Another window into tumor microenvironment: a case of Β-cell rich folliculotropic mycosis fungoides responding to rituximab.

Vasiliki A NikolaouTheodoros IliakisLeonidas MarinosDimitra VoudouriPolytimi SidiropoulouDimitris RigopoulosAlexander J Stratigos
Published in: The Australasian journal of dermatology (2020)
The role of tumor infiltrating immune cells in cancer development and progression is a new, promising field in oncological research. An increasing number of novel anti-cancer agents are focussing on the tumor microenvironment. Various studies have reported on B-cell infiltrates in mycosis fungoides (MF), but despite the substantial volume of interesting findings, solid evidence regarding their specific role in cancer is still vague. We present a case of tumor stage  MF responding to rituximab. We support the hypothesis that lymphoma-infltrating B-cells have a significant impact on cutaneous lymphoma course and seem to be both an important and effective therapeutic target. The reduction of B-cell population led to disease's overall remission, probably by restoring patient's immunologic tumor control.