Evaluation of Second Primary Cancer Risk Among Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients: Multicenter Study.

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Cancer Epidemiology

Background:

• Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) face an elevated risk of second primary cancers (SPC).
• Understanding the incidence and risk factors for SPC in CLL is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of SPC in CLL patients.
• To investigate the relationship between SPC and treatment status, cytogenetic factors, and other risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Multicenter, retroprospective study design.
• Involved 553 patients diagnosed with CLL.
• Data collected between August 2016 and May 2021.

Main Results:

• A 9.2% incidence rate of SPC was observed in 51 out of 553 CLL patients.
• Epithelial tumors were the most frequent SPC, followed by skin, lymphoma, and renal cancers.
• The 13q deletion was the most common genetic abnormality, found significantly more often in patients with SPC.

Conclusions:

• Higher rates of SPC in CLL were associated with age at diagnosis, 13q deletion, CD38 positivity, and treatment with fludarabine and monoclonal antibodies.
• SPC risk was independent of most genetic mutations (except 13q), hemogram values (except hemoglobin), and treatment lines.
• CLL patients with SPC exhibited higher mortality rates and were diagnosed at more advanced stages.