Acute lymphoblastic leukemia characterized by t(8;14)(q11.2;q32)

The t(8;14)(q11.2;q32) is emerging as an uncommon, though recurrent cytogenetic finding. As of yet, too few cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) characterized by this translocation have been studied to determine its prognostic significance with confidence. We therefore report three new patients (two male children and one adult female) and present their hematologic, immunophenotypic, and clinical data. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of 26 other patients with t(8;14)(q11.2;q32) are summarized. The total number of patients now reported in the literature is 29 with a mean age of 14 years. Early relapse, that is, relapse within 6 months, does not appear to be a common feature of this group. The gender distribution is 19 males: 9 females (gender not reported in one case). Twenty-three t(8;14) patients show a pre-B immunophenotype and 24 of 24, on whom information is available, achieved complete remission after induction chemotherapy for B-ALL. Approximately one third of patients with t(8;14) have Down syndrome, 19 of 27 have additional acquired cytogenetic abnormalities, 5 of these have the t(9;22), and 4 show duplication of the abnormal chromosome 14, which is derived from the t(8;14). Hemoglobin and platelet counts are low at presentation in 10 of 10 and 8 of 9 patients, respectively, and the average white blood count is 38.9 × 109/L. Of the 7 patients for whom IgH status has been determined, all show rearrangement of the IgH locus. Two of the present three patients are included in this group; their IgH rearrangement was demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization with IgH break-apart probes.