Spontaneous regression of natural killer cell lymphoma

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 62; no. 7; pp. 647 - 650
• Main Authors: Isobe, Y, Aritaka, N, Sasaki, M, Oshimi, K, Sugimoto, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 01.07.2009; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Aged; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Cell growth; Chemotherapy; Cytotoxicity; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Histology; Humans; Infections; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphatic system; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating - immunology; Lymphoma; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell - immunology; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell - pathology; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous - immunology; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous - pathology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Radiation therapy; Skin; Skin Neoplasms - immunology; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; T cell receptors; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology; Natural killer cell; Anatomic pathology; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Spontaneous; Regression; Malignant hemopathy; Lymphoid neoplasm; Lymphoma; Cancer
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2008.062976

Spontaneous tumour regression is extremely rare in aggressive lymphoma. A case of natural killer (NK) cell lymphoma with cutaneous manifestation showed an indolent clinical course, and the relapsed nodular lesion disappeared spontaneously without any treatment. Although only small number of T cells were present in the primary skin lesion, there was massive CD8-positive cytotoxic T cell infiltration in the relapsed lesion. This is believed to be the first report of an abscopal effect on NK cell lymphoma. Infiltration of cytotoxic T cells strongly suggests immunological attack against the lymphoma cells.