Chronic myeloid leukemia with expression of ALL-type BCR/ABL transcript: acase-report and review of the literature

CML with exclusive expression of ALL-type bcr/abl has only been rarely desc ribed. In some cases, the presence of this fusion gene has been associated to a differentiated subtype: of CML that share some features with CMML, whi le in another case this molecular hallmark has been associated to a bad pro gnosis of the disease with a blast phase as clinical presentation or an ear ly transformation to blast phase. We report a case of a 30-year-old woman w ho was diagnosed of CML in chronic phase in May 1989. She received treatmen t first with busulfan, achieving hematological remission and afterwards wit h interferon and Hydroxiurea. In February 1998, she was admitted at our hos pital for an ABSCT. Then, molecular studies were performed. Multiplex PCR r evealed the presence of a 481 bp product identified as the e1a2 bcr/abl tra nscript and confirmed by sequencing. After 9 years from diagnosis, the pati ent remains in hematological remission and in good clinical condition. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.