Low frequency of TEL-AML1 in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia supports a favorable prognosis for this genetic subgroup.
The long-term outcome of children with TEL-AML1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is uncertain. Although studies of newly diagnosed cases have indicated that the TEL-AML1 fusion confers a favorable prognosis, analyses of relapsed cases have suggested that this may not be true. Because of treatment implications for this subgroup of patients, we have now analyzed 49 cases of relapsed ALL for the presence of TEL-AML1. Only 10% of these cases expressed the fusion, compared to 20-25% of newly diagnosed ALL cases. Additional follow-up of the cohort of 48 newly diagnosed patients with the TEL-AML1 fusion previously reported showed that the 10-year cumulative risk of relapse was 9 +/- 5% (s.e.). Together, these results suggest an excellent outcome for TEL-AML1-positive ALL.
Department of Hematology/Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis 38105-2794, USA.
J E
JE
Rubnitz
F G
FG
Behm
D
D
Wichlan
C
C
Ryan
J T
JT
Sandlund
R C
RC
Ribeiro
G K
GK
Rivera
M L
ML
Hancock
M V
MV
Relling
W E
WE
Evans
C H
CH
Pui
J R
JR
Downing
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D010641:Phenotype; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D000097764:ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein
D050676:Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C102421:TEL-AML1 fusion protein; D000097764:ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein