BPDCN: A Distinct Disease and its New Treatment Paradigm

This segment introduces blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) as a rare and aggressive hematologic malignancy that has historically been difficult to recognize and treat. Dr Luskin outlines what defines BPDCN biologically and clinically, including its characteristic cell of origin and common patterns of presentation, which have often contributed to misdiagnosis as other leukemias or lymphomas. She explains how, in the past, treatment relied largely on non-specific chemotherapy approaches adapted from related malignancies, leading to suboptimal outcomes, particularly in the older patient population most commonly affected by BPDCN. The discussion then transitions to how improved disease recognition and the development of BPDCN-specific therapies have begun to alter the natural history of the disease. Without detailing individual treatment strategies, Dr Luskin frames how these advances have shifted expectations around response and long-term disease control, setting the foundation for subsequent segments focused on targeted therapy and practical management considerations.