Translocation t(4;11)(q21;q23) and MLL gene rearrangement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia secondary to anti topoisomerase II anticancer agents

Abstract

Secondary therapy-related, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (S-ALL) is less common than its myeloblastic counterpart. S-ALL with MLL gene rearrangements have only been reported on six previous occasions. Only three of these had t(4;11)(q21;23) S-ALL with MLL-AF4 fusion transcript has only been reported in one earlier case.

In this report a rare case of S-ALL with MLL-AF4 transcript is described in a 36 year old woman treated for breast carcinoma with chemotherapy which included the topoisomerase II inhibitor, VP-16. The precise incidence of MLL gene rearrangement in S-ALL still remains to be clarified.

Key Words:

• Secondary leukemia
• anti-topoisomerase II