title: Progression of myelodysplasia to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: implications for disease biology.
abstract: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) comprises a group of clonal haematopoietic disorders characterized by peripheral blood cytopenias, bone marrow hypercellularity, and abnormal blood cell differentiation. Approximately 30% of cases of MDS eventually progress to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), while progression of MDS into acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is rare. In this report, we describe a case of MDS that progressed to ALL, and review the 21 previously reported cases of MDS to ALL transformation. We review the cancer stem cell model and its application to these disorders, and discuss the implications of the rarity of transformation of MDS to ALL for the biology of MDS and the pathogenesis of ALL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ont., Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Disperati
authors.forename: Christine V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Ichim
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tkachuk
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Andre C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D016313:Genes, abl; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D014314:Trisomy