Prospects, therapies, and anticipations for Hairy Cell Leukemia
Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) is a rare form of blood cancer that primarily affects adults, accounting for around 1-2% of all adult leukemias. This disease gets its name from the hairlike projections on its cells.
HCL occurs when the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells called lymphocytes. The disease can affect the bone marrow, spleen, liver, and lymph nodes.
The first-line treatment for HCL is chemotherapy drugs such as cladribine and pentostatin, which are highly effective and can result in long-term remission. Treatment with cladribine has led to roughly 85% complete remission and around 10% partial response in people with HCL.
A study found that the median survival rate was 27 years overall, with 11 years of relapse-free survival for people diagnosed with HCL between 1980 and 2011. The 5-year event-free survival rate for HCL is 90% in people who received initial treatment with the chemotherapy drug cladribine.
However, there may be racial disparities in HCL outcomes. While specific survival rates and secondary cancer risks for HCL by racial group are not detailed in available recent literature, it is known that racial and ethnic minorities tend to be diagnosed at more advanced stages across multiple cancers and experience disparities in treatment and outcomes.
People with HCL have an increased risk of secondary cancer. Among 279 participants, 59 people developed at least one secondary cancer, with the most common being prostate cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and blood cancers.
Monoclonal antibody therapy, such as rituximab, is a type of targeted therapy used to find and destroy cancer cells in HCL. Rituximab, known by the brand name Rituxan, may be used in people with HCL who have not responded to other treatments or in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment.
Other types of leukemia include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGL), blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL), and T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL).
Regular cancer screenings are important for people with HCL to detect any early signs of secondary cancer. Interferon is a drug used to treat HCL by using the body's immune system to help fight off cancer. Cladribine and pentostatin may suppress the immune system, increasing the risk of infection, and both can temporarily reduce blood counts. Pentostatin may also cause nausea.
In some cases, splenectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the spleen, may be necessary if HCL causes an enlarged spleen, but it is rarely performed due to available medications that can effectively reduce the size of the spleen. Moxetumomab pasudotox, a drug approved by the FDA in 2018, may be used for those who have not responded to standard therapies, but it can cause capillary leak syndrome and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can be serious without treatment.
In conclusion, HCL is a rare but treatable type of blood cancer with a generally good long-term outlook for many people. However, there may be racial disparities in HCL outcomes, and further specialized studies would be needed to provide precise racial comparisons for HCL outcomes. Regular cancer screenings are crucial for early detection and management of secondary cancers, which are a potential risk for people with HCL.
- Science and medical research continue to provide advancements in the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL), with other leukemias such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) also receiving attention.
- Beyond HCL, cancer is a broad medical condition that affects many individuals, encompassing health and wellness across a spectrum of secondary conditions.
- Regular health screenings play a vital role in early detection and effective management of cancer, particularly for people living with Health and Wellness challenges like HCL, which carries an increased risk of secondary cancers.
