B acute lymphoblastic leukemia with t(14;19)(q32;p13.1) involving IGH/EPOR: a clinically aggressive subset of disease

Mod Pathol. 2014 Mar;27(3):382-9. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2013.149. Epub 2013 Sep 13.

Abstract

B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) with t(14;19)(q32;p13.1), in which IGH and EPOR are juxtaposed, has been reported rarely. We describe the clinicopathological features of six patients, three men and three women, with a median age of 39 years. Initial and follow-up bone marrow samples were examined from each patient. The clinical, morphologic, and immunophenotypic results were compared with data obtained from conventional cytogenetic analysis and by using home-brew fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for IGH at 14q32 and EPOR at 19p13.1. The bone marrow specimens were hypercellular (median 90%; range 80-100%), with a median blast count of 90% (range 60-93%). Immunophenotypic analysis performed by flow cytometry demonstrated a stable, precursor B-cell immunophenotype. The t(14;19)(q32;p13.1) was present in all cases with morphologic evidence of disease. The translocation was stable and appeared morphologically subtle on conventional karyotypic analysis. Detection was facilitated using FISH, which confirmed IGH/EPOR rearrangement in all cases. All patients received aggressive multiagent chemotherapy as part of a variety of regimens. Four of six patients achieved an initial complete remission, but all relapsed. At last follow-up, five of six patients had died of disease (median survival, 12 months after diagnosis). We conclude that B-ALL associated with t(14;19)(q32;p13.1) is a distinctive form of disease that is associated with younger patient age and an aggressive clinical course.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abnormal Karyotype
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / genetics*
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics*
  • Immunophenotyping
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / mortality
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Erythropoietin / genetics*
  • Translocation, Genetic
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Receptors, Erythropoietin