Failure of crizotinib based systemic treatment in ALK positive histiocytosis involving the central nervous system: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Among the histiocytic disorders, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive histiocytosis emerged in 2008. As more and more cases of the novel entity are reported, our understanding of it is deepened. However, only a few cases with central nervous system (CNS) involvement have been reported. Furthermore, the lesion in the suprasellar region has not been documented. CASE PRESENTATION: We presented a case of ALK-positive histiocytosis involving the suprasellar region of a one-year-and-four-month-old boy. Through clinical, neuropathological, and genomic analyses, the patient was diagnosed with ALK-positive histiocytosis. After lesions were resected he started treatment with a combination of the three compounds vincristine, prednisolone, and crizotinib, but they did not work. Cytarabine was then added as an additional chemotherapy drug for him, and the lesions in the brain and lungs were shrunk by combining treatment of crizotinib, dexamethasone, vincristine, and cytarabine according to the RECIST (esponse Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours). CONCLUSIONS: Additional adjuvant chemotherapy drugs are needed when ALK-inhibitor treatment is ineffective.