Current Status on Management of Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia

Plasma Cell Leukemia (PCL) is a very rare and highly aggressive form of plasma cell dyscrasia. This review seeks to evaluate the outcomes of PCL in the context of combination novel agent therapy and stem cell transplant (SCT) protocols.

The diagnostic criteria for PCL have now evolved to include patients with 5% circulating PC. While management remains challenging, the incorporation of novel agent-based induction regimen has significantly improved early mortality and reduced attrition of patients proceeding to SCT. In recent prospective clinical trials, patients with PCL demonstrated an overall response rates of 69% to 86%, with progression-free and overall survival ranging from 13.8 to 15.5 months and 24.8 to 36.3 months, respectively. B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitors, such as venetoclax present a targeted intervention opportunity for patients with PCL with t(11;14).

Dedicated clinical trials tailored to PCL are crucial, integrating newer therapies in the frontline setting to further optimize responses and enhance overall outcomes.