BPDCN

Findings from a recent study support current recommendations to treat patients with BPDCN with tagraxofusp or hyper-CVAD as first-line treatments, then with allogeneic stem cell transplant if patients are eligible.

One expert who is part of a small worldwide group of dedicated scientists and clinicians working to build BPDCN awareness among specialists offers insights from his research for dermatologists.

Those who study blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) struggle to make dermatologists and others aware that the rare hematologic malignancy that often first presents with skin manifestations exists.

Tagraxofusp, the first and only FDA-approved drug for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), outperforms traditional chemotherapy treatment for the rare myeloid malignancy.

The 10-year-old male presented after experiencing five months of bilateral knee joint pain. A bone marrow smear and biopsy revealed the boy had blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. Doctors treated him and the patient achieved complete remission. The patient presented with a scalp rash one month after his first complete remission.

Studies are revealing clinical, molecular, diagnostic and therapeutic findings that are leading to a better understanding of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, and there are promising targeted treatments in the pipeline as well as a growing social media interest.

Rare aggressive cutaneous lymphoma puts patients at risk of thyroid and non-lymphocytic leukemia second primary malignancies, researchers say.

Dermatologists might be the first providers to encounter patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm because more than 70% of these patients have cutaneous lesions. With one approved treatment and several in clinical trials, there are promising and much needed therapeutic options coming.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare but aggressive hematologic malignancy that often manifests with asymptomatic skin lesions that often appear as bruise-like lesions, plaques or nodules. With one approved drug available, researchers are studying additional investigational agents.

While little is known about BPDCN  and how to treat it, authors of a recent study suggest a low threshold for performing a skin biopsy to evaluate skin lesions in patients with hematological cancers, especially when those lesions that are quickly progressing, large or involve atypical sites.