Introduction
Rearrangements of the histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2A
(KMT2A -r; formerly mixed lineage leukemia; MLL ) gene on
chromosome 11q23 are the hallmark of infantile acute lymphoblastic
leukemia (ALL) and confer particularly poor
prognosis.1 KMT2A rearrangements induce
transcriptional and epigenetic alterations that confer early blocks in
B-cell differentiation resulting in an immature B-cell immunophenotype,
increased lineage plasticity, and resistance to
therapy.2–4 Among the >130 partner genes
previously identified, the most common KMT2A -r is the
t(4;11)(q21;q23) that results in the KMT2A/AFF1 fusion gene and
is associated with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)
presenting with a pro-B cell immunophenotype.5KMT2A -r leukemias have been associated with lineage switching
from lymphoid to myeloid immunophenotype at relapse, demonstrating
increased lineage plasticity.6–9
This report details the case of an infant with KMT2A -r ALL who
experienced multiple immunophenotype switches during therapy. Her
disease was refractory to standard therapy but ultimately went into
remission with a combination of myeloid- and lymphoid-directed therapy.