[The role of BCR/ABL isoforms in the presentations and outcome of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adult patients].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the difference of clinical characteristics and outcomes between different isoforms of BCR/ABL in adults with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODS

The data of 106 adults with Ph+ ALL diagnosed in our hospital from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2007 were reviewed. The difference of clinical characteristics between different subgroups of BCR/ABL was compared and their relation with outcomes was studied.

RESULTS

The median age of the 106 patients was 34 years and the median white blood cell count at baseline was 28.5 x 10(9)/L. Comparative analysis demonstrated that patients in p210 group had an older age, higher blood platelet count (BPC) and more frequent occurrence of splenomegaly. Referring to the outcomes, the complete remission (CR) rate of the two groups were 92.2% and 93.9%, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) and relapse free survival (RFS) in p190 group were 13 months and 10 months, the 1, 3-year estimated OS were (54.7 +/- 6.7)% and (5.5 +/- 5.2)%, and the 1, 3-year estimated RFS were (40.2 +/- 6.8)% and (7.8 +/- 6.7)%, while in p210 group, the median OS and RFS were 15 months and 10 months, respectively, the 1, 3-year estimated OS were (65.8 +/- 8.9)% and (14.5 +/- 7.4)%, and the 1, 3-year estimated RFS were (48.3 +/- 9.4)% and (12.9 +/- 7.7)%. All of the above data had no statistic significance between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Majority of the adults with Ph+ ALL is p190 positive and patients with p210 have older age, higher BPC and more frequent occurrence of splenomegaly, while there is no significant difference between p190 group and p210 group in CR rate, RFS and OS.