Chronic lymphoproliferative disorders and secondary cancers in the era of purine analogues and beyond

Abstract

The low grade chronic lymphoproliferative disorders include chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia, follicular lymphoma and hairy cell leukemia. Traditionally considered incurable, these disorders have been associated with a risk of haematological and solid organ malignancies secondary to both the underlying disease and the associated treatment. The introduction of purine analogues into treatment paradigms has seen increased rates of therapy related myelodysplasia reported and it remains unclear yet on the impact the targeted novel therapies play in the development of secondary cancers. We review the rates of secondary malignancy in the chronic lymphoproliferative disorders with a particular focus on the role of the purine analogues in the development of therapy related MDS.

Keywords:

• CLL;
• fludarabine;
• myelodysplastic syndrome

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).