title: [Prevalence and features of pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Mexico: description of 9 patients].
abstract: A group of 9 patients with pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (pre-B ALL) was identified prospectively within 209 patients with ALL. This variant of leukaemia was defined by the presence of heavy mu-chains in the cytoplasm of the malignant cells, and no surface immunoglobulins. Four patients displayed the CD10 (CALLA) antigen, in addition to cytoplasmic mu chains. A G-0 acute leukaemia (no blast cells in S-phase) was identified in two cases. Response to treatment of the patients was poor: Only four achieved complete remission; median survival was 24 weeks and the 40-week disease free survival was 20%. These figures are significantly worse than those obtained in patients with early-pre-B (CD10+) ALL. We conclude that the prevalence of pre-B ALL is low in our experience (4.6% of all patients with ALL) and that a poor outcome of treatment was related to it.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario de Puebla, Centro de Hematología y Medicina Interna de Puebla, México.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lobato-Mendizábal
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Argüelles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007148:Immunoglobulin mu-Chains
vernacular_title: Prevalencia y características de la leucemia aguda linfoblástica de células pre-B en México: descripción de 9 pacientes.