Successful Treatment of Pediatric Epstein-Barr Virus-positive Aggressive Natural Killer-Cell Leukemia

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2019 Jul;41(5):e336-e337. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001237.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive aggressive natural killer-cell leukemia (ANKL) is a rare malignancy of mature natural killer cells, with a very poor survival rate. Patients have a rapidly declining clinical course and a poor prognosis, with a median survival of only a few months. Herein, we describe a 16-year-old boy who was diagnosed with EBV-positive ANKL and successfully treated using combination chemotherapy and a subsequent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). The patient is disease free 4 years and 9 months after alloHSCT. Thus, combination chemotherapy followed by alloHSCT seems to be a promising therapeutic option for EBV-positive ANKL.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Large Granular Lymphocytic / therapy*
  • Leukemia, Large Granular Lymphocytic / virology
  • Male
  • Transplantation, Homologous / methods