Development of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a patient in very long lasting complete remission of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2011 Jan;33(1):e32-4. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e3181f46e3e.

Abstract

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) occurs with an incidence of 1.2 per million children a year, and represents 18% to 30% of all myelodysplastic (MDS) and myeloproliferative (MPS) disorders in the age group below 15, being by far the most common MDS/MPS in children younger than 4 years. The only therapeutic approach which results in a definitive cure of patients with JMML is myeloablative chemo-therapy/radio-therapy, followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Few cases of transformation of JMML in acute lymphoblastic leukemia have been reported. We describe a child with JMML diagnosed at the age of 4 months in whom complete remission was achieved with 13-cis retinoic acid and cytosine-arabinoside and was sustained for 7 years with no maintenance therapy. Ninety-eight months after the diagnosis of JMML was established, overt T-cell leukemia developed. Treatment with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)-directed chemotherapy induced complete restoration of normal hemopoiesis, but testicular involvement persisted. The patient died after transplantation with unrelated cord blood. This case suggests that JMML is a true stem cell disorder and that stem cell transplantation should be considered, even in patients with a very favorable clinical course.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile* / complications
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile* / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile* / therapy
  • Male
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Remission Induction
  • Time Factors