Background
CD5-positive (CD5
+
) non-germinal center B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (non-GCB DLBCL) is heterogeneous with a poor prognosis. For refractory DLBCL, the median overall survival was only 6.3 months. Therefore, there is a need for approaches to elongate the survival in this subgroup of relapsed DLBCL patients.
Case Description
Here, we present a rare case of a 72-year-old patient with stage IV CD5
+
non-GCB DLBCL with myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (
MYD88
) and cluster of differentiation 79B (
CD79B
) comutations. Zanubrutinib and rituximab therapy was initially administered until disease progression. Subsequently, zanubrutinib plus rituximab together with attenuated standard chemotherapy (miniCHOP) was applied and a notable response was observed. The patient tolerated the treatment well and exhibited a complete response in lung for about 5 months. Afterwards, the patients experienced relapse in the brain and started programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) regimens of toripalimab plus lenalidomide, which also exhibited a good response with decreased lesions in brain after half-year treatment. However, the patient experienced relapse again in the brain 3 months later and started chemotherapy with methotrexate plus rituximab. The patient had survived for over 2 years since the initial diagnosis of stage IV DLBCL and has continued to survive after experiencing a relapse in the brain for approximately 11 months till now.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that toripalimab may be a new therapeutic option for central nervous system recurrence in refractory CD5
+
DLBCL with
MYD88
and
CD79B
comutation. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm these results.