Mutation of the N-ras Gene in a Patient Suffering from the Blast Phase of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

The blast phase in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is associated with mutation of several genes. It is well known that p53 gene mutation plays a key role in the myeloid or lymphoid blast phase of CML. But for the case of the N-ras gene, the association between N-ras mutations and the blast phase of CML is not yet known. We report here on a case of detecting N-ras point mutation without p53 mutation in a 64 year-old man who suffered from the lymphoblastic blast phase of CML.

T-cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Case Report

T cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGL leukemia) is defined as a clonal proliferative disorder of CD3+ cytotoxic T cells. T-LGL leukemia usually expresses CD3+, CD4-, CD8+, CD16+, CD56- and CD57+ cell markers, and this represents a rearrangement of the T cell receptor (TCR) gene. The clinical course is indolent in most cases, but on rare occasions, when CD3+ and CD56+ are expressed on the leukemic cells, it can be more aggressive. We experienced a patient with T-LGL leukemia and the disease was indolent at the time of diagnosis, and so any specific treatment was not required. Two years after the initial diagnosis, her clinical course became quite aggressive as the CD 56+ cell surface antigen was expressed. We report here on the first case of T-LGL leukemia in Korea and we review the relevant literature.