T-prolymphocytic leukaemia
Haematolymphoid Tumours (5th ed.)
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Primary Author(s)*
Parastou Tizro, MD, Celeste Eno, PHD, Sumire Kitahara, MD
WHO Classification of Disease
(Will be autogenerated; Book will include name of specific book and have a link to the online WHO site)
| Structure | Disease |
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Definition / Description of Disease
T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is an aggressive form of T-cell leukemia marked by the proliferation of small to medium-sized prolymphocytes exhibiting a mature post-thymic T-cell phenotype. This condition is characterized by the juxtaposition of TCL1A or MTCP1 genes to a TR locus, typically the TRA/TRD locus.
Synonyms / Terminology
T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Epidemiology / Prevalence
T-PLL is a rare disorder, comprising about 2% of all mature lymphoid leukemia cases in adults. It primarily occurs in the elderly, with a median age of 65 years (ranging from 30 to 94 years) and shows a slight male predominance with a male to female ratio of 1.33:1.
Clinical Features
The most prevalent symptom of the disease is a leukemic presentation, characterized by a rapid, exponential increase in lymphocyte counts, which exceed 100 × 10^9/L in 75% of patients. Approximately 30% of patients may initially experience an asymptomatic, slow-progressing phase, but this typically develops into an active disease state.
| Signs and Symptoms | B symptoms (Fever, night sweats, weight loss)
Hepatosplenomegaly (Frequently observed) Generalized lymphadenopathy with slightly enlarged lymph nodes (Frequently observed) Cutaneous involvement (20%) Malignant effusions (15%) Asymptomatic and indolent phase (30% of cases) |
| Laboratory Findings | Anemia and thrombocytopenia
Marked lymphocytosis > 100 × 10^9/L (75% of cases) Atypical lymphocytosis > 5 × 10^9/L Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (increased-may reflect disease burden) β 2 microglobulin (B2M) (increased-may reflect disease burden) |
Sites of Involvement
Peripheral blood, bone marrow, spleen (mostly red pulp), liver, lymph node (mostly paracortical), and sometimes skin and serosa (primarily pleura). Extra lymphatic and extramedullary atypical manifestations including skin, muscles and intestines are particularly common in relapse.
Morphologic Features
Blood smears in T-PLL typically reveal anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukocytosis, with atypical lymphocytes in three morphological forms. The most common form (75% of cases) features medium-sized cells with a high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, moderately condensed chromatin, a single visible nucleolus, and slightly basophilic cytoplasm. In 20% of cases, the cells appear as a small cell variant with densely condensed chromatin and an inconspicuous nucleolus. About 5% of cases exhibit a cerebriform variant with irregular nuclei resembling those in mycosis fungoides. Regardless of the nuclear features, a common morphological characteristic is the presence of cytoplasmic protrusions or blebs.[1] Bone marrow aspirates show clusters of these neoplastic cells, with a mixed pattern of involvement including diffuse and interstitial, in trephine core biopsy.
Immunophenotype
T-cell prolymphocytes show strong staining with alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase and acid phosphatase, presenting a distinctive dot-like pattern, but cytochemistry is not commonly used for diagnosis.
| Finding | Marker |
|---|---|
| Positive (universal) | cyTCL1 (highest specificity), CD2, CD3 (may be weak), CD5, CD7 (strong), TCR-α/β, S100 (30% of cases) |
| Positive (subset) | CD4 (in some cases CD4+/CD8+ or CD4-/CD8+), CD52 (therapeutic target), activation markers are variable (CD25, CD38, CD43, CD26, CD27) |
| Negative (universal) | TdT, CD1a, CD57, CD16, HTLV1 |
| Negative (subset) | CD8 (in some cases CD4+/CD8+ or CD4-/CD8+) |
Chromosomal Rearrangements (Gene Fusions)
Rearrangements involving the TCL1 (T-cell leukemia/lymphoma1) family genes—TCL1A, MTCP1 (mature T-cell proliferation), or TCL1B (also known as TCL1/MTCP1-like 1 [TML1])—are relatively specific to T-PLL. These are present in more than 90% of cases, either as inv(14)(q11q32) or t(14;14)(q11;q32) (involving TCL1A or TCL1B), or t(X;14)(q28;q11) (involving MTCP1). T-PLL-ISG).
| Chromosomal Rearrangement | Genes in Fusion (5’ or 3’ Segments) | Pathogenic Derivative | Prevalence | Diagnostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Prognostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Therapeutic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| inv(14)(q11.2q32.1)
t(14;14)(q11.2;q32.1) |
TCL1A/B ,TRD | inv(14) ~60%
t(14;14) ~25% |
Yes | Yes | Yes | These genetic abnormalities serve as diagnostic markers and generally indicate an aggressive disease. This is due to their role in overexpressing oncogenes like TCL1A. | |
| t(X;14)(q28;q11.2) | MTCP1, TRD | Low (5%) | Yes |
Individual Region Genomic Gain / Loss / LOH
Approximately 70-80% of T-PLL karyotypes are complex, which is considered minor diagnostic criteria, and usually include 3-5 or more structural aberrations. Common cytogenetic abnormalities include those of chromosome 8, such as idic(8)(p11.2), t(8;8)(p11.2;q12), and trisomy 8q. Other frequent changes are deletions in 12p13 and 22q, gains in 8q24 (MYC), and abnormalities in chromosomes 5p, 6, and 17.
| Chr # | Gain / Loss / Amp / LOH | Minimal Region Genomic Coordinates [Genome Build] | Minimal Region Cytoband | Diagnostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Prognostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Therapeutic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Gain | idic(8)p11
t(8;8)(p11;q12) trisomy 8q |
idic(8)(p11.2)
t(8;8)(p11.2;q12) trisomy 8q |
Yes | No | No | Recurrent secondary finding (70-80% of cases). Minor diagnostic criteria. [2] |
| 5 | Abnormality | 5p | Yes | Minor diagnostic criteria | |||
| 6 | Abnormality | 6p | No | ||||
| 11 | Loss | 11q | ch11q21-q23.3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Frequent, Minor diagnostic criteria. |
| 12 | Loss | 12p | 12p13 | Yes | Minor diagnostic criteria | ||
| 13 | Loss | 13q | 13q14.3 | Yes | Minor diagnostic criteria | ||
| 14 | Loss | 14q | 14q32.1 | Yes | Yes | No | Major diagnostic criteria |
| 17 | Abnormality | 17p, 17q | 17p13 | Yes | Yes (resistance to therapy) | ||
| 22 | Loss | Monosomy 22
del(22q) |
(most common) |
Leading to the dysregulation of genes such as BCL11B, which is crucial in T-cell development and function.[4]
Minor diagnostic criteria |
Characteristic Chromosomal Patterns
| Chromosomal Pattern | Diagnostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Prognostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Therapeutic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inv(14)(q11q32) | Yes | EXAMPLE: No | EXAMPLE: No | EXAMPLE:
See chromosomal rearrangements table as this pattern is due to an unbalanced derivative translocation associated with oligodendroglioma (add reference). |
Gene Mutations (SNV / INDEL)
Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: This table is not meant to be an exhaustive list; please include only genes/alterations that are recurrent and common as well either disease defining and/or clinically significant. Can include references in the table. For clinical significance, denote associations with FDA-approved therapy (not an extensive list of applicable drugs) and NCCN or other national guidelines if applicable; Can also refer to CGC workgroup tables as linked on the homepage if applicable as well as any high impact papers or reviews of gene mutations in this entity. Do not delete table.)
| Gene; Genetic Alteration | Presumed Mechanism (Tumor Suppressor Gene [TSG] / Oncogene / Other) | Prevalence (COSMIC / TCGA / Other) | Concomitant Mutations | Mutually Exclusive Mutations | Diagnostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Prognostic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Therapeutic Significance (Yes, No or Unknown) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATM | TSG | 53% (COSMIC) | ATM mutation/deletion | None specified | Yes | Yes | Deletions of or missense mutations at the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) locus at 11q23 are found in up to 80% to 90% of T-PLL cases. (T-PLL-ISG) | |
| FBXW10 | TSG | 72% (COSMIC) | JAK/STAT pathway | None specified | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| IL2RG, JAK1, JAK3, STAT5B | Oncogene | 8% JAK1
34% JAK3 16% STAT5B 2% IL2RG (COSMIC) |
ATM, TP53, Epigenetic modifiers [5][6] | Typically, mutations within this pathway occur in a mutually exclusive manner.[7] | Yes | Yes | Yes (resistance to therapy) | The cumulative prevalence of these mutations in T-PLL is approximately 60%. (Dr jaffe book) |
| EZH2 | Oncogene, TSG | 16% (COSMIC) | JAK/STAT pathway | None specified | No | Yes | [5][6] | |
| BCOR | TSG | 8% (COSMIC) | JAK/STAT pathway | None specified | No | Yes | ||
| CHEK2 | TSG | 5% (COSMIC) | Yes | CHEK2 mutations may indicate a defective DNA damage response and aggressive disease [7][8] | ||||
| TP53 | TSG | 2% (COSMIC) | Rare |
Note: A more extensive list of mutations can be found in cBioportal (https://www.cbioportal.org/), COSMIC (https://cancer.sanger.ac.uk/cosmic), ICGC (https://dcc.icgc.org/) and/or other databases. When applicable, gene-specific pages within the CCGA site directly link to pertinent external content.
Epigenomic Alterations
Research indicates that epigenetic modifications in the regulatory regions of key oncogenes and genes involved in DNA damage response and T-cell receptor regulation are clearly present. These changes are closely associated with the transcriptional dysregulation that forms the core lesions of T-PLL.[9]
Genes and Main Pathways Involved
Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Can include references in the table. Do not delete table.)
| Gene; Genetic Alteration | Pathway | Pathophysiologic Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| TCL1A/B rearrangement | AKT signaling and TCR signal amplification pathways | Increased cell survival and proliferation |
| MTCP1 | AKT signaling and TCR signal amplification pathways | Increased cell survival and proliferation |
| ATM, CHEK2 | DNA damage repair pathway | Genomic instability |
| JAK1, JAK3, STAT5B | JAK-STAT pathway | Unchecked cell growth and survival |
| IL2RG | JAK-STAT pathway, Cytokine signaling | Promoting lymphocyte proliferation |
| EZH2 | Transcription regulator | Altering the epigenetic landscape |
Genetic Diagnostic Testing Methods
Cytogenetics (FISH, CpG-stimulated Karyotype, SNP microarray), PCR for TRB/TRG and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). The genetic diagnostic process involves detecting clonal rearrangements of the TR gene and rearrangements of the TCL1 gene at the TRB or TRG loci.
Familial Forms
There is no noticeable familial clustering. However, a subset of cases may develop in the context of ataxia-telangiectasia (AT), which is characterized by germline mutations in the ATM gene. Here there is a combined heterozygosity in the form of biallelic inactivating mutations of the ATM tumor suppressor gene.[10] Penetrance of the tumor phenotype is about 10% to 15% by early adulthood.[11] It represents nearly 3% of all malignancies in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia.[12]
Additional Information
In T-PLL, the rapid growth of the disease necessitates immediate initiation of treatment. The most effective first-line treatment is alemtuzumab, an anti-CD52 antibody with remission rates over 80%. However, these remissions usually last only 1-2 years. To potentially extend remission, eligible patients are advised to undergo allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) during their first complete remission, which can lead to longer remission durations of over 4-5 years for 15-30% of patients. Consequently, the prognosis for T-PLL remains poor, with median overall survival times under two years and five-year survival rates below 5%. Ongoing research is exploring molecularly targeted drugs and signaling pathway inhibitors, for routine clinical use in treating T-PLL.
Links
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References
- ↑ Eichhorn, G. L. (1979-02). "Aging, genetics, and the environment: potential of errors introduced into genetic information transfer by metal ions". Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. 9 (3–4): 291–301. doi:10.1016/0047-6374(79)90106-4. ISSN 0047-6374. PMID 374897. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Staber, Philipp B.; et al. (2019-10-03). "Consensus criteria for diagnosis, staging, and treatment response assessment of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia". Blood. 134 (14): 1132–1143. doi:10.1182/blood.2019000402. ISSN 1528-0020. PMC 7042666 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 31292114. - ↑ Stengel, Anna; et al. (2014-12-06). "A Comprehensive Cytogenetic and Molecular Genetic Characterization of Patients with T-PLL Revealed Two Distinct Genetic Subgroups and JAK3 Mutations As an Important Prognostic Marker". Blood. 124 (21): 1639–1639. doi:10.1182/blood.v124.21.1639.1639. ISSN 0006-4971.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fang, Hong; et al. (2023-09). "T-prolymphocytic leukemia: TCL1 or MTCP1 rearrangement is not mandatory to establish diagnosis". Leukemia. 37 (9): 1919–1921. doi:10.1038/s41375-023-01956-3. ISSN 1476-5551. PMID 37443196 Check
|pmid=value (help). Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 Andersson, E. I.; et al. (2018-03). "Discovery of novel drug sensitivities in T-PLL by high-throughput ex vivo drug testing and mutation profiling". Leukemia. 32 (3): 774–787. doi:10.1038/leu.2017.252. ISSN 1476-5551. PMID 28804127. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Pinter-Brown, Lauren C. (2021-12-30). "JAK/STAT: a pathway through the maze of PTCL?". Blood. 138 (26): 2747–2748. doi:10.1182/blood.2021014238. ISSN 0006-4971.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kiel, Mark J.; et al. (2014-08-28). "Integrated genomic sequencing reveals mutational landscape of T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia". Blood. 124 (9): 1460–1472. doi:10.1182/blood-2014-03-559542. ISSN 1528-0020. PMC 4148768. PMID 24825865.
- ↑ Braun, Till; et al. (2021). "Advanced Pathogenetic Concepts in T-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia and Their Translational Impact". Frontiers in Oncology. 11: 775363. doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.775363. ISSN 2234-943X. PMC 8639578 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 34869023 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Tian, Shulan; et al. (2021-04-15). "Epigenetic alteration contributes to the transcriptional reprogramming in T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia". Scientific Reports. 11 (1): 8318. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-87890-9. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 8050249 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 33859327 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Suarez, Felipe; et al. (2015-01-10). "Incidence, presentation, and prognosis of malignancies in ataxia-telangiectasia: a report from the French national registry of primary immune deficiencies". Journal of Clinical Oncology: Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 33 (2): 202–208. doi:10.1200/JCO.2014.56.5101. ISSN 1527-7755. PMID 25488969.
- ↑ Taylor, A. M.; et al. (1996-01-15). "Leukemia and lymphoma in ataxia telangiectasia". Blood. 87 (2): 423–438. ISSN 0006-4971. PMID 8555463.
- ↑ Li, Geling; et al. (2017-12-26). "T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia in an adolescent with ataxia-telangiectasia: novel approach with a JAK3 inhibitor (tofacitinib)". Blood Advances. 1 (27): 2724–2728. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2017010470. ISSN 2473-9529. PMC 5745136. PMID 29296924.
Notes
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