Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients with Down syndrome with a previous history of acute myeloid leukemia

Patients with Down syndrome (DS) are predisposed to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in early and later childhood, respectively, but rarely experience both. We herein discuss four patients with DS with ALL and a history of AML who were treated with various chemotherapies, one of whom later received a bone marrow transplantation. Three patients survived and remain in remission. One patient died of fulminant hepatitis during therapy. No common cytogenetic abnormalities in AML and ALL besides constitutional +21 were identified, indicating that the two leukemia types were independent events. However, the underlying pathomechanism of these conditions awaits clarification.     

急性混合谱系融合基因阳性急性白血病患儿的临床特点

目的分析混合谱系白血病(MLL)融合基因阳性的急性白血病(AL)患儿临床特点,探讨其治疗措施及其预后相关因素。方法选取细胞形态学、分子生物学、免疫分型及巢式反转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测MLL融合基因阳性AL患儿51例,对其临床表现、治疗及预后进行回顾性分析。结果51例MLL融合基因阳性AL患儿中急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)37例,急性髓细胞白血病(AML)14例。42例涉及11号染色体改变;RT-PCR检测有36例MLL基因重排,15例为串联重复。32例接受正规治疗的AL患儿中24例完全缓解,其中ALL19例,AML5例;缓解时间持续2 a以上者ALL5例,AML仅1例;持续缓解存活者仅16例,ALL12例,AML4例;10例MLL融合基因已转阴,并持续存活。在随访6 a中,32例中复发6例,均为骨髓复发,死亡6例。结论MLL融合基因阳性AL患儿发生率低,化疗效果差,易复发,预后差。少数对化疗敏感的AL患儿MLL融合基因可转阴,并持续存活。     

Development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia following treatment for acute myeloid leukemia in children with Down syndrome: A case report and retrospective review of Children's Oncology Group acute myeloid leukemia trials

Children with Down syndrome have a 150‐fold increased risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 20‐fold increased risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Although the risk of developing AML and ALL is significantly increased in children with Down syndrome, the development of both malignancies in the same patient is very rare. We describe a patient with Down syndrome who developed ALL 6 years after being diagnosed with AML. We performed a literature review and Children's Oncology Group query and discovered eight published cases and five cases of ALL following AML in pediatric patients with Down syndrome, as well as six cases of ALL following AML in non‐Down syndrome patients. There was a similar cumulative incidence of ALL after treatment for AML in the Down syndrome and non‐Down syndrome populations. Overall survival in patients with Down syndrome who developed ALL after treatment for AML was comparable to overall survival for patients with Down syndrome with de novo ALL with an average follow‐up of 7 years after ALL diagnosis. Clinical data collected were used to discuss whether this phenomenon represents a secondary leukemia, second primary cancer, or mixed‐lineage leukemia.     

A rare case of GATA1 negative chemoresistant acute megakaryocytic leukemia in an 8‐month‐old infant with trisomy 21

Children with Down syndrome (DS) have a unique form of acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) characterized by the presence of mutations in the GATA1 gene leading to increased chemosensitivity and a favorable outcome. We describe an 8‐month‐old male with DS who was diagnosed with AMKL without a mutation in the GATA1 gene. The patient was treated according to the DS‐AML‐regimen but his disease progressed and he succumbed 9 months later. This rare case of DS AMKL without a GATA1 mutation with an unfavorable outcome suggests that GATA1 testing may play a useful role in initial stratification. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:1048–1049 © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Leukemic blasts with markers of four cell lineages in Down's syndrome (“megakaryoblastic leukemia”)

Among 16 patients with Down's syndrome (DS) and acute leukemia admitted to our department during a ten year period, 6 were diagnosed as acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMkL). The diagnosis was based on clinical and hematologic criteria, confirmed in three patients with the use of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) specific for megakaryocytic antigens. In these three, and in a fourth patient, the leukemic blasts were positive for other myeloid, lymphoid and erythroid markers in MoAb testing. We suggest that AMkL in DS is a mixed lineage leukemia with blasts presenting a variety of cell surface antigens, indicating origin from an early progenitor cell with the capability of megakaryocytic differentiation. Of the 6 patients with AMkL, 4 treated with standard AML protocols are in complete continuing remission (CCR) with observation periods from 57+ to 148+ months. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Equal frequency of TEL/AML1+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children with and without Down syndrome

Constitutional trisomy 21 is the most prominent predisposing factor to childhood leukemia, whereas the t(12;21)(p13;q22) with its molecular genetic counterpart, the TEL/AML1 fusion gene, is the most common acquired chromosomal rearrangement in childhood B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Thus, it was somewhat surprising that according to the currently available literature the incidence of TEL/AML1+ BCP ALL is extremely low in patients with Down syndrome (DS). To further investigate this issue in a population-based fashion, the authors retrospectively assessed the number of DS patients with a TEL/AML1+ ALL in two consecutive Austrian ALL multicenter trials. Accordingly, they were able to analyze 8 of 10 individuals with DS and a BCP ALL, including 2 who suffered from a TEL/AML1+ leukemia. Based on this observation we concluded that individuals with a constitutional trisomy 21 may have the similar likelihood to develop a TEL/AML1+ leukemia as BCP ALL patients without this specific predisposingfactor.     

EQUAL FREQUENCY OF TEL/AML1 ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA IN CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT DOWN SYNDROME

Constitutional trisomy 21 is the most prominent predisposing factor to childhood leukemia, whereas the t(12;21)(p13;q22) with its molecular genetic counterpart, the TEL/AML1 fusion gene, is the most common acquired chromosomal rearrangement in childhood B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Thus, it was somewhat surprising that according to the currently available literature the incidence of TEL/AML1+ BCP ALL is extremely low in patients with Down syndrome (DS). To further investigate this issue in a population-based fashion, the authors retrospectively assessed the number of DS patients with a TEL/AML1+ ALL in two consecutive Austrian ALL multicenter trials. Accordingly, they were able to analyze 8 of 10 individuals with DS and a BCP ALL, including 2 who suffered from a TEL/AML1+ leukemia. Based on this observation we concluded that individuals with a constitutional trisomy 21 may have the similar likelihood to develop a TEL/AML1+ leukemia as BCP ALL patients without this specific predisposing factor.     

Survival of childhood leukemia in Singapore

The objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcome of children with acute leukemias at a university hospital in Singapore. Between January 1988 and January 1994, 66 children were treated, comprising 13 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 53 of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) was computed according to the Kaplan-Meier method. The results showed that the survival for AML was poor, with a 2-year DFS of only 30%. The major cause of death for AML was leukemia and leukemia-related complications, such as hemorrhage and severe infections. In contrast, a 62% 2-year DFS was achieved for ALL. It was found that marked hepatosplenomegaly (enlarged liver and/or spleen ≥10 cm below the costal margin) at presentation correlated with a significantly shortened survival in our patients with ALL. The major cause for treatment failure in ALL was recurrence of disease. We conclude that the DFS for our patients with ALL at 2 years was fair. The treatment results for AML were poor, but the numbers are too small to make any definite conclusions. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Features and outcome of neonatal leukemia in Japan: experience of the Japan infant leukemia study group

BACKGROUND: Neonatal leukemia characterized by early stem cell origin and extramedullary infiltration in the first 4 weeks of life is rare. We analyzed the features and outcome of neonatal leukemia in Japan to establish an appropriate treatment strategy for this rare disorder. PROCEDURE: Patients with infant leukemia registered and treated in the Japan Infant Leukemia Study between 1996 and 2001 were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 162 infant leukemia patients, 11 exhibited neonatal leukemia; frequencies for all infant leukemias were 6.9% (8/116) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 7.3% (3/41) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Positive MLL gene rearrangement was observed in all eight patients with ALL; a single patient with AML displayed germline configuration. Acute monoblastic leukemia was apparent in all three patients with AML (M5a in the FAB classification). Most of the patients demonstrated hepatoplenomegaly and hyperleukocytosis at diagnosis. Cutaneous and central nervous system involvement were detected in half of the patients. Four patients (one with AML, and three with ALL) have survived following stem cell transplantation (SCT); however, growth impairment related to SCT was observed in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an improvement attributable to treatment of neonatal leukemia. International-based collaborative studies are necessary to investigate the biology of this condition and to establish appropriate therapeutic strategies.     

A unique phenotype of T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a patient with GATA2 haploinsufficiency

Germline or acquired mutations involving the GATA‐binding protein gene (GATA2) have been linked to a variety of clinical conditions. In addition, patients harboring GATA2 mutations have a striking predisposition to develop myeloid malignancies, such as myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia, but not acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We report here a unique occurrence of early T‐cell precursor ALL in a young child with GATA2 haploinsufficiency.     

DOWN SYNDROME AND LEUKEMIA: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

The increased risk of transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during early childhood in Down syndrome (DS) has stimulated research related to the role of trisomy 21 in the development of hematological neoplasm. The unique biological features of TMD including spontaneous resolution in the majority of cases, the increased risk of developing AML (25%) following resolution of TMD and the superior outcome of DS AML patients with cytarabine-based regimens highlight further areas of research interest. Alteration of intracellular redox reaction kinetics secondary to increased expression of chromosome 21-localized genes (e.g. superoxide dismutase) and the associated changes in apoptotic responses in DS tissues, may account for the increased sensitivity of DS myeloblasts to chemotherapy agents. The identification of the pharmacological and molecular basis for the increased sensitivity of DS myeloblasts to cytarabine and daunorubicin based on altered expression of chromosome 21-localized genes may ultimately lead to improvements in the therapy of AML in non-DS individuals.     

Acute myeloid leukemia in children: Current status and future directions

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accounts for 25% of pediatric leukemia and affects approximately 180 patients annually in Japan. The treatment outcome for pediatric AML has improved through advances in chemotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), supportive care, and optimal risk stratification. Currently, clinical pediatric AML studies are conducted separately according to the AML subtypes: de novo AML, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and myeloid leukemia with Down syndrome (ML‐DS). Children with de novo AML are treated mainly with anthracyclines and cytarabine, in some cases with HSCT, and the overall survival (OS) rate now approaches 70%. Children with APL are treated with an all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA)‐combined regimen with an 80–90% OS. Children with ML‐DS are treated with a less intensive regimen compared with non‐DS patients, and the OS is approximately 80%. HSCT in first remission is restricted to children with high‐risk de novo AML only. To further improve outcomes, it will be necessary to combine more accurate risk stratification strategies using molecular genetic analysis with assessment of minimum residual disease, and the introduction of new drugs in international collaborative clinical trials.     

儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病常见融合基因的检测及意义

目的建立逆转录-巢式PCR检测融合基因的方法,检测4种常见融合基因在儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病中阳性率,并对阳性患儿进行初步临床资料分析。方法对收治的92例初发的急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)患儿,于化疗开始前抽取骨髓标本1.5～2.0 ml,采用巢式RT-PCR方法检测最常见的4种融合基因:TEL/AML1、E2A/PBX1、m-BCR/ABL和AF4/MLL。结果92例ALL患儿中TEL/AML1阳性21例,阳性率22.8%,占B细胞性ALL的24.7%(20/81例);6例E2A/PBX1阳性(6.5%),在前B细胞性ALL中占20.0%(3/15例);2例AF4/MLL阳性(2.2%),在婴儿ALL中占33.3%(2/6例);仅检测到1例m-BCR/ABL阳性(1.1%)。结论巢式RT-PCR方法是检测融合基因有效、敏感的方法。TEL/AML1在儿童ALL中阳性率最高,尤其是在B细胞性ALL中,该融合基因阳性的患儿病情较轻。     

Equal frequency of TEL/AML1 rearrangements in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with and without Down syndrome

Constitutional trisomy 21 is the most prominent predisposing factor to childhood leukemia, whereas the t(12;21)(p13;q22) with its molecular genetic counterpart, the TEL/AML1 fusion gene, is the most common acquired chromosomal rearrangement in childhood B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Thus, it was somewhat surprising that according to the currently available literature the incidence of TEL/AML1⁺ BCP ALL is extremely low in patients with Down syndrome (DS). To further investigate this issue in a population-based fashion, the authors retrospectively assessed the number of DS patients with a TEL/AML1⁺ ALL in two consecutive Austrian ALL multicenter trials. Accordingly, they were able to analyze 8 of 10 individuals with DS and a BCP ALL, two of whom who suffered from a TEL/AML1⁺ leukemia. Based on this observation they concluded that individuals with BCP leukemia and a constitutional trisomy 21 may have similar likelihood to have a TEL/AML1 rearrangement as BCP ALL patients without this specific predisposing factor.     

细胞周期蛋白依赖激酶抑制因子P21WAF1、P27KIP1在急性白血病的表达及其意义

目的探讨细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子P21WAF1、P27KIP1在急性白血病的表达情况及其临床意义。方法采用免疫细胞化学S-P染色法测定32例白血病患儿骨髓单个核细胞P21WAF1、P27KIP1的表达情况,分别观察阳性率及表达强度。结果32例白血病骨髓涂片标本中P21WAF1或P27KIP1在ALL、AML及总标本中表达阳性率均低于对照组(P均<0.05)。阳性病例P21WAF1阳性细胞百分率在ALL与AML中无差异,但积分显示阳性程度AML弱于ALL;P27KIP1阳性细胞率及积分在ALL及AML中均无显著差异(P均>0.05)。随访观察部分病例,经诱导化疗达到完全缓解后随访,两种蛋白有阳转或表达增强现象。结论P21WAF1、P27KIP1低表达参与急性白血病的发生发展;随临床缓解,P21WAF1、P27KIP1表达增强,提示P21WAF1、P27KIP1可能作为化疗疗效的分子学指标。     

急性白血病儿童黑色素瘤特异性抗原基因表达的意义

目的检测黑色素瘤特异性抗原(PRAME)基因在急性白血病儿童中的表达,并探讨其临床意义。方法用半定量逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测72例急性白血病(AL)患儿及20例对照者骨髓或外周血中PRAME基因mRNA的表达,并对PRAME基因mRNA表达阳性者进行动态检测。结果急性白血病患儿确诊时PRAME基因的阳性表达率为40.28%,其中45例急性淋巴细胞白血病患儿阳性表达率为40.0%,27例急性髓细胞白血病患儿中PRAME基因的阳性表达率为40.74%,两者之间无显著差异(P>0.05);而对照组均为阴性表达。PRAME基因的表达在白血病缓解期明显降低,当病情复发时PRAME基因的表达再次上升。结论PRAME基因在儿童AL中有较高水平表达,其动态变化与预后密切相关,可作为儿童AL微小残留病变的一个监测指标,对判断预后、指导治疗有重要意义。     

儿童Pre-B急性淋巴细胞白血病和急性髓系白血病特异遗传亚型

目的总结儿童急性白血病(AL)特异遗传亚型的发生率和特征,为评估预后提供依据。方法对365例AL患儿进行骨髓染色体核型检测分析白血病细胞的遗传学特点,荧光原位杂交(FISH)检测特异基因及相应位点拷贝数变异。结果 175例前体B急性淋巴细胞白血病(Pre-B ALL)和54例急性髓系白血病(AML)存在特异亚型。在Pre-B ALL中,高超二倍体最常见(33%),t(12;21)/ETV6-RUNX1、t(4;11)/MLL重排、t(9;22)、t(1;19)和iAMP21占比分别为22%、5%、3%、7%和1%。在AML中,MLL重排最常见(18%),其中t(9;11)型占56%;BCR/ABL阳性1例,FISH证实是隐匿核型ins(22;9);t(8;21)、t(15;17)和inv(16)分别占12%、15%和8%。倍体水平显示ALL高超二倍体和AML超二倍体获得染色体方式为非随机性。值得注意的是特异亚型中的变异型和不同附加异常,如额外融合,del(9p),del(12p),dup(1q)和非整倍体等畸变。结论儿童Pre-B ALL和AML中特异遗传亚型的发生率与西方儿童相似,揭示遗传异质性可能有助于预后研究。     

急性白血病免疫分型与临床研究

目的了解儿童急性白血病(AL)免疫表型的分布情况和抗原表达规律,并与临床特征及预后相结合,为临床个体化用药提供指导。方法对85例新近诊断为AL患儿,采用CD45/SSC双参数散点设门方法进行三色流式细胞术免疫表型分析。其中胞膜抗原采用单克隆抗体三色直接免疫荧光标记法,胞浆内抗原采用双色直标法。结果1.AL 85例免疫分型:未分化型(AUL)1例,占1.2%;杂合型7例,占8.2%;急性髓性白血病(AML)18例,占21.2%;急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)59例,占69.4%。其中B-ALL 50例,占84.7%;T-ALL 6例,占10.2%;T/B-ALL 3例,占5.1%。2.ALL 59例中髓系抗原表达31例,占52.5%。髓系抗原表达阳性组和阴性组临床特征、治疗反应及预后方面无明显差异。3.AML患儿中有淋系抗原表达5例,占27.8%,低于ALL有髓系表达。其中以CD7阳性率最高,为60%;CD14在M4、M5表达率为75%;CD13、CD33在AM中表达率分别为83.3%、94.4%。4.混合型白血病7例。其中B/M 6例,TB/M 1例;2例在FAB分型中疑为混合型,余5例为ALL。结论应用多色流式细胞术可较好地分析每例白血病患儿,尤其是对于混合型白血病及抗原交叉表达者更有意义。