Clinical features and treatment outcomes of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma: a single center experience in Korea

Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) constitutes less than 5% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and little is known about clinical features and treatment outcomes for patients with LPL in East Asia. In this study, we summarize our experiences managing patients diagnosed with LPL in Korea. A retrospective analysis was performed using data for 22 patients with LPL diagnosed at Samsung Medical Center. LPL was more common among males (77.3%), with a median age of diagnosis of 63 years (range 26-86). The most common presenting symptom was fatigue related to anemia (59.1%), and the bone marrow was commonly involved at diagnosis (90.9%). IgM paraproteinemia was found in 15 patients, and only one patient had anti-hepatitis C virus. Although some patients could be observed without treatment, the majority of patients required systemic treatment. Chlorambucil alone and cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) or CHOP-like combination chemotherapy was frequently used as a first-line treatment, and a fludarabine-based regimen was commonly used as salvage therapy. However, responses to those treatments were not satisfactory. Even patients who could be monitored without therapy became refractory to salvage therapies once their disease progressed. Eight patients died due to disease progression, and the median overall survival was 70.8 months (95% CI: 31.4-109.2 months). This study describes the clinical features and treatment outcome of LPL in Korea. The treatment approach was too heterogeneous to draw firm conclusions, however, and treatment recommendations in the future should utilize a uniform treatment strategy.