Published online Jul 26, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i21.5129
Peer-review started: April 14, 2023
First decision: May 19, 2023
Revised: June 8, 2023
Accepted: June 30, 2023
Article in press: June 30, 2023
Published online: July 26, 2023
Processing time: 103 Days and 16 Hours
Simultaneous bilineage hematologic malignancies are rare; however, several cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) co-occurrence have been reported. A standard treatment for simultaneous AML and T-LBL has not yet been established, and its prognosis is very poor. Further studies to develop standard treatments are required to increase patient survival rates.
A 69-year-old man complaining of pleuritic chest pain visited the emergency room. Computed tomography revealed multiple enlarged lymph nodes (LNs) in the neck and groin and pulmonary thromboembolism with pulmonary infarction. Furthermore, a peripheral blood smear performed due to leukocytosis revealed circulating blasts. Acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) was diagnosed after bone marrow examination, and T-LBL positivity for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, cluster of differentiation (CD)34, and CD4 was confirmed by cervical LN biopsy. Decitabine and dexamethasone were administered because he could not receive intensive chemotherapy due to poor performance status. Complete remission of AMML and T-LBL was achieved after 4 cycles of decitabine plus dexamethasone.
We report the therapeutic effect of decitabine, a hypomethylating agent (HMA), in patients with concurrent bilineage hematologic malignancies and suggest that further studies are required to evaluate the therapeutic effect of HMAs on both lymphoid and bilineage hematologic malignancies.
Core Tip: Simultaneous bilineage hematologic malignancies are rare. Here, we report an unusual case of concurrent acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL), treated with decitabine. After the fourth cycle of decitabine and dexamethasone administration, a patient achieved complete remission of AMML and T-LBL. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) have been approved for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome and intensive induction-ineligible acute myeloid leukemia; however, their therapeutic effect on lymphoid malignancy has not yet been sufficiently investigated. This case suggests the need of further studies to evaluate the therapeutic effects of HMAs on lymphoid and bilineage hematologic malignancies.