Precursor B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia occurring in patients with a history of prior malignancies: is it therapy-related?

Abstract

The data support the interpretation that therapy-related precursor B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia does occur. In particular, cases associated with t(4;11)(q21;q23) or hypodiploidy with -5, -7, -17 are likely to be therapy-related and have a poor prognosis. The inferior outcome of these patients may be attributable to the high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities that are found in this group of patients.