Evidence for an association between hairy cell leukemia and renal cell and colorectal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) has been associated with several disease states. In this study, a possible association is reported between HCL and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC).


METHODS
A retrospective study of the case records of 50 patients with HCL in a study of alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) treatment of HCL.


RESULTS
Three of 50 patients with HCL studied had RCC, and 2 of these also had CRC. In addition, two other patients had CRC. The other malignant lesions developed either before or after the diagnosis of HCL. In all patients, the HCL responded to alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN), but in four patients, the second lesion was diagnosed during IFN treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings could indicate that IFN does not correct a possible common basic etiologic defect and shows that even early CRC and RCC do not respond to the IFN doses administered. These findings should be considered in future trials of IFN treatment of these diseases. The authors also recommend a reevaluation of the frequency of second malignant lesions in HCL; this may be important particularly with the increased survival in patients with HCL who receive alpha-IFN treatment.
Nielsen
B
B
University Department of Medicine and Hematology, Aarhus Amtssygehus, Denmark.
Braide
I
I
Hasselbalch
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000150:complications; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000628:therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications
D016898:Interferon-alpha