Clinical and laboratory features of adult biphenotypic acute leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical and biological characteristics of adult BAL.


METHODS
We identified 22 cases (4.4%) of BAL from 496 newly diagnosed acute leukemia patients and compared them with patients with acute myloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).


RESULTS
CD34 positivity was higher in BAL (87%) than in ALL (60%, P = 0.04) and AML patients (63%, P = 0.05). The median age in the BAL group was greater than in ALL (43 vs 31 years, P = 0.04). Enlargement of liver, spleen and lymphonodes was more common in BAL (81.8%) than AML (46%, P = 0.003). Cytogenetic analysis revealed abnormal karyotypes in 56% of BAL patients. The overall completed remission rate in the BAL group (65%) was lower than in ALL (86%, P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
BAL patients showed a much higher incidence of older age, CD34 antigen expression, presence of Philadelphia chromosome, liver, spleen and lymphonodes infiltration and resistance to therapy.
Department of Blood Transfusion, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China. tonghx2009@163.com
Haixia
H
Tong
Zhuogang
Z
Liu
Chunwei
C
Lu
Qiushi
Q
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D007621:Karyotyping; D015456:Leukemia, Biphenotypic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult