Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia: Advances in Diagnosis, Genetic Insights, and Management Strategies
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2025, 17(2), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17020227
Submission received: 15 November 2024
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Revised: 3 January 2025
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Accepted: 7 January 2025
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Published: 12 January 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Advances in the Molecular Understanding of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs))
Simple Summary
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) represent a subset of blood cancers, a member of which is chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL). This entity is very rare in comparison to the more common MPNs. The increased usage of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has increased our diagnostic and prognostic ability regarding this entity. There is no specified treatment approach for CNL; however, there are clinical trials that show promising results and experimental drugs that are being investigated to reach a unified treatment approach. This review aims to comprehensively review this rare entity in terms of epidemiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment.
Abstract
CNL is a rare subtype of MPNs characterized by persistent neutrophilia, bone marrow hypercellularity, and specific genetic mutations, particularly in the CSF3R gene. Advances in molecular diagnostics have greatly enhanced our understanding of CNL, distinguishing it from other myeloproliferative disorders and refining diagnostic criteria. This review provides an updated overview of CNL, focusing on breakthroughs in genetic profiling, including novel mutations with potential prognostic value and implications for targeted therapy. We discuss current management strategies, emphasizing the role of JAK inhibitors, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and evolving investigational treatments. Challenges in early diagnosis, therapeutic resistance, and future directions in research are also addressed, underscoring the need for a personalized medicine approach to improve outcomes for patients with CNL.
