Improved Outcome of Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia in the Current Era with the Use of Novel Agents and Autologous Bone Marrow Transplants—A Single Centre Experience

Primary Plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) is an aggressive variant of plasma cell dyscrasias. Diagnostic criteria of plasma cell leukemia were recently updated by international myeloma working group to with more than 5% circulating plasma cells or absolute plasma cell count of more than 500/µL.

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with pPCL in our department from 2017 to 2022. Clinical characteristics including the symptoms at presentation, organomegaly, bony involvement and extramedullary involvement were collected. Laboratory parameters including the biochemistry serum protein electrophoresis, serum immunofixation, serum free light chain assay, immunoglobulin profile were sent. Treatment and follow up data was collected.

Fifteen patients were diagnosed (8 females and 7 males), median age 59 years (34–70). Six were lost to follow up and nine patients who received treatment at our hospital were analyzed for survival outcome. First line treatment was bortezomib- dexamethasone and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD). Six (66%) achieved partial response or more and 3 had progressive disease. Five of the nine patients (55%) underwent autologous transplantation. Two out of 5 patients (40%) in the transplant group and 3 of the 4 patients (75%) in the non transplant group have died of the progressive disease. Overall survival was 45% at a median follow up of 14 months. Median OS for patients who underwent auto SCT was 16 months (12–22) versus 10 months (8–12) for patients who did not undergo transplant (Student t test; p value 0.018). Three of the patients achieved MRD negativity after transplant and post transplant consolidation therapy.

Survival appears to be improved in patients who respond to initial therapy and are able to achieve MRD negativity which should be the goal of treatment in these patients.