Dr. McCloskey discusses the limitations of current treatment options for BPDCN, as well as the emerging research and data that are most anticipated in the field.
Clinical Presentation:
A 67-year-old man referred from dermatologist.
Referred initially to dermatologist by PCP for progressive, persistent, cutaneous nodules that patient first noticed 3 weeks prior
Initial Clinical Workup and Diagnosis:
ROS: Fatigue, 5 kg weight loss over 3 moths
PMH: Sinusitis; no major comorbidities
PE: Notable for multiple purpuric nodules (measuring up to 5 cm on arms, legs, torso). No palpable adenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly
ECOG PS =1
Labs: WBC 14.1 x 103/uL, Hb 8.9 g/dL, platelets 54 x 103/uL. Differential revealed 12% blasts, 32% neutrophils, 16% monocytes, 40% lymphocytes.
Skin: purpuric nodule
Peripheral blood smear: blastic cells with large and round or slightly irregular nuclei; blast cytoplasm stained greyish blue without granules or Auer rods
Bone marrow biopsy showed 40% blasts by morphology; 80% cellular marrow with interstitial infiltrate.
IHC of neoplastic cells: CD123, CD4, CD56, TCL1 positive
Flow cytometry:
CD4, CD56, CD123 were positive;
CD34 and T- and B-cell lineage-specific markers were negative
Cytogenetics: 46 XY
Lumbar puncture did not indicate CNS involvement
The patient was ultimately diagnosed with BPDCN based on clinical and histopathological findings.
Initial Treatments:
Tagraxofusp initiated:
Initial dose 12 mcg/kg as per package label for frontline therapy and achieves CR after 1 cycle of therapy.
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