A translocation t(8;14) and c-myc gene rearrangement associated with the histological transformation of B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (FAB-L2) into Burkitt's type (FAB-L3) leukemia.
We report a case of B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia which showed histological transformation from an FAB-L2 into a Burkitt's type (FAB-L3). Both leukemias had identical immunoglobulin heavy-chain joining gene and kappa light-chain joining gene rearrangements, indicating the clonal identity of the two leukemias. A chromosomal analysis of leukemia cells on the onset indicated normal karyotype, whereas that of the transformed FAB-L3 showed t(8;14)(q24;q32). Furthermore, the proto-oncogene c-myc was in the germline configuration in the initial leukemia but in the rearranged configuration after transformation. Presence of t(8;14)(q24;q32) and the c-myc gene rearrangement after transformation suggested that the chromosomal translocation followed by the activation of the c-myc proto-oncogene might be involved in the Burkitt's type transformation of the FAB-L2 leukemic clone, but not in the leukemogenesis of the initial FAB-L2 leukemia.
Masauzi
N
N
Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Hokuyu Hospital, Artificial Organs & Transplantation Research Institute, Japan.
Kasai
M
M
Suzuki
G
G
Kobayashi
N
N
Ohizumi
H
H
Ogasawara
M
M
Kiyama
Y
Y
Naohara
T
T
Saitoh
M
M
Higa
T
T
Tanaka
J
J
Hashino
S
S
Imamura
M
M
Asaka
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D019672:Genes, T-Cell Receptor; D016259:Genes, myc; D016679:Genome, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D014178:Translocation, Genetic