Second malignancies in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare extranodal lymphoma.
• Improved PCNSL treatments have led to better patient outcomes and increased interest in secondary malignancies (SMs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and types of second malignancies in patients diagnosed with PCNSL.
• To assess the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes associated with SMs in PCNSL patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 129 PCNSL cases diagnosed between 1988 and 2012.
• Data collection on clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, treatments, outcomes, and SMs.
• Mean follow-up of 44.8 months.

Main Results:

• 23.26% of PCNSL patients developed SMs (30 SMs in 28 cases).
• 15.50% had prior or synchronous SMs (prostate, skin, GI most common).
• 7.76% developed subsequent SMs, most commonly nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Conclusions:

• Second malignancies are not uncommon in PCNSL patients, occurring in nearly a quarter of the cohort.
• Nonmelanoma skin cancers are frequently observed, warranting consideration for screening.
• The high incidence of SMs may indicate an immunosuppressed state in PCNSL patients.