title: Long-term survival in primary plasma cell leukemia after therapy with VAD, autologous blood stem cell transplantation and interferon-alpha.
abstract: Primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare form of plasma cell neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Conventional melphalan-based treatments have been most disappointing. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with a primary form of PCL treated with VAD combination achieving an objective response, and who received high-dose melphalan and autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation followed by interferon-alpha. During the remission time, lasting for 3 years, an infiltration by large granular lymphocytes (LGL) was noted in peripheral blood. However, when the number of LGL declined, a bone marrow relapse was observed. The treatment for PCL and the possible role of these LGL on tumor cell control after autologous PBSC transplantation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Department, University Clinic of Navarra, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panizo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rifón
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Wilhelmi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007952:Leukemia, Plasma Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008558:Melphalan