Spontaneous regression of primary progressive Hodgkin's lymphoma in a pediatric patient: a case report and review of literature

Spontaneous regression of tumours. Possible cross reactivity of autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase I

Spontaneous tumour regression in patients after high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation or patients with standard therapy is accompanied with the presence of high titers autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase I (CA I). The concomitant presence of aplastic anaemia-like syndrome in these patients points to parallel bone marrow suppression during this period. It seems that CA I, an 'obscure' enzyme, does not have any significant physiological role in humans. One possible explanation points to the fact that autoantibodies against CA I may target another antigen(s) which is(are) important in tumour growth as well as in normal haematopoiesis. One of the candidates for such a target is the DNA polymerase theta.

Spontaneous Regression of Hodgkin Lymphoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Spontaneous regression of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rare event. We describe a 32-year-old woman with spontaneous regression of HL and review the literature. The patient presented with cervical lymphadenopathy and was diagnosed with stage IIA classical HL. The patient refused to receive any treatment for her disease. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography carried out 2 years later showed complete regression of the lymphadenopathy, without pathological uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose. At the last follow-up, 3.5 years after the initial presentation, the patient is with no evidence of disease. During workup for the HL, concomitant papillary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed, for which the patient refused treatment as well. The thyroid malignancy has remained stable throughout the follow-up.

Sera of patients with spontaneous tumour regression and elevated anti-CA I autoantibodies change the gene expression of ECM proteins

Spontaneous tumour regression after high‐dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation is associated with the aplastic anaemia‐like syndrome and the presence of polyclonal autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase I (CA I). When tumour cells were grown in vitro in the presence of patients’ sera positive for anti‐CA I autoantibodies, their morphological pattern was altered. These changes were accompanied by modifications in the gene expression profile. We observed downregulation of genes of the basal lamina assembly (collagen type IV alpha 4, the laminin subunit gamma 2), the extracellular matrix (collagen type I alpha 1), the cytoskeleton (keratin 14 type I), the collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 and the proto‐oncogene WNT7B. On the other hand, the expression of the CA 1 gene was increased in the tumour cells. It was also noticed that the presence of anti‐CA I autoantibodies did not impair tumour cell proliferation and cell viability in vitro. These findings were observed only in the presence of patients’ sera positive for anti‐CA I autoantibodies.

[Malignant lymphoma presented as recurrent multiple cranial nerve palsy after spontaneous regression of oculomotor nerve palsy: A case report]

We report the case of a 62-year-old man who presented with malignant lymphoma as recurrent multiple cranial nerve palsy after spontaneous regression of oculomotor nerve palsy. He developed ptosis and diplopia due to right oculomotor nerve palsy. Brain MRI/MRA showed no abnormality, and he recovered with conservative medical management. Three months later, he showed diplopia due to right abducens nerve palsy and facial pain and trigeminal sensory loss. Neurological examination revealed multiple cranial nerve palsy involved cranial nerve III, V, IX, and X of the right side. Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels were normal, and cerebrospinal fluid examination was unremarkable. Steroid and subsequent intravenous immunoglobulin therapy didn't improve his symptoms. Six weeks after his admission, he showed rapid enlargement of the cervical lymph node and the right tonsil, and post-contrast T1-weighted MRI showed enlargement and enhancement of the left infraorbital nerve, the bilateral cavernous sinus, the bilateral facial nerves, and the left trigeminal nerve. The histopathologic examination of the tonsil biopsy revealed diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The cause of these symptoms was thought to be infiltrating the cavernous sinus, and adjacent nerves. Spontaneous regression of malignant lymphoma is an exceptional event, but this possibility should be considered so as to the correct diagnosis and proper treatment.