Spontaneous regression of breast lymphoproliferative disorders after withdrawal of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis patients with Epstein–Barr virus infection: a case report and review of the literature

Lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) has been shown to occur in some patients who are immunosuppressed due to treatment with methotrexate (MTX), hence the name MTX-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-LPD). It is known that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a high risk of developing malignant lymphoma, but epidemiological evidence of an association between the use of MTX and development of lymphoma is still unclear [1]. At present, LPD that arises in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs, including biologic drugs for autoimmune diseases, is categorized as “other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (OIIA-LPD)”, other than in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues, 4th edition (2008).

Unlike usual malignant lymphomas, MTX-LPDs are relatively common in extranodal sites such as the skin, lungs, and oral and pharyngeal cavities; genetic factors and accumulated inflammation are characteristic of MTX-LPD [1]. Moreover, the relationship between Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and MTX-LPD has been previously indicated by the WHO classification [2]. In some cases, MTX-LPD has shown partial regression in response to drug withdrawal alone, and the majority of this response has occurred in EBV-positive cases [3]. Currently, MTX-LPD has become widely recognized, and MTX is more often discontinued when MTX-LPD is suspected. However, MTX-LPDs of the breast are very rare and difficult to diagnose, because only six cases have been reported thus far [4‐9]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on EBV-positive LPD in the mammary gland, which disappeared spontaneously after MTX was discontinued.

A 63-year-old Asian woman presented with intermittent fever of approximately 38.0 °C, which had lasted for 2 weeks and did respond to antipyretics. She had no night sweating or weight loss. She had been suffering from RA for 37 years and had been taking MTX for more than 15 years. The latest medication doses were 14 mg/week of MTX, 5 mg/day of prednisolone, and 1 mg/day of tacrolimus. She did not receive any other immunosuppressive medication. Other medical history included diabetes, atypical mycobacteriosis, and hepatitis B and there was no family history of lymphoproliferative disorders or malignancies. The patient did not smoke or drink alcohol.

At the time of admission, she had fever of 38.0 °C. Physical examination showed a 3-cm palpable mass in the left breast. There were no visible skin changes and no palpable lymph nodes. Laboratory studies (Table 1) revealed slightly elevated levels of C-reactive protein and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R). EBV-viral capsid antigen antibody immunoglobulin G and EBV nuclear antibody (EBNA) were also increased. We performed contrast-enhanced computer tomography of her chest and abdomen for general evaluation. Results revealed a mass in the left breast, a subcutaneous nodule in the abdomen, a mass in the left lung, and a nodule in the left retroperitoneum (Fig. 1). We suspected that these tumors were associated with administration of MTX; thus, MTX was discontinued immediately, and the patient was hospitalized for medical examination.

One week after MTX withdrawal, imaging evaluation was performed. Craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique mammography showed a high-density mass with undefined margins in the internal lower left breast quadrant (Fig. 2). Ultrasonography (US) showed a 4.5-cm heterogeneous hyperechoic mass in the internal region of the left breast, which had a low echo area spread like a cord, and blood flow was partially observed along the low echo area (Fig. 3). Contrast-enhanced bilateral breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a well-defined mass in the same area. The contrast effect appeared only on margins and part of the interior, and the non-imaged mass showed a high signal in fat suppressed T2 weighted image (Fig. 4).

Subsequently, an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy was performed on the left breast mass. Biopsies from the breast mass were primarily composed of necrotic tissue and revealed the proliferation of atypical lymphocytes with enlarged nuclei around the blood vessel. On immunohistochemical staining, lymphoid cells were positive for CD20, CD79a, and BCL-2, but negative for CD3, CD7, and CD10. EBV-encoded RNA1 (EBER1), latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), and EBV-nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) were positive, and the tumor was thus categorized as latency type III EBV infection (Fig. 5).

The tumors began to shrink after MTX was discontinued. Based on these clinical course and pathological findings, the definitive diagnosis was consistent with MTX-LPD merging into an EBV-positive, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). One month following withdrawal of MTX, the breast mass had become smaller, about 2-cm in diameter on US. Six months later, the mass had markedly shrunk like a scar (Fig. 6), and the patient remained in good health for 1 year after the withdrawal of MTX with no evidence of relapse of LPD. To treat the patient’s RA, iguratimod, salazosulfapyridine, and bucillamine were prescribed instead of MTX, and they provided adequate RA control. The patient is currently on a follow-up plan involving core laboratory studies, including sIL-2R every 3 months, and breast US every 6 months to 1 year.

MTX has generally become the first-line drug for the treatment of RA since its adoption in the 1980s. It provides benefits for a considerable number of RA patients but is unfortunately associated with several adverse side effects [10]. The first association between MTX and lymphoma was reported in 1991 when Ellman et al. uncovered lymphoma developing in an RA patient who was administered MTX [11]. After similar cases had been reported, this condition became known as MTX-LPD.

In rare cases, MTX-LPD occurs in the breast, and we reviewed only seven such cases, including the present case [4‐9] (Table 2). All patients had a history of RA treated with MTX, and two patients received other anti-rheumatoid agents in combination with MTX. All patients were female. One case occurred in the nipple-ring complex, and another case occurred independently in the mammary gland. At the time of lymphoma diagnosis, the median age was 69 years (range, 63–79 years). The majority of patients had long-standing RA (median duration 20 years; range, 14–37 years). The periods of MTX administration varied from 7 months to 17 years. Six patients had DLBCL, and one patient had small B-cell lymphoma (marginal zone lymphoma). Only the present case was positive for EBV infection detected by in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH). All patients ceased MTX treatment at the time of MTX-LPD diagnosis. Two patients had confirmed remission with only discontinuation of MTX. One case relapsed after MTX withdrawal and initiation of chemotherapy. Finally, all patients had reduced pattern or regression, and no deaths were reported.

To our knowledge, this is the first case of EBV-positive MTX-LPD occurring in the breast. The relationship between EBV infection and MTX-LPD has been previously indicated, and it is conceivable that EBV is reactivated in the lesions [2]. In addition, 30–50% of MTX-LPD cases in RA patients have EBV positivity [12]. It has been suggested that this is due to the immunosuppressive effects of MTX, which leads to the reduced function of cytotoxic T cells, thereby resulting in the latent proliferation of EBV-infected B cells [13]. Sometimes, MTX-LPD has shown partial regression in response to drug withdrawal alone, and the majority of this response has occurred in EBV-positive cases [3].

According to the immunohistochemical expression patterns of EBV latent RNA and proteins, EBV-associated malignancies are categorized into three groups [14]: latency type I (EBER +, LMP1 −, and EBNA2 −), including Burkitt lymphoma; latency type II (EBER +, LMP1 +, and EBNA2 −), including Hodgkin lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma; and latency type III (EBER +, LMP1 +, and EBNA2 +), including LPD arising in immunocompromised patients. However, the relationship between MTX-LPD and the types of EBV latency is unclear, as only a few cases of EBV latency in MTX-LPD have been reported. The present case showed EBER +, LMP1 +, and EBNA2 + and was categorized as latency type III. Miyazaki et al. reported that non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma type MTX-LPD, especially in the latency type III group, showed regression, and that analysis of EBV latency is useful for deciding an optimal therapeutic strategy [15]. This patient with latency type III tumor also had similar regression results. On the contrary, Ishida et al. interestingly reported EBV-positive MTX-LPD diagnosed in a swollen tonsil biopsy [16]. It spontaneously regressed after withdrawal of MTX, and the follow-up specimens from the tonsil became EBV-negative and free of LPD. LPD regression led to negative EBER-ISH, suggesting the possibility that previously negative cases may have once been positive, depending on the time of diagnosis. Thus, it may be difficult to consider prognosis with EBER-ISH of the tissue. Currently, peripheral blood EBV-DNA is being used for examination [17]. Au et al. reported that plasma-derived EBV-DNA is valuable both as a tumor marker and prognostic biomarker in EBV-positive lymphomas [18]. Unfortunately, EBV-DNA was not measured in this case, but it will be used for further studies in the future.

As breast tissue is on the body surface, it can be easily evaluated by US, and US is relatively common for observing breast tissue. Primary breast lymphoma usually displays a very low echo with a well-demarcated mass, which reflects its high cell density [19]. In contrast, this case revealed mainly hyperechoic mass, and the tumor had a low echo area spread like a cord and blood flow along the low echo area, 1 week after withdrawal of MTX. In the pathology specimens of the breast, which were performed at the same time, there were mostly necrotic areas and partially viable lymphoid cells around the blood vessels. Because the low echo area indicates uneven cell density, in contrast with the ultrasound and pathological findings, the majority of the high echo area reflects the wide necrotic area, and the cord-like low echo area with blood flow reflects the blood vessels and lymphoid cells. This is supported by the MRI findings, which showed a contrast effect only on the margins and part of the interior of the non-imaged mass. Moreover, the non-imaged mass revealed high signal in fat-suppressed T2 weighted image, which indicates that the inside of the tumor is necrotic. On the other hand, the previous six patients with MTX-LPD of the breast had heterogeneous hypoechoic masses. Unfortunately, in this case, the image could not be evaluated before MTX discontinuation, and the previous six reports did not describe the temporal context between image evaluation and MTX discontinuation in detail. However, presuming that the withdrawal of MTX leads to tumor necrosis and changes a hypoechoic mass into a hyperechoic mass, image evaluation before and after MTX discontinuation may serve as a predictor and determinant of therapeutic efficacy.

Finally, here are two interesting reports from Japan. Shimizu et al. reported that two cases of MTX-LPD of the lung with an EBER-negative pattern showed improvement before discontinuation of MTX [20]. Both lung diagnostic specimens were mainly composed of “necrosis.” Ejima-Yamada et al. also reported that EBV infection is associated with the hypermethylation of apoptosis-related genes, which leads to tumor regression after the withdrawal of MTX [1, 21]. The disease progression, resolution, or recurrence may occur regardless of MTX continuation or discontinuation. Prognostic factors remain unclear, and it is not certain how EBV and necrosis are involved. However, we believe that imaging and pathological findings of necrosis early in the course of the disease are among the prognostic factors to consider. In particular, when MTX-LPD is suspected, it is crucial to screen for EBV infection and repeat image evaluation in order to avoid undetected necrosis.

We have reported the first case of EBV-positive MTX-LPD of the breast. MTX-LPD rarely occurs in the breast and is difficult to diagnose. EBV-positive MTX-LPD tends to regress spontaneously after withdrawal of MTX, and our case also had similar results. It is important to make an appropriate diagnosis based on images and pathology in order to determine appropriate treatment protocol.