Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapse Limited to the Anterior Chamber of the Eye and Treated with Novel CAR T-Cell Therapy

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant neoplasm of the blood stem cells, characterized by increased formation of immature lymphocytes. Ocular manifestations may vary with ocular, adnexal, and orbital involvement. In this case report, we describe the first case of extramedullary relapse of ALL limited to the anterior chamber of the eye treated with the novel chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T)-cell therapy and provide a literature review of cases of ALL relapse in the anterior chamber. A 21-year-old male with a history of B-cell ALL presented with a unilateral blurry vision in his left eye. Ocular examination revealed the presence of cells +3 in the anterior chamber and a 1.5-mm hypopyon. Anterior chamber aspiration confirmed a B-ALL relapse. The patient was successfully treated with radiotherapy of his left eye and received CTL-019 transduced T cells (tisagenlecleucel; Novartis) with cytarabine as a bridging chemotherapy treatment. On the last examination, 18 months after the first presentation, the patient presented a complete ocular remission with no systemic or CNS involvement. ALL relapse may involve the anterior chamber of the eye, and an accurate diagnosis is crucial to enable a fast and appropriate treatment. Novel CAR T-cell immunotherapy, combined with ocular irradiation, may be considered in such cases.

Keywords

• acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• anterior chamber
• hypopyon
• chimeric antigen receptor t cell
• eye
• ocular oncology