Patient selection: mantle cell leukemia
Circulating lymphoma cells at the time of diagnosis may or may not be morphologically apparent but can be identified on flow cytometry. Circulating lymphoma cells may be present even when there is a normal lymphocyte count.
Lymphocytosis was defined as an absolute lymphocyte count >= 5 * 10^9/L (5,000 per µL).
Genetic abnormalities associated with lymphocytosis:
(1) gains in 3q (other gains include: 7p, 8q, 9q, 12q, 1q)
(2) loss of 10p (other losses include: 1p, 6q, 8p, 9p, 9q, 11q, 13q,17p)
A patient with mantle cell lymphoma and overt leukemic expression showed:
(1) ECOG >= 2
(2) palpable splenomegaly
(3) low platelet counts (< 120,000 per µL)
A patient with mantle cell lymphoma and lymphocytosis showed:
(1) a lower response rate to therapy
(2) a shorter survival
