OBJECTIVETo report on a rare case of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) with t(14;14) (q11;q32) and clarify its clinical and molecular cytogenetic features.

METHODSClinical data of a B-ALL patient with t(14;14) (q11;q32) were analyzed. After 24 hour of unstimulated culturing, chromosome specimens of bone marrow cells were prepared with regular method, and R-banding was used for karyotype analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed on fixed bone marrow cells using IGH dual-color break-apart probe, CEBPE dual-color break-apart probe, whole chromosome paint (WCP) probe for chromosome 4, and Chromoprobe Multiprobe-ALL System probe.

RESULTSThe 39-year-old female was diagnosed with B-ALL based on morphologic and immunophenotypic analyses. Conventional cytogenetic analysis showed a karyotype of 47, XX, +4, t(14;14) (q11;q32) [20], which was confirmed by FISH analysis. FISH using IGH-dual-color break-apart probe confirmed involvement of IGH gene in t(14;14) (q11;q32), and FISH using CEBPE dual-color break-apart probe indicated that CEBPE is the partner gene involved in t(14;14) (q11; q32). The patient achieved complete remission (CR) after a round of combined chemotherapy. At the time of follow-up, she had remained CR for more than 6 months.

CONCLUSIONt(14;14) (q11;q32) simultaneously involving IGH and CEBPE genes in B-ALL is a rare but recurrent genetic abnormality that may identify a new subgroup of B-ALL. In B-ALL patients, t(14; 14) (q11; q32) involving IGH/CEBPE translocation may indicate a better prognosis.