Early T-cell precursor leukemia: questions of diagnosis, treatment and description of own clinical case

Abstract

Early T-cell precursor leukemia (early T-cell precursor, ETP-ALL) is a new subvariant of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Tumor blasts have a unique phenotype, including signs of both stem and myeloid cells. This fact significantly complicates differential diagnosis. Cytogenetic and molecular biological features of cells in ETP-ALL are the most important diagnostic criteria. Nowadays the leading scientific international groups of pediatric leukemia conduct researches to develop new treatment protocols for ETP-ALL or to optimize existing chemotherapy regimens by including targeted drugs (bortezomib, ruxolitinib, venetoclax). Currently, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a mandatory option in the treatment of ETP-ALL. Targeted drugs and CAR-T-cell (chimeric antigen receptor of T-cells) therapy are the most perspective ways of posable treatment. In this article there are summarized data on diagnosis and therapy and a description of a successful treatment of a patient with ETP-ALL.