Down syndrome and leukemia, an update

Acute leukemia (AL) is a relatively uncommon, but dreaded, complication occurring with increased frequency in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). This selective update includes aspects of AL in DS in which a change or advancement in our understanding of this disease has occurred. Despite previous reports describing a worse outcome for these individuals, more recent studies have suggested an improved response to current treatment strategies (including high-dose AraC) equaling, or even surpassing, the survival of non-DS individuals with AL. An increased toxicity to methotrexate in DS patients has also been recognized. While the leukemia of DS infants has been described as megakaryoblastic, the spectrum of in vitro differentiation is much broader including (in addition to megakaryocytic colonies) various myeloid, macrophage, and even erythroid colonies. Although the cause(s) of DS-AL remains unknown, potential candidate genes include those encoded on chromosome 21 that play a role in other defined leukemias in non-DS individuals. The AML1/PEBP2alpha gene maps to the DS critical region and is characteristically associated with two leukemia-associated chromosomal translocations: 1) the 8;21 translocation involving an AML1/ETO fusion transcript commonly seen in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and; 2) a 3;21 translocation identified in certain chemotherapy-related myelodysplasias/leukemias and occasionally in the blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. Similarly, the ETS-related gene, ERG, involved in the AML 16;21 maps to the q22 region of chromosome 21. Lastly, a familial platelet disorder with a propensity to develop myeloid leukemia has been linked to 21q22.1-22.2 and conceivably might involve AML1, ERG or yet another gene.