{
  "abstract": "Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with elevated first-line cure rates. The main clinical challenge lies beyond first-line therapy, particularly in primary refractory disease, which tends to respond poorly to further cytotoxic chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Chemotherapy-free targeted therapies have emerged as a promising alternative for chemorefractory patients, aiming to shift this therapeutic paradigm. Real-world experience describing durable responses with epcoritamab remains scarce. Case report: A 69-year-old woman was diagnosed with germinal-center-type DLBCL, stage IIIXB (bulky retroperitoneal mass), IPI 3 (high-intermediate risk), poor-risk R-IPI, and a Ki-67 index of 90%. She received six cycles of R-CHOP as first-line therapy; restaging PET-CT 30 days later showed a Deauville score of 3 (partial response). Less than three months after treatment completion, she developed clinical evidence of progression, and second-line R-GDP was started. PET-CT after the first cycle confirmed refractory disease, with an enlarging retroperitoneal conglomerate, new lymphadenopathy, and hydronephrosis. Third-line therapy with tafasitamab plus lenalidomide was started; following the second cycle, she was admitted with further enlargement of the retroperitoneal conglomerate and extensive venous thrombosis. During hospitalization, she developed a severe motor deficit; spinal MRI revealed neoplastic infiltration of L2–L3 with pathological fracture and an epidural component compressing the thecal sac and narrowing the spinal canal. Palliative radiotherapy was initiated but discontinued owing to poor clinical response. The patient began her fourth pharmacological line with epcoritamab. During the first cycle, she developed grade 2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS), managed with tocilizumab, and grade 2 immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), managed with dexamethasone. Neurological recovery was achieved, and she was discharged after a prolonged hospitalization complicated by infection, including a psoas infectious collection. Control PET-CT, performed four months after treatment initiation, showed a partial metabolic response (Deauville score 4), with a marked reduction in SUV of the retroperitoneal conglomerate. On ambulatory follow-up, a subsequent PET-CT after cycle 10 of monthly-maintenance epcoritamab again showed a sustained partial response (Deauville score 4), this time with volumetric reduction of the retroperitoneal mass. At her most recent visit, 16 months after treatment initiation, the patient remained on monthly epcoritamab maintenance. Urinary tract ultrasound showed resolution of hydronephrosis. Treatment was well tolerated, with no further infectious complications since the initial CRS/ICANS-related hospitalization and no evidence of hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG maintained >500 mg/dL). Functionally, the patient retained a severe motor deficit related to spinal cord compression and continued to require wheelchair support, with progressive improvement on motor physiotherapy. Conclusion: We report the case of an elderly, multiply refractory DLBCL patient who achieved a sustained partial metabolic response with epcoritamab beyond 12 months, illustrating that durable disease control, even short of complete response, may represent a clinically meaningful outcome.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Hospital Santa Izabel/Oncoclínicas, Santa Casa da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Valney Oliveira SANTOS JUNIOR"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nelma Carneiro DE ARAUJO"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maura Alice Santos ROMEO"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Beatriz Moura PORTUGAL"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Giulia Beatriz Correia MATOS"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lorhane Nunes DOS ANJOS"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2mx4d9146w44d.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.htct.2026.107756",
  "fulltext_url": "http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2531137926015038",
  "id": "2mx4d9146w44d",
  "issns": [
    "2531-1379",
    "2531-1387"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.htct.2026.107756",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RC633-647.5"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2734|Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223133731",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2mx4d9146w44d.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:43:27Z",
      "native_id": "b34a8958e8b44295a65568e3031849ba",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.htct.2026.107756"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "lcc:RC633-647.5",
      "subfield": "endocrinology-metabolism"
    }
  ],
  "title": "DURABLE PARTIAL RESPONSE TO EPCORITAMAB IN A MULTIPLY RELAPSED/REFRACTORY ELDERLY PATIENT WITH DIFFUSE LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA: A CASE REPORT",
  "title_text": "DURABLE PARTIAL RESPONSE TO EPCORITAMAB IN A MULTIPLY RELAPSED/REFRACTORY ELDERLY PATIENT WITH DIFFUSE LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA: A CASE REPORT",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:43:27Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2mx4d9146w44d",
  "venue": "Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy",
  "versions": []
}