T-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia With t(X;14)(q28;q11.2): A Clinicopathologic Study of 15 Cases.

OBJECTIVES

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare mature T-cell leukemia usually characterized by inv(14)(q11.2q32)/t(14;14)(q11.2;q32). In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinicopathologic features and molecular profile of T-PLL associated with t(X;14)(q28;q11.2).

METHODS

The study group included 10 women and 5 men with a median age of 64 years. All 15 patients had a diagnosis of T-PLL with t(X;14)(q28;q11.2).

RESULTS

All 15 patients had lymphocytosis at initial diagnosis. Morphologically, the leukemic cells had features of prolymphocytes in 11 patients, small cell variant in 3, and cerebriform variant in 1. All 15 patients had hypercellular bone marrow with an interstitial infiltrate in 12 (80%) cases. By flow cytometry, the leukemic cells were surface CD3+/CD5+/CD7+/CD26+/CD52+/TCR α/β+ in 15 (100%) cases, CD2+ in 14 (93%) cases, CD4+/CD8+ in 8 (53%) cases, CD4+/CD8- in 6 (40%) cases, and CD4-/CD8 + in 1 (7%) case. At the cytogenetic level, complex karyotypes with t(X;14)(q28;q11.2) were seen in all 15 patients assessed. Mutational analysis showed mutations of JAK3 in 5 of 6 and STAT5B p.N642H in 2 of 6 patients. Patients received variable treatments, including 12 with alemtuzumab. After a median follow-up of 17.2 months, 8 of 15 (53%) patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

T-PLL with t(X;14)(q28;q11.2) frequently shows a complex karyotype and mutations involving JAK/STAT pathway, and it is an aggressive disease with a poor outcome.