T-ALL relapsing as AML?

ctnebe (ctnebe@t-online.de)
Sun, 18 May 97 12:31 +0100

Dear Anna,
The original diagnosis was obviously a T-ALL. CD1 and other myeloid marker
were probably negative. The leukemia showed a partial tendency of maturation.
At time of relapse there might be a selection (caused by therapy) of the most
immature cell close to the branching cell of myelo- and lymphopoiesis. The
alternative explanation is the occurance of a new chromosomal abberation under
therapy. The first theory (selection) is more common in AML, the latter I
prefer. Cytogenetics should provide the answer.
AML should be myeloperoxidase positive (+ CD117, CD33 or CDw65) and a secondary,
therapy induced AML should appear later after end of therapy.

Best regards
Thomas Nebe
Klinikum Mannheim