Doctors have announced the discovery of a new sub-type of the rare immune disorder Castleman’s disease, opening the way for improved treatments.
The new subtype has been named oligocentric Castleman’s disease (OligoCD). According to the researchers, OligoCD accounts for about 15% of cases, and exists as an intermediary subtype on the spectrum between the two known forms, UCD and iMCD.
The findings, led by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, came from an analysis of 179 patients in the ACCELERATE registry, a global registry of Castleman’s disease patients. The research was reported in Blood Advances.
Patients with OligoCD have fewer and less severe symptoms than those with iMCD, the researchers say. This suggests that surgery to remove lymph nodes, the common treatment for UCD, may be more appropriate as a treatment than intense therapies, the researchers say.
Study leader Dr David Fajgenbaum said: “This discovery is a game-changer for Castleman disease patients. For decades, patients with OligoCD have been falling through the cracks, classified as having a different type of Castleman Disease and being subjected to potentially over aggressive treatments, such as chemotherapy, that come with very uncomfortable side effects.
“Now we can match these patients — about 15% of all Castleman cases—with the right treatments for their specific condition.”
Fellow researcher Dr Josh Brandstadter said: “ACCELERATE has consistently proven to be an invaluable tool in unlocking the mysteries of Castleman disease. Without the robust data from patients around the world, we would not have been able to redefine the CD spectrum with such clarity.”
Source:
Pierson SK, Brandstadter JD, Torigian DA, Bagg A, Lechowicz MJ, Alapat D, Casper C, Chadburn A, Chandrakasan S, Dispenzieri A, Fosså A, Hoffmann C, Ide M, Kurzrock R, Mukherjee S, Nasta S, Navarro JT, Noy A, Oksenhendler E, Bustamante MS, Shyamsundar S, Streetly M, Wong RSM, Zhang L, Lim MS, Srkalovic G, van Rhee F, Fajgenbaum DC. (2025) “Characterizing the heterogeneity of Castleman disease and oligocentric subtype: findings from the ACCELERATE registry.” Blood Advances, 14 April 2025, doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024014391.
Disclaimer: The news stories shared on this site are used as a way to inform our members and followers of updates and relevant information happening in Haematology. The BSH does not endorse the content of news items from external sources, and is not in a position to verify the findings, accuracy or the source of any studies mentioned. Any medical or drugs information is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes.
News service provided by Englemed News.