Ph-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia in older adults

摘要

In their article on Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL) in children, adolescents, and young adults, Roberts and colleagues (Sept. 11 issue) note that the frequency of Ph-like ALL in older adults is currently unknown. We analyzed Af-fymetrix gene-expression profiles of 204 B-cell precursor ALL specimens obtained from 92 adolescents and young adults (16 to 39 years of age), 45 adults (40 to 55 years of age), and 67 older adults (56 to 84 years of age) who received treatment in German Multicenter Study Group for Adult ALL trials according to published algorithms. In contrast to the incidence of Ph-posi-tive ALL, which is known to continually increase with age, the incidence of Ph-like ALL is highest among adolescents and young adults who have B-cell precursor ALL (19 to 27%).