Immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene configuration in acute
lymphoblastic leukemia of infancy
CA Felix, GH Reaman, SJ Korsmeyer, GF Hollis, PA Dinndorf, JJ Wright and IR Kirsch
We examined immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain, K light chain, and T cell
receptor (TCR) gamma and beta gene configuration in the leukemic cells from
a series of infants aged less than 1 year with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
(ALL). Each of these 11 cases demonstrated leukemic cell surface antigens
that have been correlated with a B cell precursor phenotype. Of the 11,
lymphoblasts of 4 retained the germline configuration of both Ig and TCR
loci, whereas 7 had rearranged the Ig heavy chain gene. Two of these seven
showed light chain gene rearrangement. TCB beta chain rearrangement had
occurred in only one of the 11 patients' tumors. No TCR gamma chain
rearrangements were identified. These results are in contrast to earlier
studies of B cell precursor ALL in children in which Ig heavy chain gene
rearrangements were evident in every case and approximately 40% showed Ig
light chain rearrangement as well. In addition, 45% of cases of B cell
precursor ALL of children had rearranged their gamma TCR genes, and 20% had
rearranged beta. These data suggest that ALL in infancy represents an
earlier stage of B cell development than is found in B cell precursor ALL
of children. ALL in the infant age group has been associated with the worst
prognosis of all patients with ALL. This study suggests that the disease in
infants differs not only clinically, but also at the molecular genetic
level, from the disease in children.
Volume 70,
Issue 2,
pp. 536-541,
08/01/1987
Copyright © 1987 by The American Society of Hematology
