Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a highly aggressive hematological malignancy that primarily involves bone marrow (BM) and/or skin; secondary sites include lymph nodes, soft tissue, and central nervous system [
1,
2]. BPDCN is derived from the precursors of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and characterized by the expression of CD123, CD4, and CD56, and the absence of other lineage markers [
1,
2]. BPDCN typically affects elderly patients; however, it can be present at any age [
3]. Pediatric patients are exceedingly rare with an unclear clinical course [
3,
4]. Currently, no standardized therapeutic approach has been established, although an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) type of treatment appears to be more effective in those patients who are able to tolerate aggressive chemotherapy [
2‐
4]. The prognosis of BPDCN is extremely poor. Most adult patients relapse in less than 2 years, and the median overall survival is 9–13 months [
2,
5]. Allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) in the first remission could produce durable remission in adult patients [
6]. The role of SCT in children is not clear [
3,
7,
8].
CD123, interleukin 3 (IL-3) receptor α chain, is ubiquitously expressed at high level on the surface of BPDCN blasts, making it an attractive therapeutic target [
1]. As a targeted therapy directed to CD123, SL-401 is a recombinant fusion protein that links IL-3 to a truncated diphtheria toxin (DT) payload (IL-3 replaces the native binding domain of DT) [
9]. After binding to CD123, SL-401 becomes internalized, the catalytic domain of DT translocates to the cytoplasm, leading to inhibition of protein synthesis and cell death [
9]. In the largest adult trial in BPDCN, SL-401 was generally effective and well tolerated as reported at American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting 2017 [
10]. The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were transient transaminitis (50–52%), hypoalbuminemia (50%), thrombocytopenia (38%), fever (29%), and chills (29%). Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) occurred in 19% of patients [
9]. At the optimal dose of 12 μg/kg/day, there were 2/119 (1.7%) grade 5 events of CLS across all SL-401 trials (BPDCN, acute leukemia, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and multiple myeloma) [
9]. In the ongoing BPDCN phase 2 trial, the overall response rate (ORR) at a dose of 12 μg/kg/day was 90% (26/29) with a 72% rate of CR + CRc + CRi (CR = complete response; CRc = clinical CR [CR with minimal residual skin abnormality]; CRi = CR with incomplete hematologic recovery) in newly diagnosed patients. In patients with relapsed and/or refractory (R/R) disease, the ORR was 69% (9/13) with a 38% rate of CR + CRc + CRi. In addition, 45% (13/29) of patients in the first remission were subsequently bridged to SCT after receiving SL-401 [
11].
Up to date, no pediatric patients with BPDCN using SL-401 have been reported. Here, we report the first experience of three children with BPDCN treated with SL-401 at City of Hope (COH) (Table
1). All patients received a 5-day infusion of 12 μg/kg/day SL-401 every 2–3 weeks. Each patient received single patient IND approval. All signed an informed consent/assent. This retrospective study has been approved by an institutional review board of COH.
Table 1
Clinical presentation, immunophenotype, and cytogenetics
10 years/F | Skin, BM | + | + | + | – | – | CD43, CD45, TCL-1, S100 | 45, XX, t (1;6), (q21; q23), − 9, add (11) (q23), + 16, − 21 | N/A |
12 years/F | Skin, LN | + | + | + | Focal | – | CD43, CD45, TCL-1, S100, CD99 | 46, XX | NRAS G12R, Myb-PLEKH01 |
15years/F | SC, BM | + | + | + | + | – | CD45, CD5,CD7, CD11c, CD38, CD64 | 46, XX, t (12;18) (p13; q21), chr. 6 tetraploidy, ETV6 del | N/A |