Pathologic Features of Down Syndrome Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group Protocol AAML0431.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2020

Identifier

DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2018-0526-OA; PMCID: PMC7031019

Abstract

CONTEXT.—: Detailed diagnostic features of acute myeloid leukemia in Down syndrome are lacking, leading to potential misdiagnoses as standard acute myeloid leukemia occurring in patients with Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVE.—: To evaluate diagnostic features of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome in patients with Down syndrome.

DESIGN.—: Diagnostic bone marrow samples from 163 patients enrolled in the Children's Oncology Group study AAML0431 were evaluated by using central morphologic review and institutional immunophenotyping. Results were compared to overall survival, event-free survival,

RESULTS.—: Sixty myelodysplastic syndrome and 103 acute myeloid leukemia samples were reviewed. Both had distinctive features compared to those of patients without Down syndrome. They showed megakaryocytic and erythroid but little myeloid dysplasia, and marked megakaryocytic hyperplasia with unusual megakaryocyte morphology. In acute myeloid leukemia cases, megakaryoblastic differentiation of blasts was most common (54 of 103, 52%); other cases showed erythroblastic (11 of 103, 11%), mixed erythroid/megakaryoblastic (20 of 103, 19%), or no differentiation (10 of 103, 10%). Myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia cases had similar event-free survival and overall survival. Leukemic subgroups showed interesting, but not statistically significant, trends for survival and minimal residual disease. Cases with institutional diagnoses of French American British M1-5 morphology showed typical features of Down syndrome disease, with survival approaching that of other cases.

CONCLUSIONS.—: Myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia in Down syndrome display features that allow discrimination from standard cases of disease. These distinctions are important for treatment decisions, and for understanding disease pathogenesis. We propose specific diagnostic criteria for Down syndrome-related subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Journal Title

Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine

Volume

144

Issue

4

First Page

466

Last Page

472

MeSH Keywords

Child; Down Syndrome; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Keywords

Down Syndrome; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Myelodysplastic Syndromes

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