Analyzing the incidence, survival, and demographic trends of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia

Authors

• Kingsley Nnawuba, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Regional Campus, Fayetteville, AR
• Ifeani Uche, Department of Internal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
• Samantha Robinson, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
• Obed Asare, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow
• Tochukwu Nzeako, Christiana Care Hospital, Newark, Delaware
• Anup Kumar Trikannad Ashwini Kumar, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
• Hannah Jensen, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Regional Campus, Fayetteville, AR

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2024

Keywords

Hematological malignancies, Leukemia, Prolymphocytic leukemia, Cancer survival

Abstract

Background: B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL) is a rare disease, consisting < 1% of mature B-cell malignancies. B-PLL is often refractory to chemotherapy, with a median survival of 3 years. Due to its rarity, no large cohort studies exist elucidating outcomes.

Methods: All B-PLL patients >15 years were identified in the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2000-2020. Statistical analysis explored demographic variables like age; categorized as adolescent or young adult (AYA) and adults. In adults, differences in survival due to factors such as sex, race/ethnicity, household income, rurality, and age categorized in 10-15 year buckets was analyzed.

Results: B-PLL patients were predominantly white (78%), over 40 years (96%) and mostly residing in metropolitan areas (90%). Interestingly, the AYA cohort were mostly female (70%). 35% of the AYA patients were Hispanic, while being only 9% in adults. Among adults, the rate of Asian/Pacific-Islander patients that were alive at the time of the data query was 53% compared to 34% in Hispanic, 31% in black, and 24% in white patients (p=0.025). Younger age was also associated with greater chances of survival (p< 0.001).

Conclusions: In line with known poor prognosis of the disease, 23% patients were alive at the time of data query. Female and Hispanic patients were overrepresented in the AYA age group. In the adult group Asian/Pacific-Islander patients had better survival outcomes, as did younger patients. Further research is necessary to explore why B-PLL incidence in AYA patients is higher among Hispanic and females.

Citation

Nnawuba, K., Uche, I., Robinson, S., Asare, O., Nzeako, T., Trikannad Ashwini Kumar, A. K., & Jensen, H. (2024). Analyzing the incidence, survival, and demographic trends of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 11(7), 2533–2539. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20241805

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.