The 14q+ chromosome in pre-B-ALL.
A child who had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) associated with an 8;14 chromosome translocation and with a pre-B phenotype is described. The leukemic cells were determined to be pre-B-cells on the basis of intracytoplasmic mu-chain immunoglobulin (cIgM+) and the common-ALL antigen, lack of receptors for sheep erythrocytes, and lack of surface immunoglobulin. The 8;14 translocation is frequently found in patients with Burkitt's lymphoma and in most patients with B-cell ALL and is known to carry a poor prognosis. Thus far, no karyotypes have been reported for patients with pre-B-ALL. The present case indicates that a 14q+ chromosome may provide a proliferative advantage not only to cells with a B-cell phenotype, but also to pre-B-cells. The short survival of our patient also suggests that the 14q+ abnormality and the pre-B phenotype may signal a poor prognosis.
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002901:Chromosomes, Human, 13-15; D002906:Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D014178:Translocation, Genetic