Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)Symptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)
View Main Condition: Leukemia
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is an unusual cancer of the blood. It affects B lymphocyte cells, a type of white blood cell.
Leukemic reticuloendotheliosis; HCL; Leukemia - hairy cell
HCL is caused by the abnormal growth of certain B cells. The cells look "hairy" under the microscope because they have fine projections extending from their surface.
HCL usually leads to a low number of normal blood cells.
The cause of this disease is unknown. Certain genetic changes in the cancer cells may be the cause. It affects men more often than women. The average age of diagnosis is 55.
Symptoms of HCL may include any of the following:
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Heavy sweating (especially at night)
- Fatigue and weakness
- Feeling full after eating only a small amount
- Recurrent infections and fevers
- Pain or fullness in the upper left belly (enlarged spleen)
- Swollen lymph glands
- Weight loss
Treatment may not be needed for the early stages of this disease. Some people may need an occasional blood transfusion.
If treatment is needed because of very low blood counts, chemotherapy medicines can be used.
In most cases, chemotherapy can relieve the symptoms for many years. When the signs and symptoms go away, you are said to be in remission.
Removing the spleen may improve blood counts, but is unlikely to cure the disease. Antibiotics can be used to treat infections. People with low blood counts may receive growth factors and, possibly, transfusions.
Northwell Health Center For Advanced Medicine, RJ Zuckerberg Cancer Center
Douglas Gladstone is a Transplant Surgeon in Lake Success, New York. Dr. Gladstone is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL). His top areas of expertise are Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Chronic B-Cell Leukemia (CBCL), Bone Marrow Transplant, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.
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Michael Grever is a Hematologist in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Grever is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL). His top areas of expertise are Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Chronic B-Cell Leukemia (CBCL), Leukemia, and Splenectomy.
Enrico Tiacci practices in Perugia, Italy. Mr. Tiacci is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL). His top areas of expertise are Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL), Leukemia, Hodgkin Lymphoma, Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Splenectomy.
Most people with HCL can expect to live 10 years or longer after diagnosis and treatment.
The low blood counts caused by hairy cell leukemia can lead to:
- Infections
- Fatigue
- Excessive bleeding
Contact your provider if you have major bleeding. Also contact your provider if you have signs of infection, such as a persistent fever, cough, or general ill feeling.
There is no known way to prevent this disease.
Summary: This phase II trial tests how well venetoclax works in treating patients with hairy cell leukemia that has come back after a period of improvement (relapsed). Venetoclax is in a class of medications called B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking Bcl-2, a protein needed for cancer cell survival.
Summary: This phase II trial tests whether the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab is better than nivolumab alone to shrink tumors in patients with deficient mismatch repair system (dMMR) endometrial carcinoma that has come back after a period of time during which the cancer could not be detected (recurrent). Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mismatch repair (MMR) is a system for recognizing and repairing da...
Published Date: June 17, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
National Cancer Institute website. Hairy cell leukemia treatment (PDQ) health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/hp/hairy-cell-treatment-pdq. Updated September 20, 2024. Accessed December 3, 2024.
Nasr MR, Hutchison RE. Leukocytic disorders. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 34.
Ravandi F. Hairy cell leukemia. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 77.