Dr. Fleming et al., Diagnostic and clinical implications of lineage fidelity in acute leukemiapatients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation, LEUK LYMPH, 36(3-4), 2000, pp. 309
We report on a series of five acute leukemia patients who have undergone al
logeneic bone marrow transplantation. Initially, these patients were classi
fied as having biphenotypic leukemia; however, subsequent developments in t
he perception of what constitutes lineage fidelity has resulted in controve
rsy regarding the diagnosis. Flow cytometry and non-random cytogenetic resu
lts have had a major impact on redefining the concept of biphenotypic disea
se. In this report we review the diagnostic dilemma associated with definin
g acute leukemia linage fidelity as diagnostic techniques evolve. While our
unique focus on the treatment of biphenotypic leukemia patients represents
a small population, we verify the single most promising therapy where othe
rwise the diagnosis is dismal.