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P-glycoprotein (P-170) and CD34 expression in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

We investigated the prognosis value of CD34 and P-170 expression in blast cells of adult patients affected by de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CD34 antigen was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) and alkaline phosphatase-labeled streptavidin biotine (AP-LSAB) in 62 patients (median age: 51 years). P-170 expression was determined by AP-LSAB in 51 cases using JSB1 and C219 monoclonal antibodies. All patients were treated with conventional chemotherapy induction regimen. Follow-up was from 6 to 79 months. Complete remission (CR) rate was not statistically different between CD34+ and CD34- patients (67 vs. 84%, p = 0.2). The duration of CR and survival were not influenced by CD34 expression. Karyotype abnormalities were more frequent among MDR+ patients (65 vs. 21%, p < 0.01). CR rate was statistically lower in MDR+ patients as compared to MDR- patients (63 vs. 96%, p = 0.01). Median disease-free survival (DFS) was shorter for MDR+ patients but the difference was not significant (5 vs. 10 months, p = 0.09). Patients who were positive for both parameters CD34 and P-170, had a poor prognosis with a 50 vs. 100% CR rate for CD34/P-170 negative patients, (p = 0.002), a lower median DFS (3 vs. 12 months, p = 0.01) and overall survival (OS) (3 vs. 14.5 months, p = 0.01). Results of cytogenetic analysis did not influence CR rate but the relapse rate was higher, although not significant, for the patients with unfavorable karyotype (63 vs. 33%). The seven CD34+/MDR+ patients with poor prognosis karyotype had a statistically lower CR rate, median DFS and OS than the 7 CD34-/MDR- patients with normal or favorable karyotype (CR: 29% vs. 100%, p = 0.02), (DFS: 3 vs. > 12 months, p = 0.01), (OS: 4 vs. > 12 months, p = 0.02). Our data indicate that P-170 but not CD34 expression is predictive for a lower CR rate. The identification of a bad prognosis subgroup of CD34+/MDR+ AML patients (and especially those with poor prognosis karyotype) has to be confirmed on larger series using uniform methodology.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Trisomy 4 in 'stem cell-like' leukemic cells of a patient with AML.

CD34 positive progenitor cells were analyzed in the bone marrow aspirate from a patient with newly diagnosed AML FAB M4. The patient had trisomy 4 as sole cytogenetic abnormality and a dominant population of CD34 negative leukemic blasts. Karyotyping of the FACS isolated, minor subpopulation of CD34+/CD38-, 'stem cell'-like cells (incidence 0.29%) revealed trisomy 4 in 11/13 metaphases. No metaphases were obtained in the CD34 negative subpopulation. The experiments point to the existence of leukemic stem cells in the CD34+/CD38- compartment in AML patients with trisomy 4.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

[Enhanced sensitivity to cytosine arabinoside by combined stimulation of steel factor and GM-CSF in a factor-dependent leukemic cell line, MO7e--in terms of a possible clinical application to AML treatment].

In normal hematopoiesis, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is known to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of myelo-monocytoid lineage, while Steel factor (SLF) has been supposed to support the proliferation of more primitive hematopoietic progenitors including stem cells. We investigated the stimulatory effect of SLF and GM-CSF in twelve cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in vitro by MTT assay. In 10 out of 12 cases, SLF or GM-CSF stimulated the proliferation of leukemic cells in short term liquid culture. In 7 out of these 10 cases, the leukemic cells responded to both cytokines. To investigate the possibility of the clinical application of these cytokines by combination with cell cycle-specific anti-tumor reagents, we assessed the effects of SLF and GM-CSF on the modulation of the cell cycle and sensitivity against cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) in a human factor-dependent leukemic cell line, MO7e. Flow cytometric analysis revealed the effect of cell recruitment into the cell cycle in the quiescent MO7e cells by exposure to these cytokines. The drug-sensitivity test using the MTT assay system demonstrated that pre-treatment with each cytokine enhanced sensitivity of ara-C. Furthermore, by combination of SLF and GM-CSF, the ara-C sensitivity was significantly wore graty enhanced than by each cytokine alone. These data suggest that combined pre-treatment with SLF and GM-CSF may provide new benefits for cure-oriented chemotherapy of AML followed by bone marrow transplantation or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Adult↗

A prospective evaluation of the roles of allogeneic marrow transplantation and low-dose monthly maintenance chemotherapy in the treatment of adult acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): a Southwest Oncology Group study.

Between February 1982 and December 1986, the Southwest Oncology Group conducted a prospective study in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with two objectives: to evaluate the role of allogeneic marrow transplantation for patients in first remission, and to evaluate the role of low-dose monthly maintenance therapy in those patients not transplanted in first remission. Among 522 evaluable patients, 295 (57%) achieved complete remission (CR), including 70% of patients age 49 or less. Twenty-four patients (15%) age 49 or less in CR were not HLA-typed, mostly because of financial constraints. HLA-identical donors were found for 39% of patients, of whom two-thirds were transplanted in first CR. The 5-year disease-free survival among those transplanted in first CR, those with donors not transplanted in first CR, and those less than age 50 without donors was 41, 42, and 29%, respectively (P = 0.60). A total of 150 eligible patients were randomized to receive late intensification alone or late intensification plus monthly maintenance. In multivariate analyses, treatment with maintenance was associated with prolonged disease-free survival (P = 0.028), but not improved overall survival (P = 0.27). Factors associated with improved overall survival included younger age, lower white blood count (WBC) at diagnosis, having leukemia of M3 morphology, and being of white race. In this study, a diagnosis of M3 AML was particularly favorable, with disease-free and overall survivals of 75 and 56%, respectively, at 7 years.

Adult↗

GM-CSF in a double-blind randomized, placebo controlled trial in therapy of adult patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

We investigated whether GM-CSF given concomitantly with chemotherapy (CT) and thereafter, improves the outcome of adults with de novo AML by increasing the efficacy of CT and reducing infections. CT included Ara-C, daunorubicin and etoposide (DAV) for induction and early consolidation therapy and one cycle with high-dose (patients aged < or = 50 years) or intermediate dose Ara-C (patients aged > 50 years)/daunorubicin for late consolidation therapy. Eight patients were randomized after DAVI to receive either GM-CSF (E. coli, 250 micrograms/m2/day, s.c.) or placebo starting 48 h prior to DAVII and the subsequent courses and given throughout CT until the absolute neutrophil count had recovered to > 500/microliters. The CR rate was 81% in the GM-CSF and 79% in the placebo group (p = 0.57; Fisher's exact test). The probability of relapse-free survival at 41 months after a median follow-up of 35 months was 42% in the GM-CSF and 41% in the placebo group (p = 0.89; log rank test). GM-CSF did not shorten the period of neutropenia < or = 500/microliters, while it prolonged the duration of thrombocytopenia < or = 25,000/microliters. The incidence and severity of infections as well as the non-hematological toxicity were similar in both groups. In summary, in this randomized trial GM-CSF as an adjunct to AML therapy was feasible. For the present GM-CSF does not have a significant effect on treatment outcome.

Adolescent↗

[A case with AML (M4EO) accompanied by recurrent reactive histiocytosis which showed spontaneous remission].

A 30-year-old female was admitted to our hospital complaining of high fever and fatigue. Laboratory findings showed as follows; WBC 41,500/microliter (40% of blasts), Hb 8.5g/dl, platelets 4.4 x 10(4)/microliter. Cytochemical staining of blasts was positive for peroxidase and non-specific esterase with NaF inhibition. Chromosome analysis showed 46, XX, inv (16p+,q-). AML with eosinophilia was diagnosed. During myelosuppression after remission induction therapy, she developed high fever, and did not respond to transfusions. Marrow smears showed the presence of phagocytic histiocytes consisting of 18% total nuclear cells. A diagnosis of reactive histiocytosis (RH) was made. She recovered spontaneously, but suffered two episode of recurrence during subsequent chemotherapy. Reactive histiocytosis is characterized by proliferation of histiocytes which phagocyte blood cells in immunodeficient cases, e.g. a myelosuppressive state after chemotherapy. RH causes high fever and prolonged myelosuppression. It is considered to be one of the poor prognostic factors in AML during chemotherapy, and spontaneous recovery is rare. In this report, the effect of hydrocortisone on histiocytes derived from patient marrow was also investigated in vitro.

Adult↗

[High-dose chemoradiotherapy combined with recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) in a case of refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)].

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) stimulates the growth of myeloid leukemic cells and increases their susceptibility to cell-cycle specific agents. We treated a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in a state of second resistant relapse, with high-dose chemoradiotherapy combined with rhGM-CSF (total body irradiation: TBI 3Gy x 4, on days -8 & -7; cytosine arabinoside: Ara-C 3g/m2, iv, q12h, on days -5-2; rhGM-CSF 250 micrograms/m2/day, cont.iv, on days -5-2) followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). In this case, rhGM-CSF enhanced the proliferation of leukemic cells in vitro. The test dose of rhGM-CSF (84 micrograms/m2 over 8 hours) also promoted leukemic cell proliferation in vivo, resulting in an increase in the percentage of leukemic cells in the peripheral blood and reappearance of chromosomal aberrations in the bone marrow. The toxicity of rhGM-CSF-combined conditioning regimen included fever and mild liver damage. The patient achieved a complete remission lasting for 2 months, then relapsed. The rhGM-CSF-combined conditioning regimen was tolerated by this patient, but further studies will be required to confirm not only its safety but also its effectiveness in the treatment of refractory AML.

Adult↗

Absence of point mutations in a functionally important part of the extracellular domain of the c-kit proto-oncogene in a series of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The proto-oncogenes c-fms and c-kit belong to a family of growth factor receptors possessing protein kinase activity. It has been shown that transfection of a c-fms gene carrying a point mutation at codon 301, leads to a ligand-independent transformation of mouse NIH3T3 cells. In human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), point mutations at codon 301 of the c-fms gene have been observed implying an important role in the transformation process. The possibility of a point mutation of the c-kit proto-oncogene was investigated. We sequenced a segment of the c-kit proto-oncogene coding for a part of the extracellular domain. This segment was 40.7% homologous to the c-fms region encompassing codon 301. c-DNA was prepared from peripheral blood or bone marrow cells from 25 patients with AML, from four patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and from three human myeloid cell lines. The region of interest was amplified with two rounds of polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with nested primers and directly sequenced. No point mutations were found in the investigated samples. Thus, point mutations in this segment of the c-kit gene do not seem to play an important role in the transformation process of human acute leukemia.

Acute Disease↗

Outcome of BMT during first complete remission of AML: a comparison of two sequential studies by the Children's Cancer Group.

One hundred and fifty children with AML in first remission were treated with allogeneic BMT in two sequential studies of the Childrens Cancer Group. The absence of differences in baseline variables justified comparison between the two studies. In the initial study (CCG-251), patients received GVDH prophylaxis with MTX alone (17 doses over 102 days). In an attempt to diminish the morbidity and mortality of acute GVDH, a second study (CCG-213) employed stronger GVHD prophylaxis with 6 months of CYA and short-course MTX (four doses over 11 days). Outcome was compared between these two non-randomized populations of children with AML transplanted in first remission. Augmented GVHD prophylaxis substantially diminished treatment-related mortality from 31% to 11% (p = 0.0033), but this effect was counterbalanced by an increase in the relapse risk from 22% to 35% (p = 0.29). Event-free survival at 2 years was 54% on CCG-251 and 59% on CCG-213 (p = 0.21). We observed a marginal diminution of relapse risk among patients with chronic GVHD compared with those without chronic GVHD (19% vs. 35%, respectively; p = 0.10). No anti-leukemic effect of acute GVHD was observed.

Adult↗

Mitoxantrone and cytosine arabinoside as treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) at first recurrence.

A total of 107 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) were referred to the ICRF Department of Medical Oncology at St Bartholomew's Hospital between August 1986 and July 1989. Of those referred, 92 (87%) were treated with remission induction chemotherapy comprising: Adriamycin, cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) and 6-thioguanine if aged < 60 years (57 patients) or mitoxantrone (MTN) and ara-C if aged > 60 years (35 patients). Of those treated, 54 (58%) entered complete remission (CR). Recurrent AML developed in 38 out of these 54 patients (70%) of whom 25 aged 19-73 years (median 50 years) subsequently received MTN and ara-C as reinduction therapy. The 19 younger patients (under 60 years old) received MTN at 12 mg/m2, intravenously, daily for 5 days and ara-C at 100 mg/m2, intravenously, twice daily for 7 days. The six older patients received the same ara-C schedule but the dose of MTN was reduced to 10 mg/m2 for 5 days. Second CR was achieved in 16 out of 25 patients (64%) [12/19 (63%) and 4/6 (67%) for patients aged under or over 60 years, respectively]. Eight of the patients in whom second CR was achieved were aged under 50 years and were thus eligible for additional consolidation comprising myeloablative therapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Four patients actually received the latter treatment: two remain in second CR at 21 and 46 months. Three of the remaining eight patients aged > 50 years in whom second CR was achieved remain in second CR 8 to 43 months later. Censored for myeloablative therapy + ABMT, the overall median duration of second CR was 5 months. Although remissions tended to be short, in younger patients the possibility of proceeding to myeloablative therapy with autologous bone marrow support makes the regimen worthwhile and, even in older patients, it was sometimes possible to achieve prolonged second remissions.

Adolescent↗

Identification of an inversion 16 coexisting with an isochromosome 22q by in situ hybridization in a case of childhood AML M4e.

Rearrangements involving chromosome 16, including inv(16) (p13q22), del(16)(q22), and t(16;16)(p13;q22), are frequent findings in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Each of these rearrangements can occur as the sole karyotypic change or in association with additional chromosomal abnormalities, including in decreasing order of frequency: trisomy 22, trisomy 8, and deletion of the long arm of chromosome 7. We report a pediatric case of de novo AML, M4e subtype, with a unique combination of inv(16) (p13q22) and i(22q) occurring within the same leukemic clone. The inv(16) was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with two cosmid probes specific for sequences flanking the inv(16) breakpoint on the long arm of chromosome 16. Use of a chromosome-22-specific painting probe unequivocally identified a small metacentric chromosome as an i(22q). This case illustrates a variation in the association of trisomy 22 with inv(16) and suggests that duplication of the long arm of chromosome 22 may contain critical gene(s) involved in the multistep process of evolution of leukemia with 16q22 abnormalities.

Child, Preschool↗

Alpha (p55) and beta (p75) chains of the interleukin-2 receptor are expressed by AML blasts.

In the present study, we have investigated the leukemic cells obtained from 16 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at diagnosis for the membrane expression of p55 (alpha) and p75 (beta) interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) chains using specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), as well as for the presence of their transcripts using Northern blot analysis. In addition, immunoprecipitation of the p75 membrane molecule with TU27 and Mik-beta 1 mAbs was carried out in selected cases. The p75 IL-2R beta transcripts were detected in all cases, whereas the membrane p75 molecule was demonstrable by flow cytometry in three cases. However, data from the immunoprecipitation analysis suggest that the lack of the p75 IL-2R detection by flow cytometry might be caused by the low density of molecules per cell rather than the fact that the specific mRNA is not translated into the p75 surface molecule. In addition, a consistent membrane positivity with an anti-p55/CD25 mAb, present on fresh uncultured blasts in 37.5% of the cases, became detectable after short-term culture in 75% of cases. In each individual case, a strict correlation was found between membrane CD25 reactivity and the expression of p55 mRNA. Taken together, our data suggest that the expression of both alpha (p55) and beta (p75) IL-2R molecules is a common feature of leukemic cells in AML, and provide new arguments for reassessing the possible role of IL-2 in leukemic growth.

Acute Disease↗

Immunotherapy with interleukin 2 after ABMT in AML.

Myeloablative chemo (+/- radio) therapy and rescue with ABMT has been used as final consolidation therapy in 18 patients with AML in first remission. In seven (6 autologous, 1 syngeneic) marrow reinfusion was followed by iv IL-2. One patient, who commenced IL-2 4 days after BMT, died from pulmonary oedema due to the capillary leak syndrome. Thereafter, treatment with IL-2 was delayed until the platelet count reached 30 x 10(9)/l. All patients developed reversible hypotension (treated with infusion of colloid), but treatment was otherwise well tolerated. With 21-58 months (median 32 months) from the time of ABMT there has been one relapse (actuarial risk 17%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3-31%). The disease-free survival is 71% (95% CI 38-100%). Eleven patients with comparable remission induction and consolidation therapy, and an identical interval between diagnosis and ABMT (5-11 months, median 6 months) received an autograft without immunotherapy. With 24-45 months (median 29 months) follow-up the actuarial disease-free survival is 36% (95% CI 8-64%), the actuarial relapse risk is 54% (95% CI 18-90%). We conclude that immunotherapy given after ABMT to patients with AML in first remission when the platelet count exceeds 30 x 10(9)/l is safe and may induce an immunological environment which results in the elimination of residual leukaemia.

Adolescent↗

Recombinant human interleukin-3 (rH IL-3) in combination with remission induction chemotherapy in patients with relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): a phase I/II study.

Patients with AML who relapse after an initial remission, have a poor prognosis. Administration of hemopoietic growth factors (HGFs) such as interleukin-3 (IL-3) during chemotherapy may result in an increased cell kill by cytotoxic agents. In addition, administration of IL-3 following chemotherapy may potentially accelerate hemopoietic recovery from chemotherapy-induced bone marrow hypoplasia. We performed an open labelled, phase I/II study in which patients received IL-3 by continuous infusion from 24 h before the beginning of chemotherapy until day 28. Chemotherapy included daunorubicin or mitoxantrone days 1-3 and cytarabine 200 mg/m2 days 1-7. IL-3 was given at a dose of 5 microgram(s)/kg/day in 10 patients, 7.5 microgram(s)/kg /day in six patients and 10 microgram(s)/kg/day in four patients. Complete remissions (CR) after one cycle of this treatment were obtained in 5/10 patients and 5 microgram(s)/ kg group, 2/6 in the 7.5 microgram(s)/kg group and 3/4 in the 10 microgram(s)/kg group). Thus, 50% (10/20) of all individuals and 45% (5/11) of the elderly patients attained CR. Eight of 20 patients entered PR, and 2/20 patients died during the hypoplastic phase from infectious complications. Neutrophils and platelets recovered to 0.5 x 10(9)/l at day 25 (median) and to 50 x 10(9)/l at day 32, respectively. Adverse events during IL-3 and concomitant chemotherapy were fluid retention (4/20), rash (14/20), bone pain (2/20), headache (10/20), chest pain (1/20), arthritis (1/20), fever and nausea. IL-3 (at the dose of 10 microgram(s)/kg) was discontinued in two patients because of side-effects (fluid retention, fever, rash and chest pain), and in two other patients the high IL-3 dose was tolerated with no problems for 29 days. Thus, IL-3 applied to patients with high-risk AML at dosages of 5-10 microgram(s)/kg is tolerated with acceptable toxicity and results in a satisfactory frequency of complete responses following a single treatment cycle.

Adult↗

The abnormal eosinophils are part of the leukemic cell population in acute myelomonocytic leukemia with abnormal eosinophils (AML M4Eo) and carry the pericentric inversion 16: a combination of May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

The French-American-British subtype acute myelomonocytic leukemia with abnormal eosinophils (FAB AML M4Eo) with pericentric inversion of chromosome 16 is cytomorphologically defined by a myelomonoblastic blast population and abnormal eosinophils. Until now, it remained an open question whether these abnormal eosinophils are part of the malignant clone or an epiphenomenon. We analyzed five cases of AML M4Eo with inv(16) and combined May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining with fluorescence in situ hybridization using yeast artificial chromosome clone 854E2, which spans the inv(16) breakpoint on 16p. In the case of inv(16), three instead of the normal two hybridization signals can be observed both on metaphase spreads and in interphase cells. With this approach, we were able to show inversion 16 in abnormal eosinophils and, therefore, identified them as a part of the leukemic cell population.

Adult↗

Intracellular metabolism of Ara-C and resulting DNA fragmentation and apoptosis of human AML HL-60 cells possessing disparate levels of Bcl-2 protein.

We examined the effects of high intracellular levels of Bcl-2 on the metabolism and DNA incorporation of high-dose Ara-C (HIDAC) as well as on Ara-C-induced DNA strand breaks and apoptosis of human AML HL-60 cells. HL-60/Bcl-2 and HL-60/neo cells were created by retrovirally transfecting the human AML HL-60 cells with the pZip-bcl-2 and pZip-neo plasmids, respectively. As compared to HL-60/neo, HL-60/Bcl-2 cells contained significantly higher (approximately 10-fold) p26Bcl-2, but equivalent levels of Bax and undetectable levels of Bcl-xL. HIDAC (10 or 100 microM for 4 h) produced the kilobase size and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation associated with apoptosis in HL-60/neo but not in HL-60/Bcl-2 cells. Significantly greater loss of survival (by MTT assay) and flowcytometric and morphologically recognizable apoptosis were observed in HL-60/neo cells. HIDAC did not affect Bcl-2 levels in either cell type. The intracellular accumulation of Ara-CTP relative to dCTP, Ara-C DNA incorporation and Ara-C-induced early DNA damage in the form of strand breaks (detected by alkaline elution assay) were not significantly different between HL-60/Bcl-2 and HL-60/neo cells. In addition, HIDAC treatment caused similar DNA synthesis inhibition in the two cell types. These results indicate that high intracellular levels of Bcl-2 operate distally to inhibit the final apototic cell death pathway by preventing the conversion of HIDAC-induced early DNA damage into lethal DNA fragmentation associated with apoptosis.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

Monitoring of minimal residual disease by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for AML1-MTG8 transcripts in AML-M2 with t(8; 21).

We have developed a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method for the quantitation of AML1-MTG8 transcripts in patients with AML-M2 and t(8;21) in different phases of the disease. Using this method, we have tested sequential samples from 13 patients to monitor minimal residual disease and were able to show a significant increase in AML1-MTG8 transcripts level in two patients 2 and 4 months before clinical relapse. In five patients tested at presentation and then sequentially at remission, we detected a marked decrease in the level of AML1-MTG8 transcripts as the treatment progressed. Patients in long-term remission of their disease had a level of up to 1 x 10(3) AML1-MTG8 molecules/microgram RNA. Two patients tested 2 and 4 months before hematologic relapse showed a level of 0.71 x 10(5) molecules/microgram RNA and this level increased further during relapse to 0.71 x 10(7) and 2.27 x 10(5) molecules/microgram RNA, respectively. Our results show that quantitation of AML1-MTG8 transcripts by competitive polymerase chain reaction is valuable in predicting early relapse in AML with t(8;21). Identification of at-risk patients may allow treatment to be modified to include additional or alternative therapy such as bone marrow transplantation.

Adolescent↗

[Acute myelogenous leukemia with ins(21;8) expressing AML-1-MTG8 fusion transcript].

Here we report a case of acute myelogenous leukemia (M2, FAB classification) presenting with cytogenetic abnormalities of ins(21;8), +del(8) without t(8;21). A 8;21 chromosome translocation is frequently found in acute myelogenous leukemia, especially in the M2 subtype. The translocation results in a fusion transcript between AML1 and MTG8 (ETO), assigned on chromosomes 21 and 8, respectively. Among patients with a t(8;21) abnormality, solid leukemic tumor deposits outside the marrow or good response to chemotherapy are observed frequently. Decrease in neutrophil alkaline phosphatase score and positive rate, and eosinophilia in bone marrow or the blast cells with Auer rods expressing CD19, CD56 antigens occur at a relatively high rate. Although our case lacked these clinical, cytological and cytochemical features, expression of chimeric AML1-MTG8 mRNA was detected. AML1-MTG8 fusion transcript may play a critical role in leukemogenesis of AML M2. Studies on this case may help to reveal the oncogenic function of the AML1-MTG8 fusion gene in AML M2.

Adult↗