Phenotypic and genotypic switch in Philadelphia-positive, BCR-positive blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia

Eur J Haematol. 1992 Apr;48(4):187-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1992.tb01583.x.

Abstract

We report a case of Ph1-positive, bcr-positive chronic myeloid leukemia blast crisis (CML-BC) which at presentation showed a mixed myeloid/B-lymphoid immunophenotype along with TdT positivity and, at the molecular level, an oligoclonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene region. After obtaining a successful remission, at the time of relapse the patient underwent a phenotypic and genotypic switch from mixed to myeloid phenotype, characterized by the loss of the lymphoid markers and TdT expression and by a germline configuration of the IgH gene region. The same bcr rearrangement was, however, found in both phases of the disease, supporting the suggestion of a true phenotypic and genotypic conversion. This report confirms that the neoplastic event in CML may take place at an early multipotent stem-cell level, prior to a well-defined phenotypic and genotypic lineage expression. Moreover, it is suggested that different factors (chemotherapy? growth factors?) may have either eradicated the bcr+/IgH+ clone and promoted the growth of bcr+/IgH- leukemic cells or, alternatively, supported the lymphoid differentiation program and induced a myeloid lineage shift.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Blotting, Northern
  • DNA / analysis
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics*
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr
  • Recurrence

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • DNA
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • BCR protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr