BJH - volume 15, issue 6, october 2024
H. Lismont MD, Ir J. Van Ham , A. Janssens MD, PhD
Hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) is a rare hematologic malignancy with high response rates after purine-analogue based therapy and an excellent long-term prognosis. We reviewed 104 HCL patients diagnosed between 1980 and 2022 at the University Hospitals Leuven to analyse long-term outcomes and complications. Median follow-up was twelve years. In total, 96 patients (92%) received a first-line treatment consisting of splenectomy (n=13), interferon-α (n=13) and cladribine (n=70). This last therapy resulted in the best response rates (overall response (OR) 99%, complete response (CR) 71%) and a long-lasting progression-free-survival (median PFS ten years). Forty-three percent of patients received multiple therapies for subsequent relapses. The median number of treatment lines was one. The median overall survival (OS) was 30.8 years with a 5-year and 10-year OS of approximately 98% and 91%. Although the prognosis of HCL patients is very good, infections and second malignancies are frequently observed. In this cohort, 55% of the patients had a major infection with an infection-related mortality of 3%. After diagnosis, 22% of the HCL patients developed one or more second malignancies, ranging from 1–3 per patient, with a 10-year cumulative risk of 14.5%.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2024;15(6):249–56)
Read moreBJH - 2021, issue 2, march 2021
P. Beuselinck MD, Ir J. Van Ham , N. Boeckx MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, P. Vandenberghe MD, PhD, G. Verhoef MD, PhD
BACKGROUND: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have improved the survival of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). TKIs can be successfully discontinued in some CML patients who have achieved a stable deep molecular response.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is twofold. On the one hand, this review provides an overview of current use and discontinuation of TKIs in patients with CML. On the other hand, we retrospectively investigated the use and possible discontinuation of TKIs in a specific patient population with CML at the University Hospital of Leuven.
METHODS: A literature search was carried out in May 2019 to identify all relevant articles. Articles were searched on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Additionally, the articles found in the reference list were used.
RESULTS: This review included ten articles (two on imatinib, four on dasatinib, four on nilotinib), with 970 patients. Treatment free remission (TFR) ratio varied from 41–68% after one year. One study published the results of TFR after three years. In UZ Leuven, the TFR ratio was 60% after 106 weeks.
CONCLUSION: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy can be safely terminated in selected patient groups. About half of the patients retain the molecular remission after discontinuation of TKI therapy.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;12(2):52-8)
Read moreBJH - 2018, issue Abstract Book BHS, february 2018
Ir J. Van Ham , M. Delforge MD, PhD, A. Janssens MD, PhD, J. Raddoux , M. Beckers MD, PhD, T. Devos MD, PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD, V. Vergote MD, J. Maertens MD, PhD, H. Schoemans MD, PhD, P. Vandenberghe MD, PhD
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