Deletions in the 13q14 locus in adult lymphoblastic leukemia - Rate of incidence and relevance

BACKGROUND, A putative tumor suppressor gene involved in chronic lymphocyti c leukemia (CLL) has been localized to the 13q14 locus. Microsatellite anal ysis was used to test whether this locus also is involved in acute lymphobl astic leukemia (ALL) and its prognostic relevance determined. METHODS, The authors analyzed 49 patients with adult ALL for deletions at t he 13q14 locus using a battery of 6 microsatellite markers corresponding to this region (D13S260, STR257, D13S263, D13S153, D13S319, and AFMa301wb5). RESULTS. Five of the 49 adult ALL patients analyzed (10%) showed loss of he terozygosity (LOH) or deletions at 13q14. Similar to CLL, the significant m inimal deletions appeared to be localized between D13S260 and AFMa301wb5 an d did not involve the retinoblastoma or BRCA2 genes. Among newly diagnosed patients, LOH was associated with shorter survival (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS, These data suggest that the 13q14 gene, commonly deleted in CL L patients, also is deleted in some patients with adult ALL. Although the n umber of the cases in the current study is small, 13q deletions in ALL pati ents may play a role in the clinical behavior of this disease. Cancer 2000; 88:1359-64. (C) 2000 American Cancer Society.