Retrospective Evaluation of Hairy Cell Leukemia Patients: Single Center Experience

INTRODUCTION: Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare B-cell leukemia. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and demographic features and treatment responses of HCL patients diagnosed and treated at our center.


METHODS: Thirteen patients were diagnosed between March 2019 and February 2024. Morphology, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry were used for diagnosis. All patients received cladribine as first-line treatment. Patients with partial response or less and those who relapsed received salvage therapy.
RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 53. Seven patients (53.8%) had pancytopenia. BRAF V600E mutation was positive in 9 patients (69%). Splenomegaly was present in 10 patients (76.9%) at diagnosis. Cladribine treatment achieved complete response in 11 patients (84%), partial response in 1 patient (7%). One patient did not respond to treatment. Two patients relapsed and achieved complete remission with pentostatin or rituximab treatment. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 92.3% and progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 84.6%.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The demographic and laboratory features and treatment outcomes of HCL patients followed at our center are consistent with the literature. Cladribine is highly effective as a first-line treatment in HCL and provides high response rates. Pentostatin and rituximab monotherapy were found to be effective in relapsed patients.