How is Castleman disease managed or treated?

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How is Castleman disease managed or treated?

Treatment for Castleman disease varies according to the type: unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) or multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). Doctors usually recommend surgery for UCD. This surgery removes the affected lymph nodes.

Depending on the region involved some people receive radiation or immunotherapy before surgery for UCD. These therapies can shrink the tumor to make it easier to remove. Doctors also might recommend radiation or immunotherapy to destroy any part of the tumor that was not removed in surgery.

MCD is more difficult to treat than UCD. Because the multicentric type is widespread, doctors do not typically use surgery or radiation to treat it. Instead, they use:

  • Corticosteroids: Medications that reduce inflammation (swelling)
  • Chemotherapy: Anti-cancer medications that slow the overgrowth of cells in the lymphatic system
  • Immunotherapy: Human-made antibodies (proteins that help fight infections) that boost the immune system. In 2014, siltuximab (Sylvant ®) became the only iMCD therapy approved for use by the FDA.

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