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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Penelope Taylor, Dr Michael Reid, Professor Stephen Proctor
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Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is rare in adults over the age of 60 years, with an incidence of 1 per 100,000 per year. We review the current (sparse) literature and our Regional experience of 62 consecutive cases of ALL in this age group collected over a ten year period. The patterns of cytogenetic abnormalities and immunophenotypes differs from those seen in ALL in childhood and young adults, but are similar to those reported in previous studies. B-ALL was found at twice the rate observed in younger adults (9/51 versus 6/99) and TALL was rare (2/51). In our patients we had few cytogenetic results but in the literature up to 50% of patients have been found to be Philadelphia positive, supporting the hypothesis that ALL in this group is often a stem cell disorder. In our patients treatment results were disappointing, with only 30% of those given 'curative' treatment achieving a complete remission, and a relapse rate of 92%, mirroring other published series. The overall four year survival was 4%. We conclude that ALL in the elderly is a rare condition with an extremely poor prognosis. Aggressive treatment may prolong life but it seldom cures.
Author(s): Taylor, P. R. A., Reid, M. M., Proctor, S. J.
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Leukemia and Lymphoma
Year: 1994
Volume: 13
Issue: 5-6
Pages: 373-380
Print publication date: 01/05/1994
ISSN (print): 1042-8194
ISSN (electronic): 1026-8022
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10428199409049625
DOI: 10.3109/10428199409049625
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