Very early onset of an acute myeloid leukemia in an adult patient with B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia

Int J Lab Hematol. 2009 Feb;31(1):106-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-553X.2007.00968.x.

Abstract

We report on a case of a 30-year-old male with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) with immunophenotype CD19(+), CD22(+), CD20(+), CD10(+), with aberrant expression of CD13 and CD117, and IgH gene rearrangements. Three months after treatment with GMALL-2003 and Ida/FLAG protocols bone marrow showed predominance of blasts with myeloid morphology and phenotype MPO(+), CD13(+), CD33(+), CD64(+), CD15(+), CD56(+), EVI-1 gene overexpression and lack of IgH rearrangements. The case is the first report of a very early emergence of myeloid leukemia during the induction treatment for B-ALL in an adult patient. Different pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed - clonal evolution or selection, lineage switch or development of a de novo or therapy-induced leukemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, B-Cell / complications*
  • Leukemia, B-Cell / pathology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / complications*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Male