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T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia: a single-institution experience.
Farhad Ravandi1, Susan O'Brien, Dan Jones
1Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. fravandi@mdanderson.org
Clinical Lymphoma & Myeloma
|December 16, 2005
Summary
Alemtuzumab treatment significantly improves response and survival rates for patients with T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL), an aggressive T-cell leukemia. This finding offers new hope for managing this rare but serious blood cancer.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare and aggressive mature T-cell leukemia.
- Advances in immunophenotypic and molecular diagnostics aid in distinguishing T-PLL from its B-cell counterpart and other T-cell leukemias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the clinical, pathologic, and cytogenetic features of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.
- To evaluate the efficacy of alemtuzumab treatment in T-PLL patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 57 T-PLL patients treated at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) between 1986 and 2004.
- Examination of clinical, pathological, and cytogenetic data, including chromosomal abnormalities and Tcl-1, CD4, and CD8 expression.
- Comparison of response and survival rates between patients treated with alemtuzumab and other treatments.
Main Results:
- The most frequent cytogenetic abnormality observed was inv(14)(q11;q32) in 7 patients, often with other chromosomal aberrations.
- Patients treated with alemtuzumab demonstrated significantly higher response rates (P = 0.02) and survival rates (P = 0.002).
- No significant differences in survival were associated with Tcl-1 expression or CD4/CD8 expression patterns.
Conclusions:
- Alemtuzumab treatment is associated with improved response rates in T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.
- Alemtuzumab therapy leads to a better survival rate for patients diagnosed with T-PLL.