[gchen]

Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia & plasma cell leukemia

by gchen on Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:53 pm

Dear all,

What differences are between chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, plasma cell leukemia, and multiple myeloma? What difference or silimarity of their treatments are there?

[Dr. Jason Valent]

Re: Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia & plasma cell leukemia

by Dr. Jason Valent on Sun Mar 09, 2014 4:08 pm

Plasma cell leukemia is similar to multiple myeloma and treated somewhat similarly. Although generally plasma cell leukemia treatment is more aggressive and patients with plasma cell leukemia are not expected to live as long as those with multiple myeloma.

CLL is different in that it is more of a true B-cell lymphoma. One unique drug that is used in CLL and not effective in myeloma would be rituximab. Many cases of CLL do not need to be treated and can just be observed though.

All 3 are incurable with chemotherapy.

This is somewhat of a short answer for the question but not sure how detailed to get with this.

[gchen]

Re: Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia & plasma cell leukemia

by gchen on Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:29 pm

Thank you for your good answer, Dr. Jason.

Are there differences between multiple myeloma, extramedullary plasmacytoma with multiple myeloma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma without multiple myeloma? Are there in same category? Do these disorders have same treatments with different life spans?

Because our doctor is a lymphoma, CLL, and PCL specialist, he treated multiple myeloma, EMP patients by using VRD, then does perform SCT [stem cell transplant] after these disorders in remission.

[Wayne K]

Re: Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia & plasma cell leukemia

by Wayne K on Tue Mar 11, 2014 1:25 pm

I had CLL diagnosed 8 years before multiple myeloma. I received Velcade treatment and then a stem cell transplant. The SCT put my CLL in remission. A bonus I guess.