title: Long-lasting complete remission in plasma cell leukemia after aggressive chemotherapy and CD34-selected autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant: molecular follow-up of minimal residual disease.
abstract: Plasma cell leukemia is a rare disease associated with very poor survival with standard treatment. We report a patient affected by plasma cell leukemia treated with aggressive chemotherapy and autologous CD34-selected PBPC who achieved a complete remission now lasting more than 2 years. Molecular studies confirmed the presence of minimal residual disease (MRD) despite the absence of disease activity. High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue may be applied to selected patients considering the impact of the treatment on survival. The meaning of molecular MRD in this setting is unclear.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Semeiotica Medica, Divisione di Ematologia, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sica
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiusolo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salutari
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piccirillo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laurenti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortu La Barbera
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007952:Leukemia, Plasma Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34