Asparaginase (Asp) is one of the most important drugs for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, off-protocol Asp administration (OPAA) or hypersensitivity may disturb its pharmacokinetic profile. In this retrospective study, we sought to determine whether OPAA and Escherichia coli asparaginase (E Asp) impaired extramedullary relapse prevention in a pediatric ALL cohort treated a...

Although multiple sclerosis is predominantly regarded as a disease of young adulthood, up to 5% of MS patients are diagnosed prior to age eighteen. The predominant form of MS is relapsing-remitting characterized by exacerbations of symptoms followed by periods of remission. The majority of disease modifying drugs target T cell proliferation or block migration into the central nervous system. Al...

We describe here a case of an eight years old child suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She developed pelvic infiltration of leukemic cells while in bone marrow remission and receiving maintenance chemotherapy. She also developed leukemic infiltration of Central Nervous System and died of complications resulting from massive pelvic relapse. With greater number of children in bone marro...

Isolated central nervous system (CNS) relapse is a rare, unpredictable event in patients with CML. Some studies have reported cases of isolated CNS relapse in CML [1-13]. However, very few studies have reported on isolated CNS relapse in the blast phase (BP) of CML in Korea [14, 15]. We report a case of BP CML with extramedullary lymphoblast proliferation in the CNS without evidence of disease ...

Relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) usually carries a dire prognosis. We evaluated the effectiveness and long-term complications of intensive rotational combination chemotherapy for late hematologic relapse (median, 16 months after elective cessation of therapy) among 34 children and young adults (ages 4 to 23 years). Concurrent central nervous system (CNS) relapse was present in 3 case...

Purpose Primary vasculitis of the central nervous system is a newly recognized, devastating inflammatory disease restricted to the brain and spinal cord. Previously healthy children and adults develop life-threatening neurological deficits including stroke and seizures. Within CNS vasculitis distinct disease entities have been identified in different age groups. The aim was to describe the pres...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves ongoing accumulating CNS damage. Precisely which environmental factors trigger onset and progression of the disease are not known. However, clinical trials indicate benefits from early use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). All the completed clinically isolated syndrome trials (CHAMPS, ETOMS, BENEFIT, PRECISE) reported significant suppression of subsequent r...

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults and still remains incurable. Although immunotherapeutic vaccination against GBM has demonstrated immune-stimulating activity with some promising survival benefits, tumor relapse is common, highlighting the need for additional and/or combinatorial approaches. Recently, antibodies targeting immune checkpoints were demo...

Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative and inflammatory immune disorder in the central nervous system (CNS). Most patients show relapse-remitting clinical course. Some disease modifying medications for preventing the relapses including natalizumab (NTZ) are approved in Japan. Natalizumab (NTZ), a monoclonal antibody against α4 integrin present on the surface of lymphocytes, inhibits the bind...

In acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), extramedullary disease (EMD) is particularly rare and shows special clinical and biological features. It is estimated that about 3-5% of APL patients will suffer extramedullary relapse. The most common site of EMD in APL is the central nervous system (CNS). At present, there are still many issues of EMD in APL needing further clarification, including patho...