Chronic neutrophilic leukemia: 2018 update on diagnosis, molecular genetics and management

Chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) is a potentially aggressive myeloproliferative neoplasm, for which current WHO diagnostic criteria include leukocytosis of ≥ 25 x 10⁹ /L of which ≥ 80% are neutrophils, with < 10% circulating neutrophil precursors with blasts rarely observed. In addition, there is no dysplasia, nor clinical or molecular criteria for other myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Previously the diagnosis of CNL was often as one of exclusion based on no identifiable cause for physiologic neutrophilia in patients fulfilling the aforementioned criteria. The 2016 WHO classification now recognizes somatic activating mutations of CSF3R (most commonly CSF3RT618I) as diagnostic, allowing for an accurate diagnosis for the majority of suspected cases through molecular testing. These mutations are primary driver mutations, accounting for the characteristic clinical phenotype and potential susceptibility to molecularly targeted therapy.

Concurrent mutations, common to myeloid neoplasms and their precursor states, most frequently in SETBP1 and ASXL1, are frequent and appear to be of prognostic significance. Although data are evolving on the full genomic profile, the rarity of CNL has delayed complete understanding of its full molecular pathogenesis and individual patient prognosis.