Central nervous system relapse in a child with anaplastic large cell lymphoma: potential for new therapeutic strategies

Enass H Raffa; Helen M Branson; Bo Ngan; Sarah Alexander; Oussama Abla

doi:10.1002/cnr2.1377

Central nervous system relapse in a child with anaplastic large cell lymphoma: potential for new therapeutic strategies

Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2021 Oct;4(5):e1377. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1377. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Authors

Enass H Raffa^{1

2}, Helen M Branson³, Bo Ngan⁴, Sarah Alexander¹, Oussama Abla¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
³ Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Division of Pathology, Department of Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) relapse is rare in childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and is associated with a poor prognosis.

Case: We describe an 8-year-old boy with ALCL who developed an early CNS relapse without initial CNS disease. Despite aggressive medical management, the patient's neurological status deteriorated rapidly and he died shortly after.

Conclusion: Optimal treatment for children with relapsed ALCL involving the CNS remains unclear. Novel agents, including ALK inhibitors, that have CNS-penetration might be helpful and pediatric studies are warranted.

Keywords: ALK; anaplastic; case report; central nervous system; lymphoma; relapse.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Central Nervous System Diseases / pathology*
Central Nervous System Diseases / therapy
Child
Humans
Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / pathology*
Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / therapy
Male
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy
Prognosis
Risk Factors