The incidence, risk factors, and survival of acute myeloid leukemia secondary to chronic myelomonocytic leukemia: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a heterogeneous myeloid malignancy, characterized by sustained peripheral blood monocytosis and an inherent risk of secondary acute myeloid leukemia (s-AML). This study aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and survival of AML secondary to CMML.

METHODS

We conducted this retrospective analysis based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

RESULTS

We identified 3,218 patients with primary CMML. After a median follow-up time of 23 months, 291 patients developed s-AML and most of them occurred in the first year of CMML diagnosis, with cumulative incidence of 10.8%. In competing risk analysis, risk factors for s-AML were younger age and exposure to chemotherapy at CMML diagnosis. The post-progression survival (PPS) of s-AML was dismal with a median survival of 4 months (1-, 3-, and 5-year PPS of 26.6%, 9.6%, and 7.1%, respectively), while younger age and exposure to chemotherapy at s-AML development were protective factors for PPS. Considering CMML, s-AML development, older age, and exposure to chemotherapy at CMML diagnosis were risk factors for overall survival (OS). In addition, being married, higher income, and non-Hispanic White were important protective factors for OS of CMML.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of s-AML among CMML was high and the PPS was poor. Age and exposure to chemotherapy at CMML diagnosis were associated with the high risk of s-AML and the poor survival of s-AML. In addition to clinical factors, demographic factors, including marital status, economic level, and race/ethnicity, should also be included when assessing the CMML survival.