resistance of t(11;18) positive gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma to Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy”. Lancet. 357 (9249): 39–40. PMID 11197361.

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