Hematological remission and long term hematological control of acute myeloblastic leukemia induced and maintained by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy

Leuk Lymphoma. 2003 Dec;44(12):2137-42. doi: 10.1080/1042819031000111053.

Abstract

We describe a case of a patient with CD34+, TdT+, CD13-, CD33-, MPO- undifferentiated acute leukemia who refused chemotherapy and who achieved complete hematological remission 14 months after the diagnosis, during a short course of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for neutropenia and life threatening infection. Relapse occurred approximately one year later and G-CSF was reintroduced, being maintained for 4 months, at a dose and frequency adapted to maintain normal blood counts, a complete hematological remission being achieved again. Five months after withdrawing the G-CSF therapy a second relapse was observed; G-CSF was tried again with success, resulting in a very good hematological response that was sustained by G-CSF maintenance therapy. One year latter there was the need of increasing the doses of G-CSF in order to obtain the same hematological effect, at same time blast cells acquired a more mature CD34+, TdT-, CD13+, CD33-, MPO+ myeloid phenotype. Finally, the patient developed progressive neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute leukemia in spite of G-CSF therapy, dying 64 months after initial diagnosis (50 months after starting G-CSF therapy) with overt G-CSF resistant acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), after failure of conventional induction chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, CD34 / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / biosynthesis
  • CD13 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / biosynthesis
  • Female
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Remission Induction
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • CD33 protein, human
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3
  • Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Peroxidase
  • DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase
  • CD13 Antigens