Expression of the E2A-PBX1 fusion transcripts in t(1;19)(q23;p13) and der(19)t(1;19) at diagnosis and in remission of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with different B lineage immunophenotypes.
The chromosomal translocation t(1;19)(q23;p13) and its variant form der(19)t(1;19) found in 3-5% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) results in the expression of the E2A-PBX1 fusion transcript. Although strongly associated with a pre-B immunophenotype, we report the occurrence of t(1;19) in bone marrow or peripheral blood in nine patients with ALL with the following immunophenotypes: pre-B ALL (four), c-ALL (two), c-ALL clg not tested (one), null-ALL (one) and mature B-ALL (one). The E2A-PBX1 fusion transcript investigated by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was seen in all patients at diagnosis and/or on follow-up samples. Six patients are alive in first clinical remission. Of these patients, three were PCR+ve from between 2 and 38 months from diagnosis, and three were PCR-ve when examined at 5, 26 and 51 months from diagnosis. Two patients are in second remission. One was PCR+ve at 18 months, suffered a CNS relapse at 21 months but was PCR-ve 1 month later. The other was PCR+ve in remission at 2 and 11 months from diagnosis and in testicular relapse at 31 months, but was PCR-ve 5 months later. The remaining patient died 2 months from diagnosis and was not investigated in remission. The prognostic significance of these findings remains to be investigated.
Devaraj
P E
PE
Department of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK.
Foroni
L
L
Janossy
G
G
Hoffbrand
A V
AV
Secker-Walker
L M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1; D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012074:Remission Induction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C089847:E2A-Pbx1 fusion protein