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

Kingsley Nnawuba; Ifeanyi Uche; Samantha  Robinson; Obed Asare; Tochukwu Nzeako; Anup Kumar Trikannad Ashwini Kumar; Hanna  Jensen

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20241805

Authors

Kingsley Nnawuba Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Regional Campus, Fayetteville, AR, United States https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0206-215X
Ifeanyi Uche Department of Internal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
Samantha Robinson Department of Mathematics, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
Obed Asare Department of Information Systems, Walton College of Business, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
Tochukwu Nzeako Department of Internal Medicine, Christiana Care Hospital, Newark, Delaware
Anup Kumar Trikannad Ashwini Kumar Division of Hematology Oncology and Myeloma, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, AR, United States
Hanna Jensen Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Northwest Regional Campus, Fayetteville, AR, United States

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20241805

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.

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