Vol 52, No 4 (2021)
Review article
Published online: 2021-08-31
Primary central nervous system lymphoma: how to treat younger patients
Acta Haematol Pol 2021;52(4):340-344.
Abstract
Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare subtype of extranodal lymphoma which is associated with a relatively poor prognosis compared to other diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.
Population-based cancer registry data demonstrates that there has been a significant improvement in the survival of patients with PCNSL over the past two decades. This improvement likely reflects the introduction of high-intensity chemotherapy based on an induction regimen with high-dose methotrexate, and consolidation strategy including autologous stem cell transplantation. As a result, the improvement has been mainly observed in younger patients. New approaches such as Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, immunomodulatory agents, immune checkpoint inhibition, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy are under investigation for PCNSL. In addition, trials combining novel agents in front-line induction treatment are ongoing.
Keywords: primary central nervous system lymphomaPCNSLHD-MTXmethotrexate
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