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  • Title: Phenotypic conversion of acute leukaemia from T-lymphoblastic to myeloblastic induced by therapy with 2'-deoxycoformycin.
    Author: Murphy SB, Stass S, Kalwinsky D, Rivera G.
    Journal: Br J Haematol; 1983 Oct; 55(2):285-93. PubMed ID: 6604543.
    Abstract:
    A 6-year-old boy with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in relapse was treated with the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, 2'-deoxycoformycin (DCF). Remarkably, his residual leukaemia underwent an abrupt phenotypic shift, coincident with a massive anti-leukaemic effect of DCF. Both at diagnosis and prior to therapy with DCF, blast cells had typical lymphoblastic morphology and T-cell characteristics (terminal transferase +, T-antigen +, Ia -, cALLa -, myeloperoxidase -, and high in adenosine deaminase content). After four courses of DCF by constant infusion, the blast cells were myeloid in appearance and reactivity to a variety of tests (terminal transferase -, myeloperoxidase +, Sudan black B +, esterase +, My-1 +). We hypothesize that DCF therapy created a selection pressure, blocking pathways of T-cell differentiation and proliferation, permitting the emergence of a newly dominant myeloid subclone of a multipotential leukaemic cell progenitor with the innate capacity for both T-lymphocytic and myeloid differentiation.
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