Recent progress of diagnosis and treatment in NK cell neoplasms

Abstract

Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia (ANKL) is a malignant disorder of mature NK cells that is relatively common in East Asia. It is associated with Epstein-Barr virus in more than 80% of patients. The median survival is not more than three months after diagnosis. In a recent survey of 34 cases with ANKL, the median patient age was 40 years and the age distribution followed a bimodal pattern. Morphologically, the ANKL cells varied from large granular lymphocytes to atypical cells with pleomorphic-like appearances. Clinical characteristics include fever, liver dysfunction, hemophagocytic syndrome, and a rapidly progressive course. In one third of patients, tumor cells in peripheral blood or the bone marrow are below 20% at initial presentation, which might lead to diagnostic delay. L-asparaginase-based chemotherapy plus allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potential therapeutic option with curative intent.As for extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, nasal type, HSCT could be anticipated to provide survival benefit or a chance of cure for patients in clinical stage II to IV with complete remission at transplantation. However, the optimal stem cell source, timing of transplantation, and preconditioning regimen require further elucidation.