Update of diagnosis and treatment of plasma cell leukemia

Abstract

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare and aggressive malignant plasma cell tumor that is clinically susceptible to extramedullary lesions. It is classified into two types: primary PCL (pPCL) and secondary PCL (sPCL), of which 60 % are pPCL. The treatment of new drugs such as bortezomib and lenalidomide is important for improving the overall survival and disease-free survival of PCL, especially after induction of bortezomib-based chemotherapy, combined with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) can improve the survival of patients. Whether to adopt the next step of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) still needs further investigation. For young and suitable patients, early new drug-based regimen chemotherapy combined with auto-HSCT can be used, and if a suitable donor is available, the further allo-HSCT consolidation therapy is feasible. For elderly patients (≥65 years old), a new drug-based regimen can be used to induce chemotherapy, and further followed consolidation therapy plus maintenance therapy. Whether to take auto-HSCT after early induction chemotherapy depends on the individualized factors of the patient. The next generation anti-plasma cells drugs, monoclonal antibodies and other immunotherapies or new drugs in clinical trials are also worth exploring. Key words: Leukemia, plasma cell; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Bortezomib; Lenalidomide