Comparative analysis of patients' characteristics, treatment, and survival outcomes in CLL from China and the United States.

BACKGROUND

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is considerably more common in Americans compared with Asians. The basis for these differences and implications for therapy outcomes are controversial and mostly unknown.

METHODS

We compared baseline co-variates, therapies, and outcomes from 2 databases, Flatiron Health database in the United States (N = 15 786) and Tianjin CAMS database from China (N = 2996).

RESULTS

Chinese subjects had younger age at diagnosis, more advanced Rai stage and an increased prevalence of lymphadenoma, thrombocytopenia, and increased β2-microglobulin. Americans had higher rates of unmutated IGHV, TP53 deletion, and cytogenetic abnormalities. These differences persisted after adjusting for age, Rai stage, and IGHV mutation state. There were also substantial differences in therapy patterns between the cohorts. Median survival in Chinese was 9.7 vs 7.5 years in Americans (P < .001). In sub-group analyses, Chinese CLL had better 5-year survivals with chemotherapy (69% [95% CI, 66, 72%] vs 49% [47, 52%]; P < .001), immune therapies (67% [63, 72%] vs 65% [64, 66%]; P = .041), and targeted therapies (85% [81, 88%] vs 65% [64, 67%]; P < .001). These advantages were pronounced among older patients and those with early-stage, mutated IGHV and without TP53 deletion.

CONCLUSION

This cross-sectional study identifies significant clinical and treatment outcome disparities in CLL between Eastern and Western populations, attributed to distinct genetic and molecular profiles.